LawForKids.org staff were invited to tour the Cochise County Detention Facility in order to show you what a day in the life is like for a juvenile in the detention facility. The tour shows photographs and explains our experiences. This photo shows the Cochise County Juvenile Court House. The advisory, adjudication and disposition hearings for many juveniles in Cochise County take place at this Court House.

An advisory hearing is a formal court process where the juvenile is told about the charges against him or her and can admit or deny them. Rules of Procedure for the Juvenile Court, Rule 28 (A).

An adjudication hearing is a trial in front of a judge only (not a jury), where the court determines whether the juvenile committed the alleged acts. Rules of Procedure for the Juvenile Court, Rule 29 (A). The court may make a finding that the juvenile is delinquent or incorrigible.

A disposition is when the youth is told what consequences the court has decided. Rules of Procedure for the Juvenile Court, Rule 30.

(After you are done with this tour, you can learn more about advisory, adjudication and disposition hearings by going through the Juvenile Court Tour on this website).

Welcome to the Cochise County Juvenile Detention Virtual Tour. This facility can house up to 43 juveniles, ages 8-17.

Juveniles in this facility include:

• Juveniles waiting to go to court
• Juveniles going through a trial
• Juveniles waiting for the court to decide consequences
• Juveniles housed in the facility as a consequence of their actions

(When you are done with this tour, you can learn more about advisory, adjudication and disposition hearings by viewing the Cochise Court tab on this tour or going through the Juvenile Court Tour on this site.)

Juveniles who have allegedly committed a delinquent act are escorted by police through this entrance. The police officer drives their vehicle through a secured driveway into a specialized parking area. A Detention Officer from the detention facility must open the door from the inside. Once inside, the youth are released from police custody into the care of the detention facility. Once in the detention facility, detention officers are responsible for the youth and the youth is expected to follow the rules of the detention center.

After being released into the detention facility's care, youth will wait in the intake area until a detention officer is ready to process him or her into the detention facility. For the safety of all the youth in the facility, each new detainee is searched by an officer of the same gender to take any items that may be a danger to the youth or others. The officer will collect all of the juvenile’s personal belongings and store the items until the juvenile is released.

All detainees shower and change from their street clothes into the detainee uniform. Detainees receive one cotton shirt, one sweatshirt (in winter), one pair of pants with an elastic waistband and no pockets, under garments, shoes with no laces and shower shoes.

Shirts must be tucked into the waistband at all times and pants must be rolled at the cuff to the ankle. Clothes must be the appropriate size; ‘sagging’ is not permitted. Make-up, colognes/perfumes and hair products, such as gel and hairspray, are not allowed. Once the new detainee is dressed in appropriate attire they are taken to their living unit.

Each detainee is given a wellness check by a registered nurse within 7 days of being admitted at the facility. After the initial exam, youth may send a written request to see the nurse for their medical needs. Youth requiring daily medication receive their prescription from the nurse or Detention Officer under the nurse’s approval. While medications, medical exams and basic illnesses are cared for by the nurse, if an illness requires outside medical assistance, youth will be taken to the hospital under the supervision of a Detention Officer.

Each Detention Facility has specific rules that the juveniles inside must follow. The rules are created to provide for the safety of everyone within the facility. These Rules were added to this site on September 7, 2011. The Rules can change. Call (520) 803-3000 to get the current rules. Click here to read the detention center handbook.

Detainees are assigned to units based on their gender and age. Each unit has a general area where youth are able to write letters to their family, participate in educational programming provided by staff and watch approved television. Youth are given free time when their schedule allows and depending on their level. There are five behaviour levels in this facility. Level 5 is the top level that can be achieved. Levels are decided through a rules based system in the facility. See the Rules tab for more information about levels.

The general area is always supervised by Unit staff. Detainees may only move throughout the general area with permission from the staff. This enables the staff to clearly observe the youth and ensure the safety of everyone.

Youth remain on the unit when it is time to sleep. Certain clothing, such as shoes and sweatshirts, are not permitted inside the cell to maintain the safety of those inside. Each cell may contain up to two people and each person is provided with two mats and one or more blankets; after 2 days with a pillow is also provided. All youth are allowed to take one religious book into his/her room; however, depending on their level, youth can also have other books. There is one ceiling light in the cell and it is controlled by the unit staff. Cells are locked and monitored by unit staff at all times to maintain youth safety. Youth must sleep with their heads uncovered to allow staff to see that they are well.

A toilet and sink is provided in each cell.

Each day begins at 6:15am and, depending on level, will end at 9:45pm. Those with the lowest level go to bed at 5:30pm. (See the Rules page for a more on the level system)

Showers, sinks and toilets are located in each unit and shared by all youth. Each person is allowed 10 minutes for their shower each day. Every person is given a baggie with a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant and comb when he/she comes to the facility. Each person is responsible for ensuring these items do not become lost. Each detainee brushes their hair and teeth in their cell at their sink. There is a toilet in each cell and shared by both occupants.

Just like public schools, youth at Cochise County Detention Facility are required to attend school every weekday. School is taught by certified teachers. Students attend school for 4 hours each day and are placed into their classroom based on testing. Detainees remain in their assigned classroom throughout their school day. Maintaining and encouraging education is an important component of this facility. A staff member of the facility contacts each detainee’s current public school to obtain their school records and ensure the students’ school progress has minimal disruption. When available, they also obtain the student’s homework from their public school for them to complete while they stay in the facility. All credits obtained during their stay transfer back to their public school. In 2011 the Cochise County Center had a 98% GED rate for those who tested.

In addition to school, youth are given 1 hour of outside exercise and 1 hour of inside exercise each day. All youth must participate in all exercise activities while unit staff supervise. Physical contact is not permitted and all detainees are given a clothed pat down when returning from outside to ensure harmful objects are not taken into the unit.

All meals are eaten on the unit under the supervision of unit staff. All food is well-balanced and meant to provide the proper nutrition. If needed, meals will be provided that meet special dietary needs. Special dietary needs may include medical, religious and/or vegetarian reasons. To see a sample menu of the typical meals provided please click here.

Mail: Youth are given time on their unit to write letters to their family and friends. The facility will provide the envelopes and mail the letters. Youth are expected to provide their own stamps. Family members may send stamps for their child. Detainees that are unable to purchase stamps are able to send 1 letter a week at the facility’s expense.

All letters received are checked for contraband (but not read) in the presence of the detainee before being delivered. Detainees may not write to or receive letters from anyone on probation or parole.

Phone calls: Each detainee is given when they are processed into the facility. Once on the unit, detainees are permitted phone calls based on their level (see rules tab). Each phone call is 10 minutes in length and must be dialed by the unit staff and approved by the Probation Officer. Long distance are not permitted unless dialed collect.

Detainees may call their attorney when needed with no time restrictions.

All visits are by appointment only and are for 30 minutes in length. Visiting is held every week one of two ways; contact and non-contact. Non-contact visits allow 2 visitors and contact visits allow 4 visitors. Only family are allowed to visit and must be approved by the Probation Officer. All visits are supervised by Detention Officers to ensure safety. Please see the Rules tab for more information on visitation rules and times.

Visitors enter through this door and must lock up all personal belongings in the lockers before entering the facility. Visitors are not allowed to bring in any gifts with the exception of books/magazines. All reading material must be inspected by a Detention Officer to ensure it is appropriate prior to delivering it to the intended youth. If inappropriate conversation, such as cussing or arguing, occurs, the visit will be terminated for that day.

The Cochise County Juvenile Facility has several programs that are designed to educate youth and encourage positive behavior.

• Transition/Release: Helps youth successfully leave the facility by offering education on life skills.
• Peer Senate: Allows youth to have an active voice on the issues that govern them while living at the facility. Only level 4 & 5 may be a voting member of the Senate.
• Character Education: Encourages and rewards positive behaviour.

The Cochise County Juvenile Detention Center has incorporated a strenght-based program called Step-Up. The goals of the Step-Up Program are:

• Afford youth an opportunity for indvidual growth  and change
• Provide an opportunity for release of emotional tension
• Teach fair play, rule following and teamwork
• Provide socially acceptable outlet for hostility
• Give youth a better understainding of themselves
• Develop new interests or skills youth can follow when released
• Provide an opportunity to work within  a structual setting

In addition each youth is paired with a staff mentor who will build a positive relationship and work with the youth during their stay in detention.  The objective of the mentor is:

• Facilitate treatment and supervision amenability
• Stabilize delinquent behavior and thinking of troubled youth
• Help youth recognize changes they need to make
• Prepare youth by increasing skills for success in next program
• Assist youth to transition to their next program