Secure Residential Care Center for Children and Youth (SRCCCY)
Act 185 funded and operationalized SRCCCYs, allowing a county or tribal nation to establish a SRCCCY for youth under the care of the county. Youth are placed in SRCCCYs under Correctional Placement dispositions (Wis. Stat. Chp. 938.34(4m)), which requires the youth be found delinquent of an act that would be punishable by a sentence of six months or more if committed by an adult, a danger to the public and in need of restrictive custodial treatment.
Act 185 mandated the DOC promulgate administrative rules to govern the operation of SRCCCYs and provide oversight similarly to the model of administrative oversight provided to count y jails. The DOC's Office of Detention Facilities (ODF) is the entity responsible for the regulation and oversight of local detention facilities, including the SRCCCYs. Administrative Rule 347 was officially promulgated in October 2021 and establishes minimum standards for the building and for the services, programming, and reporting requirements for counties to operate a SRCCCY.
Act 185 authorized funding through a grant program administered by the DOC for the construction of a new SRCCCYs located throughout Wisconsin. On October 2019, as required by Act 185, the Juvenile Corrections Grant Committee (JCGC) submitted its recommendations to award funds to four counties — Brown, Dane, Milwaukee and Racine — to build new SRCCCYs. On February 12, 2020, the Joint Committee on Finance amended the recommendations and awarded a total of $110.96 million to the four counties, reducing Milwaukee County's award by $8.4 million.
In August 2020, Dane County responded, declining their grant award; Brown County indicated the proposed grant agreement did not meet the requirements set forth in their County Board's Resolution; and Milwaukee County requested to defer their acceptance.
Racine and Milwaukee Counties are the only counties to accept their awards and move forward with establishing a SRCCCY.
The Racine County SRCCCY, named the Jonathon Delagrave Youth Development and Care Center, opened on May 1, 2025. This is a new facility for Racine County.
The Milwaukee County SRCCCY, which will be attached to the Vel R. Phillips Juvenile Justice Facility, is currently under construction with an anticipated opening in 2026. The Milwaukee County SRCCCY is a remodel and expansion of the existing facility.