Detention

Whatcom County Juvenile Detention is a component of the Juvenile Court Administration with a primary purpose of maintaining public safety and encouraging accountability of court involved youth.   Detention is a secure facility where high-risk youth who may pose a threat to community safety are detained while awaiting a court process, have violated court ordered conditions and/or have been sentenced.

Detention is staffed by a team of skilled and compassionate professionals who serve as positive role models and provides direct supervision of youth in the facility.  Detention staff conducts intake screening, assigns housing, and facilitates youth attending court, visitation, school, medical, and approved outside community appointments.

Our focus is to keep youth safe, support them in navigating the court process, and assist the youth in developing educational, emotional, and critical life skills.  The services and programs provided in Juvenile Detention provide youth with the opportunity for constructive and positive change.

Services and Programs

Services regularly provided in Detention include:

• All youth entering the facility are provided with orientation that includes information on the facility, the daily schedule, expectations, and the scoring/level system.  Staff provides the orientation and gives the youth the orientation manual for closer review.
• Medical services, including health screening, assessment, treatment, medication administration, and emergency services are available to all youth residing in our facility.
• Mental Health services are provided by a contracted behavioral health provider in the facility several days per week.  Staff also facilitates youth contacting behavioral health crisis services when needed.  
• School programming is provided by Northwest Educational Service District 189 to all youth in the facility.
  1. In addition to standards subjects, school programming also includes:  art, book club, cooking, career and financial literacy, library, food handler’s card, GED preparation, health, life skills, physical education, and presentations by community organizations.
• Substance use screening, assessment, and treatment are available to youth.  Those engaged with substance use providers in the community are able to continue treatment during their stay here.
• Youth are provided opportunities to develop life skills such as self-awareness, empathy, creative thinking, effective communication, and problem solving.  Through participation in a variety of programs and services offered in detention, youth have the opportunity to learn prosocial engagement, emotional regulation, tools to manage stress/conflict, maintaining physical health, and processing/healing trauma.
• Transition planning, aimed to help youth successfully reintegrate back into the community, includes coordinating with families, schools, and community providers.

Programming offered in Detention includes:

• Alcoholics Anonymous
• Bible Study
• Church (non-denominational)
• Music (guitar and other instruments)
• Poetry (reading and writing)
• We continue to look for additional opportunities to add programming for youth. 

Bail Payments

During regular business hours, bail may be paid to the Superior Court Clerk, Suite 301. After hours, weekends and holidays, you may pay bail to the Detention Center on the 6th Floor (cash, exact change, U.S. funds only).

Detention Visitation

Annual Room Confinement and Isolation Report 2023