Sarpy County opened the doors of the Patrick J. Thomas Juvenile Justice Center in March, 2003. Located at 9701 Portal Road, Papillion, Nebraska, the facility is a 36-bed, staff-secure housing center for juveniles. The center includes an educational center, youth assessment center, juvenile court suite, visitation area, alternative school, as well as administrative offices. A future component will include a secure youth detention area.An intake and booking process is conducted by the Juvenile Probation Office, which determines the involvement needed by the courts and possible detention. A screening includes mental health issues, substance abuse, suicide risk, strength-based youth assessment and strength-based parent or caregiver assessment. The court can direct further evaluations be conducted for mental health issues, personality assessment, home study and family assessment, educational needs, trauma review, psychiatric evaluation, psychological testing, physical health and lab assessments. An evening reporting center is available for juveniles who are involved in the juvenile court system to report for daily supervision. The reporting center program includes tutors, alcohol abuse counseling, parenting classes and moral recognition therapy.In addition, an alternative education program is available for juveniles who have been expelled from school and who are currently involved in the juvenile court system. A court-ordered program called the Sarpy County Educational Program (SCEP) is available to them during normal school hours.Juveniles may be placed under a structured supervision program called C.A.R.E. (Children at Risk Education Program). C.A.R.E. is a home-based electronic monitoring system, which uses radio frequencies and global positioning systems (GPS) to assist staff members who monitor the activities of youths on the program.This facility and its programs offer a safe and structured environment for juvenile law offenders who are awaiting court ordered placement and/or court hearing. The alternative school provides an educational program for those juveniles how have been expelled from school and are currently in the Juvenile Court system, who have been ordered to attend the Sarpy County Educational Program. Juveniles may be placed on electronic monitoring as a means of supervision to track the juveniles at home, school or work. Juveniles are continually assessed and their progress monitored while in the program. Our staff is dedicated to working in professional, scalable, and individually tailored programs to provide youth an environment that is proactive, safe, caring and responsive.