NORTH CAROLINA OPENS YOUTH SYSTEM REVIEW

North Carolina has opened a review of the juvenile justice system with the focus on curbing violence within the state's detention facilities.

The Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention plans to look into specific complaints of violence against residents and staff in the wake

A legislative oversight panel called officials to testify about attacks on faculty at the Swannanoa Valley Youth Development Center in preparation for a broader review when the full legislature convenes in 2007.

Swannanoa, which opened in 1961, provides custody and treatment to adjudicated males ranging in age from 10 to 18. As a result of the Juvenile Justice Reform Act, violent offenders can remain at the facility until age 21.

With older youths in the center, the number of violent incidents has escalated and in a recent event two youths attacked a teacher.

Swannanoa has had a partnership with Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College to help students earn their GED. The partnership has also produced a contract that allows the teachers of the Community College to come to campus three times a week to teach a Culinary Arts class. This class is currently offered to GED graduates and participants receive a certificate upon completion.

North Carolina operates 13 shortterm detention centers and five youth development centers for adjudicated youths serving longer sentences.

As part of a plan to reduce violence and concentrations of youths in large facilities, the state has initiated a plan to establish a larger number of smaller centers in more communities and shutter the five long-term facilities.

The Juvenile Justice Department in 2005 reported 428 commitments to its five long-term residential schools and 7,750 admissions to its 13 shortterm detention centers. The department also coordinates several community-based programs.