A juvenile services committee composed of key stakeholders could assist in decision-making for construction of a new juvenile detention center in Natrona County, according to a $2,500, 10-page report.

Independent contractor Jennie Pagel reported on her findings during a work session Tuesday. The Natrona County Commission in April entered the 100-hour contract with Pagel to study juvenile detention facilities in the area and present ideas for a new area facility.

No bids were let for the contracting work, but County Attorney Eric Nelson said in April no statute requires a bid letting process for hiring independent contractors. Even so, the commission interviewed three other candidates before Pagel.

In the document, Pagel listed the major issues facing the new center and encouraged the commissioners to look into developing a committee of interested people to assist with those issues.

"There is a local consensus to develop a program for juvenile detainees that is progressive and implements established best practices," Pagel said.

Key issues, she said, include deciding upon a regional facility versus a local facility and deciding whether to put the juvenile facility on the same land as the adult facility.

Finding a suitable architect could also prove difficult, Pagel said, because most architects are not detention facility or juvenile detention center experts.

But, she added, building a new facility shouldn't be limited to new walls and bars and locks.

"The construction of a new juvenile detention center is an opportunity to address not only the physical facility but also the resource needs of juvenile detainees," Pagel wrote. "When proven best practice programming is implemented, we give those in our temporary custody a better chance for success once they are returned to their respective communities. Simply warehousing inmates is no longer an option if we hope to reduce recidivism and impact the future of this juvenile population."

Pagel said the new center could avoid major well-being issues of the current facility by providing separation not only of adult and juvenile inmates, which is required by statute, but also adequate separation of males and females, nonviolent and violent males and females, and individuals with health and disability issues.

Adding space for programming and services like classrooms, library and resource rooms, physical activities and exercise, outdoor recreation areas and corridors could also lead to a more productive stay for detainees, she said.

"It's not that we want to make this a day camp," she said. "It's just that we don't want to keep warehousing these kids."

The county commissioners said their next steps will include making decisions based on Pagel's findings.

They, along with Natrona County Sheriff Mark Benton, will meet to discuss the report further at a work session on Thursday.

Contact reporter Megan Lee at (307) 266-0589 or megan.lee@trib.com