MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee County is taking a major step forward in youth justice reform with the construction of a new, state-of-the-art facility designed to provide local, individualized support for court-involved youth.
What You Need To Know
- Milwaukee County Youth Center construction underway
- The center will be a 32-bed program focused on mental health care, addiction treatment, therapy and education
- Youth from Southeast Wisconsin will not have to be sent hours away to correctional institutions; leaders say this will be crucial to long-term success
The Milwaukee County Youth Center, currently under construction next to the Vel R. Phillips Youth and Family Justice Center, will serve as a 32-bed rehabilitation facility focused on mental health care, addiction treatment, therapy and education.
“This is a game changer,” said Kelly Pethke, who works with Milwaukee County’s Office of Children, Youth and Family Services and has been involved in the project since 2018. “We’ve never had a facility like this that can provide services and support this close to home.”
For decades, many troubled youth from southeast Wisconsin have been sent hours away to correctional institutions like Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake. The new center will keep them closer to their families and communities.
That’s something Pethke said is crucial for long-term success.
“Research shows that relationships are the most important factor in a child’s rehabilitation,” Pethke explained. “When families are involved from the beginning, kids have a better chance at succeeding and staying out of trouble.”
Judge Jane Carroll, deputy presiding judge for Milwaukee County Children’s Court, said the new program is about balancing support with accountability.
“There’s six months of the program that’s in a confined setting, that’s in a secure setting,” said Carroll. “After that, there’s intensive monitoring and support as youth re-enter the community. We use GPS tracking, community partnerships and therapy to help these young people transition successfully.”
Carroll emphasized that helping kids manage their emotions, impulses and decision-making is key to reducing repeat offenses.
“We don’t want to see these young people back in the system and we don’t want more victims in our community,” she said. “This is our chance to change their path early on at a young age.”
The Milwaukee County Youth Center is expected to open in 2026, and those involved hope it sets a new standard for juvenile justice that is centered on healing, growth and real opportunity.
“To serve our kids and families in a way we never have before, this is history in the making,” Pethke said.
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