Erie County NY Juvenile Detention Center

Erie County NY Juvenile Detention Center basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 716-923-4000, 716-924-4062

This facility is for juvenile residents.

The Erie County NY Juvenile Detention Center is a medium to low-security detention center located at 810 E Ferry St Buffalo, NY that is operated locally by the Juvenile Justice Department and holds youths awaiting the determination of punishment for the crimes which they are accused. Most of the adolescents are here for less than two years.

YOUTH SERVICES CENTER (SECURE DETENTION) – Secure detention houses Juvenile Delinquents, youth who are alleged to have committed acts that would be considered criminal before age 16, and Juvenile Offenders, youth age 13-15 who have been charged with serious crimes and are being prosecuted in the adult criminal justice system.

The facility provides health, mental health and educational services along with a variety of programs and appropriate interventions. Detention is a temporary facility for youths awaiting the outcome of their Court proceedings.

Youth remanded to the secure facility are in custody either through law enforcement arrest, family court order, or outstanding warrant.

If a youth is apprehended outside of Family Court business hours they will be brought directly to the facility:

1. The parent/guardian is notified as soon as possible.
2. The youth’s immediate physical and mental state are assessed and safety assured.
3. The youth will be transported to Youth Services Downtown offices at the Family Court Building the following business day to appear in Family Court.
4. Parents should report to the Youth Services/Detention Offices in the Court Building Lobby (Rm. 125) for guidance on the court appearance.
5. The youth may be released as a result of this initial hearing (possibly with conditions) or may be remanded to secure detention pending further proceedings.

Research shows that the great majority of youths detained in facilities such as the Youth Services Secure Center, do not become persistent adult offenders. Though it is vital that problem behaviors be addressed.

Important information regarding the youth’s stay at detention is available at the following phone numbers:

• Central Intake 923-4062, 24 hours per day, 7 days a week
• Central Administration 923-4000, Business Hours 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. [Monday – Friday] (Includes voice message with phone numbers of key staff)

Non-Secure Detention – The Division contracts with New Directions/Gateway-Longview, a residential partnership of two youth programs, to provide non-secure detention services. Primarily non-secure detention is utilized by the Family Court to temporarily house Persons in Need of Supervision (PINS) status offenders, alleged to be ungovernable, truant, or away from parent/guardian custody for more than 24 hours without permission. PINS are 9-17 years old. Low-risk Juvenile Delinquents may also be housed at New Directions/Gateway-Longview at the discretion of the Court. The program works closely with the Family Services Team (an interdepartmental program charged with directing PINS services) and the Youth Services Family Court Detention Office.

If a PINS warrant youth is apprehended during non business hours, the youth will be taken directly by the law enforcement agency to:

New Directions/Gateway-Longview
Gateway-Longview Main Campus
6350 Main Street
Williamsville, New York 14221

The parent/guardian is notified immediately

Girls Non-Secure Detention
783-3371
Dwyer (Courage) Cottage Supervisor: Marcus Cooley
783-3368
mcooley@gateway-longview.org

Boys Non-secure Detention
Curry Cottage
783-3317
Supervisor: Shawn Smith
783-3369
ssmith@gateway-longview.org

Non-Secure Detention Program Social Worker: Deb Felschow, LCSW
783-3315
dfelschow@gateway-longview.org

All Family Court appearances of detained PINS youth are managed through the Youth Services Office at the Family Court Building similar to Juvenile Delinquent case management.

Youth remanded to New Directions/Gateway-Longview are in custody either through Family Court Order or outstanding warrant.

If a youth is apprehended outside of Family Court business hours they will be brought directly to New Directions/Gateway-Longview:

1. The parent/guardian is notified as soon as possible.
2. The youth’s immediate physical and mental state are assessed and safety assured.
3. The youth will be transported to Youth Services Downtown offices at the Family Court Building the following business day to appear in Family Court.
4. Parents should report to the Youth Services/Detention Offices in the Court Building Lobby (Room 125) for guidance on the court appearance.
5. The youth may be released as a result of this initial hearing (possibly with conditions) or may be remanded to secure detention pending further proceedings.

Juvenile Justice Services encompasses secure youth detention, Family Court Building located services, contracted non-secure youth detention, and partnership in the Juvenile Delinquency Services Team.

Erie County has been selected as one of six counties in NYS to participate in a nationally recognized, evidence-based Juvenile Justice System reform project launched in 1992 by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative (JDAI) is founded on the vision that all youth involved in the Juvenile Justice System have opportunities to develop into healthy, productive adults. The focus is Juvenile Detention because studies show youth are often unnecessarily or inappropriately detained at great expense, with long-lasting negative consequences for both safety and youth development. In communities across the country, JDAI efforts are improving public safety, eliminating inappropriate and unnecessary detention, enhancing community-based alternatives, improving the conditions of confinement, and reducing the disproportionate representation of youth of color in secure detention.

visitation Info

Visitation for a county or regional juvenile facility is limited to immediate family only. Mother, father, sisters, and brothers are allowed. The visitation rules are very strict, we suggest reaching out to the staff to get their specific limitations.