SIDNEY – Juvenile crime requires a detention facility, just as with adult offenders.

The problem is there are few in western Nebraska, and those east are quickly filled. Cheyenne County Sheriff Adam Frerichs spoke with the Cheyenne County Commissioners this week on possibly developing a facility in Scottsbluff.

“Scottsbluff County has been exploring building a juvenile detention center there. I’m sure you’re aware. You see our bills when we have a juvenile. The last juvenile we had we ended up taking clear to Iowa. We ended up taking them clear to Iowa because there just is nothing in the Panhandle. As you go east everything is filled with juveniles,” Frerichs said.

He said Scotts Bluff County Sheriff Mark Overman attended a meeting with state senators who said there is federal funding available.

“They have said that there is money out there, through the federal government, that they can apply for to help get assistance in building a juvenile facility. The problem is they’re asking how much money ... how much money do you need, well they don’t know at this point until they get a feasibility study done and based on State Statutes that’s the first thing that has to happen,” he said.

Frerichs said if the feasibility study can be done this year, the possibility of grant funding will be there for the proposed facility. He said a typical feasibility study could cost at least $100,000. A man who worked with Scotts Bluff County on a previous project has offered to do the feasibility study for $50,000. Sheriff Overman is proposing a memorandum of understanding with support based on the participating county’s population. Cheyenne County’s share of the feasibility study would be $6,384.

He said the money isn’t due until the feasibility study is completed later this year. Copies of the proposed MOU were given to the commissioners, County Attorney Amber Horn and County Clerk Jordan Hajek.

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