At first glance, from the outside the Juvenile Detention facility may look like any other building you’ve seen, but inside, a quiet transformation has been underway to improve recruitment, retain more staff, improve safety, and cultivate positive staff-youth relationships. This innovative work has earned the department national recognition as a recipient of the 2025 Barbara Allen-Hagen Award.
The Center for Improving Youth Justice (CIYJ) presents the Barbara Allen-Hagen Award to a correction or detention facility that exemplifies outstanding commitment to continuous improvement through a standardized process of data collection and review. The award recognizes the department’s dedication to making positive changes and enhancing outcomes not only for the young people in their care but also for staff, families, and the community.
“What Durango Detention did that stood out to the Center for Improving Youth Justice was that their culture change went very deep,” said Kim Godfrey Lovett, Executive Director of the Center for Improving Youth Justice. “It’s what helped the staff in a challenging situation become integrated and build a community. It was not just a single approach, and it went deep into ensuring that staff felt safe, and everything improved after that. It made that connection between staff feeling safe and promoting kids' healthy growth.”
In addition to enhancing youth programming, the Juvenile Probation Department launched a new, streamlined hiring process to select highly qualified candidates for detention officer positions, refreshed the new officer academy to build stronger teams of support, and created new pathways for professional growth. As part of this enhanced recruitment initiative, prospective candidates are invited to spend a full day at the department, including a tour of the detention facility and QA sessions with existing staff. This immersive experience provides applicants with a clear understanding of the role’s expectations and the benefits of working as a detention officer.
“This recognition is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our detention and probation staff, who bring purpose, compassion, and professionalism to their work every single day,” said Eric Meaux, Juvenile Probation Chief. “Regardless of a youth’s offense or court status, our team’s commitment is rooted in fairness, dignity, and the belief that every young person deserves to be treated with humanity. That principle is not just a policy — it’s a daily practice. The recognition doesn’t just celebrate one initiative or milestone — it shines a light on a culture our team has cultivated. A culture where practice improvement is not just a moment here and there, but continuous. Where youth-centered approaches and public safety walk hand in hand”.
Youth in Detention are being offered unique opportunities to participate in innovative programs to expand their experiences in the arts, music, recreation, and an on-site jobs program as well as advanced education through ASU on-line college level courses. In addition to providing young people with the valuable skills they can carry with them as they transition back to their families and communities, the opportunities provide moments of success that are built upon one another, strengthening their desire for a new path forward. A dedicated team of professionals within the Juvenile Detention Center works collaboratively to develop and deliver engaging programming that encourages positive involvement and personal growth during detention.
Recently, CIYJ hosted their annual Awards Night Gala in Boston, where the Barbara Allen-Hagen Award was presented to the Juvenile Probation Department in recognition of their exceptional work.
“It’s a national competition, and Durango Detention competed with the top programs across the country,” said Lovett. “It is a distinguished honor, and what they’ve done is in the best interest of the young people who come to detention. They are turning around young lives, they are preventing future criminal behavior, and they are going to save a lot of money because these young people won’t be going to the adult system or stay incarcerated. They used research, they used data, and they’re getting the outcomes desired.”
The evening also spotlighted the creativity and voices of youth through the celebration of this year’s Kids Got Talent contest winner. The gala also held significance for the Superior Court in Maricopa as a youth recently released from detention was honored for his powerful winning musical entry, Letting Go. His inspiring submission was selected from 51 entries across 13 states, highlighting the youths’ remarkable talent and resilience in local and state correctional facilities.
For more information, please visit: Center for Improving Youth Justice