Judges vote to support youth center

CARSON CITY - The Regional Facility Planning Subcommittee of the Commission on Statewide Juvenile Justice Reform voted last week to recommend to the full committee Oct. 10, their complete support for the Nevada Youth Training Center (NYTC) and its staff as the facility of choice to provide rehabilitative services to youth offenders.

"We very much appreciate the confidence the Juvenile Justice Commission has expressed in NYTC and the staffs' ability to provide quality services for its youth," said Romaine Gilliland, Director, Department of Health and Human Services.

Several Judges recently toured NYTC and saw firsthand the layout of the campus, the multiple buildings, and most importantly the interactions between staff and residents. "The Elko facility and its staff are valuable resources. They clearly provide a great service to our youth and I believe it's far better to invest in this existing, successful program rather than start from scratch elsewhere," said Judge Tod Young, Douglas County, 9th Judicial District Court. "NYTC is working and simply needs some additional funding resources, which I fully support, for building maintenance and program restoration."

"The judges' support of NYTC is extremely helpful and a testament to our quality staff and the rehabilitative program they run," said Amber Howell, Division of Child and Family Services administrator. "Now that discussions about alternative location construction projects are off the table, we can put all of our focus and energy into strengthening NYTC."

DCFS plans to enhance NYTC's educational accreditation programs, physical rehabilitation programs, and front end services to prevent youth commitments.[[In-content Ad]]