PHILADELPHIA — The City of Philadelphia took legal action against the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on Friday, October 21 to address the issues at the Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Services Center (PJJSC), which has experienced overcrowding for several months. This is due to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services not fulfilling their legal obligation regarding the youth awaiting transfer to a Commonwealth delinquent placement.

The City’s lawsuit—available in full online—against the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services and Acting Secretary of Human Services Meg Snead seeks to force them to fulfill their official responsibilities and take custody of the 74 youth who have been adjudicated delinquent and committed to the Commonwealth for treatment, supervision and rehabilitation.

“For too long, the Commonwealth has been derelict in this fundamental duty. The City, in good faith, pleaded with state officials to fulfill their obligations and avoid the crisis we are now seeing at the Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Services Center (PJJSC),” said Vanessa Garrett Harley, Deputy Mayor for the Office of Children and Families. “As months passed, unfortunately, no meaningful action was taken on their part and empty promises were made. Overcrowding makes it more difficult for staff to provide programming and services and jeopardizes the City’s duty to protect the health, safety, and welfare of youth in juvenile custody. The City cannot wait any longer and now seeks necessary relief before the Commonwealth Court to mandate the Commonwealth to take custody of the committed youth.”

The PJJSC, operated by the City’s Department of Human Services, is Philadelphia’s only secure juvenile detention center. Youth are held there by order of the Courts while they wait for their cases to be heard and an appropriate disposition to be issued.