Ohio Administrative Code
Title 5139 - Department of Youth Services
Chapter 5139-37 - Detention Centers
Section 5139-37-09 - New plants

(1) Children with disabilities are housed in a manner that provides for their safety and security. Individual rooms or housing units used by a child with disabilities are designed for their use and provides for integration with the general population. Appropriate detention center programs and activities are accessible to a disabled child confined to the detention center.

(2) Physical plant is designed to facilitate personal contact and interaction between staff and child.

(3) The detention center shall have exits that are properly positioned, clear, distinct and permanently marked in order to ensure the timely evacuation of children, staff and visitors in the event of fire or other emergency.

(1) Written policy and procedure provides that the new detention center is built or that the existing detention center expanded only after a needs evaluation study has been prepared in conjunction with appropriate local and state bodies.

(2) The detention center site location is determined with participation from the community in which it is to be located.

(3) The detention center is geographically accessible to juvenile justice agencies and community based services to allow for continued contact between the youth and family, law enforcement, prosecutors, court personnel, legal counsel, clergy, school agencies and any other community agency working with a detained child.

(4) A written program philosophy is developed for the new detention center which includes but is not limited to:

(5) There is a designated day room area for each housing unit. The room is separate and distinct from the sleeping area and can be immediately adjacent to and accessible from the sleeping area.

(6) There is a designated area for a twenty-four hour control center to monitor the safety and security of the detention center. The control center should have sufficient space for monitoring and coordinating all internal and external security systems, communication systems, safety alarms, detection systems and any other mechanical or electrical system.

(7) Written policy and procedure provides that power generators are tested at least every two weeks and other emergency equipment and systems are tested at least monthly for effectiveness and repaired or replaced as necessary.