Yuma, AZ- Some juveniles from other areas will find themselves staying at the Yuma County Juvenile Justice Center after a unanimous vote took place at a Yuma County Board of Supervisors meeting.
The justice center has agreed to detain juveniles on behalf of La Paz County and the Cocopah tribe for the fiscal year of 2012-2013. But before the vote, one board member stated his concerns.
"I have a short question. During out budget discussion we were talking about overcrowding and not enough detention officers to handle the facility and talking about letting people go etc... Why are we now talking about having more people come from La Paz county," said Greg Ferguson, a Yuma County Board Supervisor.
The Yuma Juvenile Justice Center says the amount of Juveniles coming from La Paz county and the tribe is very low and they say overcrowding has not been an issue recently. The Yuma County Juvenile Justice Center says Yuma county Juveniles will be their main priority. They say if overcrowding becomes and issue they will turn away juveniles from La Paz and the Cocopah tribe.
Tim hardy, the Director of the Juvenile Justice Center, says they have been working with La Paz county and the Cocopah tribe for nearly 15 years and they are just extending the contract. Hardy says counties in Arizona work together to find a safe place for the children. He says Yuma is the best option for those areas.
Yuma County Supervisor Lenore Stuart says it's a good thing when counties in our state can work together.
"Some counties have been really struggling, Yuma county has been holding its own. The City and the county continue to work together and when we can help other counties without the same facilities I think it's a good thing," says Stuart.
Hardy says accepting the extra juveniles will not cost Yuma county any more money. La Paz county and the Cocopah tribe will pay daily rates per person.
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