Detention

(260) 449-8449

At ACJC, detained juveniles have daily access to the nurse in the medical department.

Detained juveniles with previously scheduled doctor appointments will be transported by ACJC staff accordingly and parents may also schedule doctor appointments while their juvenile is in detention.  All doctor appointments must be approved by the Medical Department before transport will be authorized.

Detained juveniles are given their specific medications in accordance to the prescription, as well as over the counter medications as needed (if a resident has a headache for example).

The Medical Department also completes health assessments of all juveniles detained at the Allen County Juvenile Center at or near the time of their admission to the Center.

In the event of a serious medical condition, the Medical Department will contact the appropriate health care facilities and ACJC will transport the juvenile immediately.

(260) 449-8449

The Diagnostics Department at ACJC provides mental health services for all juveniles detained at the Allen County Juvenile Center and also for juveniles who have been ordered to submit to mental health testing by the Court. Detained juveniles are able to request access to ACJC counselors and/or psychologists daily and may also be placed into group sessions through the Court. The Drug and Alcohol Group counseling is offered for each unit as well as The Mental Health Group sessions throughout the week.

In addition to providing daily mental health services, ACJC psychologists evaluate detained juveniles with Psychological Assessments ordered by the Court. These assessments are conducted with the juveniles and their parents and then forwarded to the Court with specific recommendations for which services would be appropriate.

(260) 449-8034

Juveniles detained at the Allen County Juvenile Center can be given permission to leave the building for pre-approved doctor appointments and Court Hearings scheduled outside the ACJC.  All detained juveniles will be transported safely and on time to any appointments scheduled by trained ACJC staff.

Parents must contact their son or daughter’s intake officer (or the ACJC Medical Department for doctor appointments) as soon as possible with specific information regarding the appointment or hearing, such as date, time, location and purpose.

(260) 449-8034

EDUCATION SERVICES

There are currently eight full-time Fort Wayne Community School staff members that comprise the educational staff at the Allen County Juvenile Center. The school day begins at 7:30 a.m. and ends at 2:35 p.m. The Allen County Juvenile Center school program follows the Fort Wayne Community Schools academic calendar.

Juveniles who are attending school at the time of their detention are eligible to attend classes at the Allen County Juvenile Center. Juveniles who are not currently enrolled in the Fort Wayne Community Schools are transferred and enrolled as FWCS juveniles during their stay in detention. Upon their release from detention, juveniles will be re-enrolled in their home school district. All grades in progress are forwarded to the juvenile’s home school upon his or her release from the Allen County Juvenile Center.

Juveniles who are expelled with no options or are not currently enrolled in school at the time of their detention at the Allen County Juvenile Center are placed in resource classes. These juveniles work with certified teachers to improve language arts and mathematics skills.

Special education students who are detained at the Allen County Juvenile Center can receive direct services from a licensed special education teacher. Special Education Conferences can be conducted at the Allen County Juvenile Center when they are required.

CURRENT HIGH SCHOOL COURSE OFFERINGS

English: 9-12
Algebra 1&2
Geometry
Trigonometry
Calculus
U.S. History
Developmental Reading
ECA remediation

GRADPOINT

Gradpoint is a comprehensive online learning platform designed for juveniles in grades 6-12. Gradpoint classes are aligned with Indiana subject content and education standards.  Gradpoint classes at ACJC are offered in a blended model with a licensed teacher supervising student participation in a computerized course.

MIDDLE SCHOOL COURSE OFFERINGS

Language Arts
Mathematics
Social Studies
Developmental Reading

HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY INSTRUCTION

Juveniles who are currently working toward a High School Equivalency (H.S.E.) credential can continue this effort by attending H.S.E. preparation classes while detained at the Allen County Juvenile Center. Juveniles who wish to withdraw from school and pursue a High School Equivalency credential may begin that endeavor during their time at ACJC H.S.E. preparation classes are conducted by certified teachers from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The official H.S.E. exam is proctored at the Allen County Juvenile Center approximately every 45 days. The exam currently costs $90 and the results are typically available 7-10 days after completion.

For more information on the Allen County Learning Academy, please click here.

The ACJC kitchen is staffed and operated by Trinity Services Group.  The kitchen is fully staffed 7 days a week and all residents are provided breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as a snack between 2:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. and between 8:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.  The Allen County Juvenile Center complies with State and Federal law regarding the treatment of juveniles with special dietary needs. For more information please visit Trinity Services Group.

The meal schedule for the residents is as follows:

Breakfast:  between 6:20 a.m. and 7:15 a.m.
Lunch:  between 11:10 a.m. and 12:20 p.m.
Dinner:  between 4:00 p.m. and 5:20 p.m.

The Allen County Juvenile Center reserves the right to modify the schedule set forth above as deemed necessary by Detention Administration.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1. mail:
   S. Department of Agriculture
   Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
   1400 Independence Avenue, SW
   Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. fax:
   (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
3. email:
   program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

05/05/2022

The ACJC Court Counselor acts as a liaison, or go-between, for the Court, attorneys, parents, Probation Officers or any other adult that detained juveniles may need to contact.  All detained juveniles have daily access to the Court Counselor and will be allowed supervised access to Court related phone calls, letters, faxes and/or other forms of communication.

The Court Counselor investigates Grievances filed by detained juveniles against ACJC staff or other detained juveniles.  Any instance of abuse, neglect or otherwise harmful behavior to a detained juvenile will be reported immediately to the appropriate agencies as well as the parents.

In addition, if a detained juvenile is given a written disciplinary report and disputes the contents, the Court Counselor reviews and investigates the incident.  If the Court Counselor finds no evidence to support the written disciplinary report then that report will be removed from the detained juvenile’s file.  If partial evidence exists then the Court Counselor may reduce the penalty given on the original report as well.

Each shift at the ACJC has a Shift Leader who supervises the staff and handles all disciplinary decisions for both staff and detained juveniles.  Shift Leaders also ensure that staff performs all their duties for each shift and that detained juveniles have received any and all services needed.

The ACJC is divided into 6 separate units: I, B, A, L, F and W.  I unit is for new detained juveniles, F is for all female detained juveniles and B, A, and L are for the male detained juveniles divided by age group.  Typically, L unit is for detained juveniles 14 years old or younger, A unit is for 15 and 16 year olds and B unit supervises 17 to 18 year olds.

While on the units every detained juvenile has access to many services and privileges:

PHONE CALLS

Juveniles being housed in general population have daily phone privileges based upon availability and building schedule.  Juveniles are not permitted to receive incoming calls unless it involves legal counsel, probation staff, caseworkers or personal emergencies.

LETTER WRITING

Once a week each detained juvenile is given 2 stamps from the ACJC for writing personal letters.  Parents may bring in additional personal stamps for their juvenile but each juvenile still receives the 2 free stamps from the ACJC.  All letters are reviewed for contraband and/or inappropriate materials before being mailed.

RECREATION TIME

All juveniles are offered at minimum one hour of large muscle activity each day. The ACJC has indoor and outdoor recreation areas and all activities are supervised by ACJC staff.

ACTIVITY NIGHT

Detained juveniles who have no written disciplinary reports will be allowed to watch a movie supervised by ACJC staff.  All movies are approved by the Shift Leader and will be appropriate in content.

ACCESS TO ADULTS OR SERVICES

Detained juveniles are able to sign up each day for multiple departments to receive counseling, phone calls to attorneys, caseworkers or counselors and have any questions about their Court Hearing answered.  Detained juveniles may also make non-personal phone calls to parents through the Court Counselor.  The ACJC has psychologists, nurses, counselors and Probation Officers to ensure detained juveniles have regular access to any services needed.

Parents may visit with their detained juvenile once a week on Sundays. Visitation is restricted to parents and/or legal guardians, unless approved by Detention Administration. Visitation must be scheduled at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance and is on a first-come, first-serve basis as all detained juveniles are allowed one (1) forty-five (45) minute visitation session per week. In order to schedule visitation with a detained juvenile, please call (260) 449-8449.

Visitation times are by specific units according to the schedule listed below. The Allen County Juvenile Center reserves the right to change, cancel or revoke any detained juvenile’s visitation in order to maintain security and/or order. All detained juveniles must complete a four (4) day orientation program prior to their first initial visitation. If a detained juvenile has not yet completed the orientation program, he or she will not be scheduled for a visitation session.

It is recommended that visitors arrive ten (10) minutes early for the scheduled visitation session. If a visitor is more than ten (10) minutes late for his or her scheduled visitation, the visit will be cancelled. All visits must take place at the specific time that is allocated for the different units. All visitors must present a valid photo identification to security before each scheduled visit. If valid photo identification is not presented, visitation will not be allowed.

In order to maintain a secure and safe environment for visitors, detained juveniles and staff members, cell phones, purses, lighters, matches, tobacco products, head coverings, coats or any other items deemed inappropriate by security staff shall not be taken into the visitation area. Additionally, no items may be given to any detained juvenile without prior approval from Detention Administration. Visitors who have been given such prior approval must notify security staff upon their arrival at the Allen County Juvenile Center.

Special Visitation Requests can be filled out for non-parent/non-guardian adults and will be approved at the discretion of Detention Administration.

SUNDAY VISITATION SCHEDULE

What is PREA?
PREA is the first national standards to prevent-detect-respond to prison rape.

PREA Background:
Unanimously passed by Congress, the PRISION RAPE ELIMINATION ACT (PREA) was signed on September 04, 2003 by President George W. Bush and became the first federal legislation addressing the issue of sexual assault in correctional settings.

The act applies to sexual abuse in all custodial corrections settings, including prisons, jails, police lock-ups, juvenile facilities and community residential settings.

The Act applies to all types of sexual misconduct against a resident, including abuse by fellow residents and staff.

PREA Standards were signed by Attorney General Eric Holder on May 06, 2012 and released by the United States Department of Justice on May 07, 2012. They were published in the Federal Register on June 02, 2012.

The Standards were immediately effective for the bureau of prisons. They became effective for juvenile facilities sixty (60) days following their publication in the Federal Register, or on August 20, 2012. Audits on the PREA Standards began on or around August 20, 2013.

Sexual abuse of inmates in a jail setting has implications that extend beyond their release into the community. During the debate of the Prison Rape Elimination Act, Congress found that “prison rape endangers the public safety by making brutalized inmates more likely to commit crimes when they are released—as 600,000 inmates are each year … (and that) victims of prison rape suffers severe physical and psychological effects that hinder their ability to integrate into the community and maintain stable employment upon their release from prison.

In custodial settings, sexual abuse of inmates by other inmates, staff, contractors and visitors seriously compromises the safety and security of all persons within the facility, impacts the professional stature of staff, poses serious medical and mental health risks, and impacts taxpayers who must pay for medical and mental health treatment of victims and in some cases, the major cost of civil litigation.

Audit – MARCH 21-22 2018

2018 Final PREA Audit – AUDIT

ACJC ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY – PDF

Reports of Sexual Abuse – PDF

Center for Children’s Law & Policy – PREA Video

Zero Tolerance Sexual Abuse & Harassment – Policy

Policies to Ensure Referrals of Allegations for Investigation – Policy