Tulsa County's New Juvenile Justice Center Will Be Downtown

NewsOn6.com

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Tulsa County has agreed to purchase seven and half acres of land in downtown Tulsa for a new Juvenile Justice Center.

Storey Wrecker currently occupies the site.

The location is located between Guthrie to Elwood and the BNSF Railroad tracks to Archer. The cost, $2.5 million.  It is just north of the BOK Center, across a railroad track and south of the Tulsa County Jail.

In a news release from Tulsa County, Commissioner Fred Perry helped negotiate the contract to purchase the land.

"There is no better location for a new juvenile center. It's proximity to the jail and the courthouse will save the citizens, county government, legal, and law enforcement professionals plenty of time and money compared to other alternatives," Perry said. "We are acting now, while we have an opportunity, to secure this ideal location for the time when a new center can be built."

Perry said there is not timetable for building a new juvenile courthouse and Tulsa County has not proposed a plan to pay the estimated $30-million plus cost.

Tulsa County currently conducts all juvenile justice matters in a building at 315 South Gilcrease Road.   

Funding for the purchase of land will come from a portion of revenue in the 4-to-Fix 2 program, which was passed by Tulsa County voters for juvenile justice facility purposes, and a 2009 state appropriation.

The Juvenile Division of Tulsa County District Court handles a variety of cases including those involving child abuse and neglect, adoption and juvenile delinquency.