9th Judicial Circuit Court
Juvenile Home - Detention
The Kalamazoo County Juvenile Home (KCJH) Detention Unit is a 40 bed, short term, secure placement for juveniles ages 11 to 17 who have been ordered placed by the Circuit Court. Young people are placed in the Detention Unit due to their criminal delinquency, violation of court orders, court program violations or running away from court ordered placements. The unit provides a safe, caring and humane environment for juvenile offenders awaiting a court hearing or a more permanent placement.
Our mission is to guide, teach and habilitate young people so that they can better manage and control their own growth and behavior. All programming is intended to provide young people the opportunity to develop skills that can reduce criminal and other offensive behaviors.
The KCJH utilizes a behavior management program that focuses on rewarding appropriate behaviors. The goal of the behavior management program is to focus on shaping new behaviors through positive reinforcement. Our residents earn points in eight different skill areas, including:
- Appropriate Speech
- Cooperation
- Being in the Proper Area
- Ability to Ignore Negativity
- Dress Code
- Respect
- Positive Attitude
- Listening Skills
The KCJH also utilizes a guided group process in its behavior management system for youth detained in the Juvenile Home. Group processing fosters a principle-based learning style that offers skills for developing cognitive, social and interpersonal relationships. The group process establishes a learning environment that builds on character, interpersonal relationships, accountability and personal development.