The Natrona County Commission needs at least $7 million, in addition to the $3 million it's already saved, to build a new juvenile detention center.

Last month, commissioners saw an architect's rendering of a regional center and said it would give them the evidence they needed to persuade legislators to pay for the project.

But that state money isn't there for juvenile detention, at least according to Gov. Dave Freudenthal's proposed supplemental budget, his chief of staff said.

"There is not a specific line item related to that," Chris Boswell said.

The Natrona County Commission did not make a formal request to the governor's office for financial assistance for a new detention center, Chairman Rob Hendry said

Natrona County commissioner Barb Peryam said the earlier discussions about a new juvenile detention center happened when the state economy was doing well and before the global economic upheavals starting in September.

"We're aware of the fact there's no money," Peryam said.

Commissioners also are aware building a new juvenile detention center will take longer than they thought it would, she said.

Natrona County isn't alone.

Before allocations can be made, Boswell said Wyoming needs a statewide discussion about regional detention centers.

To that end, Freudenthal appointed former 5th Judicial District Judge Gary Hartman as an adviser.

Building a new facility, Boswell and Hartman said, must happen in conjunction with the judicial system, counties, the Department of Family Services, mental health workers, educators, social workers, law enforcement, and judges who make the decisions about placing juvenile offenders.

"It remains a work in progress," Boswell said.

Natrona County commissioners want a regional facility because it would have a better opportunity to secure state funding, and accepting youth offenders from counties would defray costs, according to previous discussions among commissioners and consultants.

The current facility on the third floor of the Hall of Justice is inadequate and has been criticized for problems including insufficient security cameras and no exercise areas.

Hartman complimented Natrona County for recognizing what it needs, and has seen Amundsen's plans, he said.

But all this may be premature, Boswell said.

"There is no universal agreement on regional detention centers," he said.

Furthermore, the state has no overall policy about detention, which is just one part of juvenile justice, Hartman said.

DFS Director Tony Lewis said an overall policy also needs a central system to process offenders (instead of the county-by-county system), a community-based system of care, and setting up local planning groups to consider regional detention centers.

"I don't know that it can wait," Lewis said.

He also doubts it can be solved on a county-by-county basis, either, he said. "The Legislature is going to have to consider it."

The counties need some guidance, though, Peryam said.

"The frustration has been that they can't tell us what it is (state agencies) want," she said. "We will do what we need to do to protect our youth."

Sen. Kit Jennings, R-Casper, has an idea that may help, Lewis and Hartman said.

Jennings has drafted a bill that could resolve many of these issues and perhaps avert the potential loss of state certification of the juvenile detention centers in Casper and Cheyenne, he said.

Both centers are run by the private Cornerstone Programs, Inc., which announced last year that it was experiencing financial difficulties especially after the Department of Family Services began recommending judges order the detention of juveniles.

His proposed bill would make available matching funds for three pilot projects of juvenile detention centers, he said.

After consulting with the appropriate federal, state and local agencies, counties would come up with their own ideas for pilot juvenile detention centers, Jennings said.

Up to three counties - or counties with regional facility ideas - could develop proposals and request up to one-third of the $18 million Jennings has proposed for funding, he said. The counties would need to provide a match of 25 percent of the total cost of the project, he said.

The Department of Family Services would be the gatekeeper of the money, because it would have to approve the certification for the detention centers, Jennings said.

Jennings doesn't have any co-sponsors yet, but still intends to submit it for the Legislature's consideration, he said.

"If nothing else, it starts the discussion," he said.

Reach Tom Morton at (307) 266-0592, or at Tom.Morton@trib.com.