Youth Detention Center in Lawrenceville to Close in 2014

The Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice announced plans to shut down the Regional Youth Detention Center in Lawrenceville in June of 2014.

Built 30 years ago, the location at 650 Hi-Hope Road can house up to 49 young offenders-- 38 boys and 11 girls.

DJJ’s Gwinnett facility has weathered more than thirty continuous years of wear as a youth detention center," said  Commissioner Avery D. Niles in a release. "The Department of Juvenile Justice made the decision to close the Gwinnett RYDC next fiscal year based on expectations of increasing maintenance costs for an aging facility with significant infrastructure issues.”

Earlier this year, a major sewer line collapsed beneath the concrete floor of the facility. All of the youth housed at the facility had to be moved to other locations while repairs were done. Crews had to cut a six foot deep trench through the cafeteria and security control room to fix the problem. 

Youth currently assigned to Gwinnett will be relocated either to a new facility in Rockdale County, which will open June 2014, or to the existing facility in Gainesville.

Niles says they are working to help DJJ staff at the Gwinnett RYDC find jobs at other facilities.