Most boys stay fourteen days or less. Some are held while they are waiting for a bed in a treatment center. Some boys are bailed out by their parents and in other cases they are released by the judge. It depends on several factors, including the age of the offender, the level of crime, and whether it is a first or repeat offense. Eighty percent of cases do not go to trial; attorneys are usually able to work out a plea deal.

Offenses range from relatively minor, such as shoplifting, to felony offences such as home invasion, rape and even murder. Every youth is screened before coming to the unit. Low-level offenders who are non-violent, who are not sex offenders, who are not fire-setters, and not considered a flight risk are placed in foster homes. The boys can refuse to go to a foster home and come to the detention...
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