Mobile County - Strickland Youth Center in Mobile County, Alabama is a county juvenile detention center, used primarily for pretrial holding of minors in juvenile court proceedings and short-term post-adjudication placements. Youth here are typically waiting for adjudication hearings, awaiting transfer to a state facility, or serving short county-level dispositions. Visitation is structured around these realities: scheduled visits for parents and approved family, court and attorney access, and case management contact. Before traveling, call 251-574-1450 to confirm the current schedule and your status on the approved visitor list.
Approved visitors typically include parents, legal guardians, custodial grandparents, and siblings. Stepparents and extended family may be approved case-by-case through the juvenile court or facility case management. Foster parents, child welfare caseworkers, and probation officers are generally pre-approved through their professional role. Attorneys, court-appointed advocates, and clergy have separate access. Minor siblings usually require a parent or guardian to accompany them. To add someone to the approved visitor list, the parent or legal guardian typically submits a written request, sometimes with court or case manager input.
County juvenile detention centers commonly schedule visits on weekends and selected weekday evenings, with shorter and more frequent visits than adult facilities. Visits at Mobile County - Strickland Youth Center may be contact visits in a structured family area, non-contact visits through glass, or video visits depending on facility setup and the youth's current status. Call 251-574-1450 for the current schedule and whether the youth is eligible for visits.
Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. Custodial parents and guardians may also need legal documentation establishing custody. Dress code is enforced: no revealing attire, no clothing that resembles staff or resident uniforms, no items that could be passed to the youth. Leave phones, bags, and personal items in your vehicle or lobby lockers. Visitor behavior is monitored; violations can result in the youth losing visiting privileges.
Most youth at Mobile County - Strickland Youth Center are involved with the juvenile court and assigned to a probation officer or case manager who coordinates the case. The probation officer is often the family's primary point of contact for case status, court hearings, release planning, and visitor approvals beyond immediate family. Building a working relationship with the probation officer helps families stay informed and advocate effectively. Ask for the probation officer's name when you call 251-574-1450.
Youth at Mobile County - Strickland Youth Center are typically scheduled for an initial detention hearing within a few days of being detained, followed by adjudication and disposition hearings as the case proceeds. Release outcomes vary: release to a parent or guardian, community supervision, transfer to a state juvenile facility, or transfer to adult court in serious cases. Family attendance at court hearings is important and can affect the judge's decisions on release conditions.
For information on phone discount plans and mail support for juvenile facilities, see InmateAid's services and call 251-574-1450.
DETENTION VISITATION POLICY
The James T. Strickland Youth Center is a secure area. All residents’ identities are protected and considered confidential. The visitation policy is strictly enforced.
IMMEDIATE FAMILY ONLY:
A. Mother/Father
B. Grandparents
C. Brothers and Sisters, age 18 and older only.
Picture I.D. with birth date required for each visit.
D. Any sibling with a different last name from the resident may require prior approval from the court before being allowed to visit.
Only those with approved visitation will be allowed in the building. The James T. Strickland Youth Center will not serve as a waiting area for unauthorized guests. Please make arrangements at home for the care of young children and others who will not have access to the building.
Visitation hours are:
Tuesdays – 6:00pm to 7:30pm
Saturdays – 9:00am to 11:00am
Residents are limited to 2 visitors for 15 minutes.
All unauthorized packages, purses, smoking materials, pocket knives or other weapons are not allowed in the building. In order to provide better security for residents, parents, and detention staff please be advised that a metal detector is in use at door 1.
Items allowed include the following: 3 pair of socks, 3 pair of underwear, Resident’s medication, 2 books (softback only), 1 Bible (softback only), 3 pictures (no alcohol, gang, drug, nude images allowed), stamps, 1 deck of cards. Female residents are also allowed a perm, and conditioner/shampoo combination.