Juvenile Facilities in Minnesota

Based on the Criminal Justice Sourcebook’s report, it appears that the total number of juvenile facilities in Minnesota has overall decreased. In 2000, there were 121 juvenile residential facilities total, 22 were public, and 99 were private. In 2002, there were 100 juvenile facilities total, 24 were public, and 76 were private. In 2004, there were 89 juvenile facilities total, 24 were public, and 65 were private. (Sourcebook Staff, 2004)

Total Public Private
2000 121 22 99
2002 100 24 76
2004 89 24 65


Looking at the data, the number of privately run juvenile facilities in Minnesota has steadily decreased. There are several possible reasons for the gradual decline in the number of privately run juvenile residential facilities in Minnesota. (Sourcebook Staff, 2004)

One possible reason is lack of funds. Because these facilities are not government run, whatever private company or organization running the juvenile detention centers. Especially with the economy doing so poorly these recent years, running private residential facilities for juvenile delinquents may not be at the top of a company’s priority list.

Another potential reason for the decreasing number of private facilities possibly less juvenile delinquents being incarcerated. This could be that there is possibly less crime among minors in Minnesota. Another possibility is that juveniles are not sentenced to juvenile detention centers and the state is putting more and more of them are put on probation and given more lenient punishment. Yet another that there could be fewer inmates is possibly that more and more minors are being tried as adults, not even entering the juvenile justice system. Finally, it could be a combination of all three of these situations the decrease in juvenile delinquent population in Minnesota.

The last possible reason for the decreasing number of privately run juvenile residential facilities could be linked to the private prison vs. public prison debate. There are many arguments for and against the privatization of prisons. While proponents maintain that private facilities are more cost effective, opponents counter stating that privatized prisons are nonunion labor, and “that such cost-cutting results in lower-quality staff, with significant consequences. Poorly trained guards and higher turnover increase the risk of escapes, inmate violence and prisoner mistreatment” (Clement, 2002, para. 6).

Clement, D. (2002, January). Private vs. public: the prison debate. Retrieved from http://www.minneapolisfed.org/publications_papers/pub_display.cfm?id=2049

Sourcebook Staff. (2004, October). Sourcebook of criminal justice statistics Online: Public and private juvenile residential facilities. Retrieved from http://www.albany.edu/sourcebook/pdf/t100092004.pdf