juvenile detention center

American  

[joo-vuh-nl di-ten-shuhn sen-ter, ‐-nahyl] / ˈdʒu və nl dɪˈtɛn ʃən ˌsɛn tər, ‐ˌnaɪl /

noun

1. a correctional facility for juvenile offenders or delinquents, often under the supervision of a juvenile court.

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Etymology

Origin of juvenile detention center

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

The prison, run by Wackenhut Corrections Corporation—a precursor of GEO—was a 276-bed juvenile detention center called the Jena Juvenile Justice Center.

From Slate • Jun. 19, 2025

The girl is being held in Guyana's juvenile detention center and the charges against her were formalized during a virtual hearing in Magistrate's Court.

From Reuters • May 29, 2023

The police chief declined to identify the suspected shooter because he is a minor, but said he is being held at a juvenile detention center in the area.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 20, 2023

In 1997, Ms. Godfrey was in her hometown, Victoria, British Columbia, where her novel was set, researching a juvenile detention center, because her troubled heroine would spend time in one.

From New York Times • Nov. 4, 2022

He also knew that the longer Boobie stayed in a foster home, the greater the odds were of his ultimately landing in a juvenile detention center, or on the streets, or in prison.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger