Muskegon County to kick off Juvenile Transition Center Project

Bob Lukens, CDME

Muskegon, MI – Muskegon County will kick off construction for its new Juvenile Transition Center (JTC) by hosting a Groundbreaking Ceremony on Tuesday, December 3, 2013, at its new location at 205 E. Apple Avenue. The ceremony will begin at 3 p.m. and the public is invited to attend.

Currently, the JTC is located on a rural site 12 miles from downtown Muskegon. The new 25,000 square-foot facility will expand its capacity from 12 to 32 residents. The new facility will be built at the county’s Pine Street South Campus near other downtown county offices, with completion slated for September of 2014.

“We’re thrilled to see this project come to fruition” said Vernon Oard, Muskegon County Youth Services Director. “Having this new facility closer to other county services will greatly increase the treatment and support options for Muskegon County youth and their families.”

JuvenileCenter

The JTC, a Secure co-educational caring institution functions within the Muskegon County Department of Corrections, will look and feel different than the existing facility. For example, the new JTC will feature brick veneer and a pitched roof looking more residential than institutional, and interior spaces will feel more like living areas than confinement areas.

The new center will promote the county’s contemporary approach to juvenile rehabilitation with an enhanced focus on education. Individualized learning programs, substance abuse counseling, social skills, character development and recreational programs will give each person an opportunity to develop accountability and achieve personal growth.

“The goal is to provide a safe and secure environment that will allow these young people to transition back into their families and society so they can become successful students, citizens and employees,” said Oard.

Granger Construction Company will serve as Construction Manager for the new JTC and the Adult Detention Center project, designed by GMB Architects and Engineers of Holland, MI and Goldberg Group Architects, PC, a criminal justice architect from St. Joseph, Missouri.