Lewis County celebrates opening of renovated juvenile facility
Lewis County Commissioner Scott Brummer, left, Superior Court Judges James Lawler and J. Andrew Toynbee and Commissioner Lindsey Pollock at the ribbon cutting of the Lewis County Juvenile Justice Center, Mar. 24.
Renovated Lewis County Juvenile Justice Center officially opens with ribbon-cutting
CHEHALIS – Lewis County Commissioners and county Superior Court judges cut the ribbon Friday morning marking the official opening of the renovated Lewis County Juvenile Justice Center at 1255 SW Pacific Ave. in Chehalis.
Upgrades to the 1970s-era facility include the addition of 5,500 square feet of space for expanded educational and life skills programs, mentorship services for incarcerated youth, a new courtroom, office and meeting rooms for staff and enhanced security. The renovation project first started in November 2021 also includes an outdoor recreation area for youth.
“It’s a drastic improvement to what was among the oldest juvenile court facilities in the state,” Lewis County Juvenile Court Administrator Shad Hail said. “What we do is try and take advantage of every moment that we have to invest and sew into the lives of young people something that our community will reap rewards in for years to come.”
“I think we’ve made tremendous leaps forward in technology for different programs not available before,” said Lewis County Capital Facilities Manager Doug Carey, who is overseeing the project.
Lewis County Juvenile Court has 33 full-time and part-time employees and is supported by more than 20 professional volunteers. A new youth mentoring program is being developed with the use of $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds appropriated by the county commissioners.
On a tour of the newly renovated Lewis County Juvenile Justice Center in Chehalis, Mar. 24, clockwise from left, Lewis County Commissioner Scott Brummer, Interim County Manager Steve Wohld, county Capital Facilities Manager Doug Carey, Commissioner Lindsey Pollock and county Juvenile Court Administrator Shad Hail.
Renovating the juvenile facility is part of the county’s capital facilities updates, which eventually will include the relocation of Lewis County Public Works, Community Development, and Environmental Health to a central campus of county services near the historic courthouse in Chehalis.
“I’m grateful for what our team has accomplished with the renovation of the Juvenile Court facility,” Lewis County Commission Chair Sean Swope said. “I completely support Juvenile Court Administrator Shad Hail and his staff and their vision in support of our local youth.”
“The project is an excellent example of investing in our youth,” Commissioner Lindsey Pollock said. “When youth come in here, they get to see a facility that says people do care about me – that’s going to say to them I have value – and in some way we are going to reap the rewards of this investment. I say thank you to the community and everyone that’s been involved in this project.”
“It’s fantastic when we can produce something like this (project) and literally save millions in taxpayer dollars – a great effort all the way around,” Commissioner Scott Brummer said to those involved in the renovation project. “I appreciate what you’ve done for the citizens of Lewis County and for the youth of Lewis County.”