Understanding Charles H. Hickey, Jr. School: Detention vs. Structured Shelter Care
If your child is at
Charles H. Hickey, Jr. is connected to two Maryland Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) programs: an all-male detention center (often referred to as Charles H. Hickey, Jr. School) and the Charles H. Hickey, Jr. Structured Shelter Care Program. The detention center serves only boys, while the shelter care program serves both males and females - so the name alone doesn’t always tell you which setting your youth is in. Think of them as distinct programs under DJS, with different purposes and day-to-day operations.
Note: Staff in both the detention program and the Structured Shelter Care Program are trained in trauma-informed care.
The Charles H. Hickey, Jr. School program is an all-male detention center run by DJS. It primarily holds male youth from Baltimore, Carroll, Cecil, Harford, and Howard Counties.
Hickey’s detention capacity is up to 72 youth. That number is specific to the detention center side of the facility.
Education is built into the routine. Youth placed in detention at Hickey attend school six hours daily, year-round through the Juvenile Services Education Program (JSEP).
The Structured Shelter Care Program at Charles H. Hickey, Jr. is a separate DJS shelter care program for males and females ages 13–20. It serves youth from across Maryland, which is broader than the detention program’s primary county focus.
- ✓ Total shelter capacity: up to 6 youth
- ✓ Up to 4 male youth
- ✓ Up to 2 female youth
If your youth is in the Structured Shelter Care Program (or you’re trying to confirm placement there), use the shelter’s main office line: 410-663-7724.
Just like the detention program, shelter residents at Hickey attend school six hours daily, year-round through JSEP.
For families, the biggest takeaway is that “Hickey” can mean two different placements. The detention center is all-male, while the Structured Shelter Care Program is co-ed and limited to a much smaller number of youth. Because these are distinct programs, the right point of contact can differ depending on where your child is placed - so if the shelter program is the one you’re dealing with, the shelter main office number (410-663-7724) is the one to use.
Keep in mind: Both programs have trauma-informed staff and provide JSEP schooling six hours a day, year-round - even though other routines and procedures can differ between detention and shelter care.
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