New Ector County Youth Detention Center Planned For the Future

Ector County commissioners have discussed plans and design for a new youth detention center.

According to NewsWest 9, James Jones, facility administrator said the current center is crowded and has limited rooms to accommodate the number of juveniles coming into the center.

“We’re looking at some place that’s really conducive to making a difference in kids lives and putting them back on the right road. Because if we don’t, we’re going to deal with them in the adult system over and over again. You know, it’s like pay me now or pay me later," said Jones.

The facility is ranked as one of the top youth centers in Texas but problems with the center have been ignored for a long time.

Problems like releasing juveniles early to bring more in or having their time and activities spent closely with one another because of limited space.

“We’ll handle it later, we’ll handle it later, well now’s time. We have to do something now if we’re going to be ready for it. And if not we’ll have to deal with the crisis and I don’t know what’s that going to look like," said Jones.

No time frame of when the plans will be put into action were released at this time.