80-5-503. Secure care facilities.
(1) The division shall maintain and operate secure care facilities for the custody and rehabilitation of juvenile offenders:
(a) who pose a danger of serious bodily harm to others;
(b) who cannot be controlled in a less secure setting; or
(c) who have engaged in a pattern of conduct characterized by persistent and serious criminal offenses that, as demonstrated through the use of other alternatives, cannot be controlled in a less secure setting.
(2)
(a) The director shall appoint an administrator for each secure care facility.
(b) An administrator of a secure care facility shall have experience in social work, law, criminology, corrections, or a related field, and in administration.
(3)
(a)
(i) The division, in cooperation with the State Board of Education, shall provide instruction, or make instruction available, to juvenile offenders in secure care facilities.
(ii) The instruction shall be appropriate to the age, needs, and range of abilities of the juvenile offender.
(b) A secure care facility shall:
(i) assess each juvenile offender to determine the juvenile offender's abilities, possible learning disabilities, interests, attitudes, and other attributes related to appropriate educational programs; and
(ii) provide prevocational education to juvenile offenders to acquaint juvenile offenders with vocations, and vocational requirements and opportunities.
(4)
(a) The division shall place juvenile offenders who have been committed to the division for secure care in a secure care facility, operated by the division or by a private entity, that is appropriate to ensure that humane care and rehabilitation opportunities are afforded to the juvenile offender.
(b) The division shall have separate housing units for male individuals and female individuals in secure care facilities.
(5) The division shall adopt standards, policies, and procedures for the regulation and operation of secure care facilities, consistent with state and federal law.
Amended by Chapter 88, 2025 General Session
