Detention Center

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Erie County Detention Center

1338 Tiffin Ave., Sandusky, OH 44870 

 (419) 627-7611 Fax: (419) 627-6672

Robert Wikel, Superintendent of Corrections
Brenda Wainwright, Director
 

Mission Statement

The mission of the Erie County Detention Center is to safely and securely house youth who are held pending further Court action. Detention residents are provided academic instruction, recreation, living skills, arts and crafts, religious programming and mental health intervention, all within the context of an active behavior management system.

Programming

Youth in detention are kept active daily from breakfast until bedtime with many programs incorporated into the daily activity schedule. All programming is positive and educational. The following are activities currently used:

  • Thinking for a Change: Thinking for a Change, or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, is a main focus of our daily program.  Residents learn how their beliefs and values lead to thoughts, which lead to behaviors, which lead to consequences - positive or negative.  Residents are presented with skill sets and learn how to apply them to past situations as well as how they need to fit into their lives once they leave the facility. 
  • Physical Education:Residents that are not exempt, due to medical reasons, take part in daily physical activities. Small and large motor-skill usage is highlighted. Weather permitting; youth participate in both cooperative and competitive programs outdoors in the recreation area.  The fundamentals and rules are explained to the youth prior to participation.  Teamwork and sportsmanship are also emphasized to the youth.
  • Living Skills: A variety of group sessions are provided on topics such as self-esteem, conflict resolution, communication skills, peer pressure, goals, drug/alcohol awareness, budgeting, application/resume completion, interview skills, anger management, stress relief, computer skills, diversity and creative thinking.
  • Arts and Crafts:Residents are able to use the Multi-purpose room for different art projects.  Twice a month a representative from the Volunteer Center includes the youth in volunteer crafts.  The crafts made at this time are distributed to various organizations in need.  
  • Guest Speakers:Periodically area community volunteers and professionals come to speak with the residents about their individual area of expertise. Some of the topics include drug/alcohol abuse addiction, AIDS/sexually transmitted diseases, career/education options, nutrition, domestic violence, career development/job skills and hygiene.
  • School:Youth are required to attend all scheduled school days while in detention. School is provided throughout the year for the youth. While in detention, residents receive instruction from certified teachers assigned by North Point Educational Services. Residents receive individual work assignments, from their respective schools, to ensure they are kept abreast of their studies. Youth who are legally withdrawn or expelled from school are assigned work based on the North Point Educational Services curriculum.
  • Religious Programming: On a weekly basis representatives from the religious community come into the detention center to offer residents religious programming.
 

Visitation Information

Detention residents are allowed two visits per week from parents or custodians during the following visitation periods:
  • Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 6:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m
  • Saturday and Sunday from 4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Special visits are allowed if the regular visitation times are not convenient for parents or custodians. However, in all cases visitors must call ahead to sign up so that the visitation areas do not become overcrowded.

No items from outside the facility are permitted to be brought into the facility except for medical purposes.  Visitors will be subject to search and will pass through a metal detector.

In addition to parents and custodians, attorneys of record, current teachers, pastors, court staff and mental health professionals are permitted to visit detention residents.

Nursing Department

The Erie County Health Department contracts with the Detention Center for nursing services.  If you, as a parent or guardian, need to contact the nursing staff for any reason while a youth is here, call (419) 627-7611 and ask for nursing. 
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