St. Charles Detention Center Illinois is classified as a Level 2 medium security facility for males which started its operation in 1904. Besides, the facility also provides reception and classification services for North Illinois (Monitoring Report, 2018). The institution has 155 inmates with an average age of 17 years (Monitoring Report, 2018). As per February 2018, the population comprised 11.6% White, 67.7% Black, 19.4% Hispanic and 1.3% unclassified (AFSCME, 2018). The offenses committed as the stated date include 6.3% murder, 21% Class X felonies, 32.8 Class 1 crimes, 5.5% class 3 felonies as well as 6.35 Class 4 felonies (Monitoring Report, 2018).

Positive

Early in 2018, the facility had a staff population of 350, and this included the full and part-time employees. 42.5% of the stuff were Caucasian, 41.4% African American, 13.1% Hispanic, 2.57% Asian and the remaining 0.28% Pacific Islander (AFSCME, 2018). The demographics in terms of racial are diversified especially when compared to the neighboring city of the region which, as per the most recent census statistics is comprised of 93% White. Hiring a diverse staff is a positive move for St. Charles since the team reflects the diversity of the inmate population. A diversified staff plays a substantial role in ensuring higher cultural competency which in turn keeps structural racism in check throughout the correctional facility. Initially, the team was predominantly white while the prisoners were majorly people of color.

Negative

Teenagers in St. Charles Detention Center Illinois are being housed in not only unsafe but also unkempt conditions which could be attributed to the many years of neglect. The facility has many buildings most of which are closed because they are inhabitable, yet to be repaired, or cannot be used entirely (Monitoring Report, 2018). St. Charles is an inhumane place, and it is currently understaffed (IDJJ, 2018). Most sleeping rooms give the youths the chance to harm themselves since the staff members do not have strategic positions to observe the inmates. The facility is experiencing problems with staff vacancies, and as per February 2018, it lacked 33 members. The unfilled positions included those of the administrators, five mental health vacancies, seven educator vacancies and three positions for nursing (AFSCME, 2018).

Moreover, the sleeping rooms are often double-bunked, and the staff offices are built behind walls which obstruct clear sight to the corridors (Hopkins & Mills, 2018). Views into the rooms are significantly limited by the narrow glass windows (Monitoring Report, 2018). More than fifty percent of the living rooms have bathroom fixtures which are perceived, but the beds have protrusions dangerous enough to cause self-harm as they can be used as hanging posts. In January 2018, a 16-year-old boy committed suicide using one of such protrusions (AFSCME, 2018).

The buildings are crumbling most of them missing and or having cracked tiles with broken roofs making them look as if they are abandoned. The facility is experiencing severe and chronic maintenance as well as sanitation deficiencies (Monitoring Report, 2018). The old academic building which houses a chapel has been closed for a while due to water damage, mildew as well as molds. According to Gratteau from Tribune, St. Charles Detention Center is the worst place to house the troubled youth (AFSCME, 2018).

At St. Charles, there are more assaults on staff independent of their position and responsibilities. The number of staff assaults increased by 258% in 2017 than as compared in 2015. These inherent assaults have sent away staff and made it cumbersome to offer security and other essential programs to the youths (Hopkins & Mills, 2018). Reports indicate that the youths spray the employees with spit, urine, semen and even feces (Hopkins & Mills, 2018). There are more sexual assaults, directed primarily to the female nurses to the extent that they cannot offer medication to the youth unescorted. It has been reported that the teenagers at St. Charles intentionally expose their genitals whenever they see a female staff approaching with some even masturbating before them (Hopkins & Mills, 2018).

There are numerous youth fights including mob beatings where a crowd of boys beat one youth. These fights are consistently increasing in number over the years implying the failure of the institution to offer conditions that simulate the norms of society (Hopkins & Mills, 2018). At the facility, there are no lasting consequences enforced on youths who break the rules (AFSCME, 2018). A times the youth may be threatened to serve a longer sentence, a punishment that, currently, has lost weight. Most times, the management seeks to release the boys earlier and so they usually pressure the staff who have been offended by the youths to accept their apologies (Monitoring Report, 2018). Since the teenagers guaranteed of insignificant consequences of their actions, they have developed normality of not following even simple and routine directives (Hopkins & Mills, 2018). Staff at St. Charles have confessed that most youths who have been discharged from this facility often commit much more serious crimes and end up in the institution again (AFSCME, 2018).

St. Charles Detention Center is an understaffed facility, and from the above information, it has demonstrated the inability to manage the youth. On the other hand, the chronic understaffing as well as the low staff turnover has led to an increase in youth idleness, misbehavior and even frustrations (AFSCME, 2018). If the institution intends to continue serving as a youth detention center, it is recommendable that they eliminate the double-bunking and instead use modern and safer beds. Additionally, the facility should increase the ratio of staff to residents and consider installing camera systems to improve monitoring. The facility also needs to re-evaluate its admiration and establish a stable code of conduct which best aligns with the societal expectations. No one must bend the rules to be implemented. The youth, as well as the staff, need a safe and humane environment and it is by doing this that such an environment can be created.

References

AFSCME issues new report on violence in Illinois Youth Centers and how to prevent it. (2018, July 31). Retrieved from https://m.afscme31.org/news/afscme-issues-new-report-on-violence-in-illinois-youth-centers-and-how-to-prevent-it

Hopkins, J. S., & Mills, S. (2018, August 25). Detention center unsafe, report says. Retrieved April 2, 2019, from https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2009-10-19-0910180242-story.html

2018 Monitoring Report for IYC-St. Charles – thejha.org. (2018, May 3). Retrieved April 2, 2019, from http://www.thejha.org/sites/default/files/JHA IYC St Charles Report May 2018.pdf