Policies

Phone Use

Residents of Bucks County Youth Center (BCYC) are permitted to make collect phone calls to their parents, grandparents and brothers and sisters 21 years of age and older. All calls by residents must be outgoing as they cannot receive incoming calls. Residents will be issued a phone code that will allow him/her to call only those individuals who are on their approved phone list. Families of the resident will need to set up an account with Global Tel-Link by calling 800-483-8314 or by going to their website.

Court Information

Residents will have an Intake hearing within 72 hours of admission unless they were detained directly from a juvenile court hearing. Hearings are generally held on Tuesdays and Fridays. Residents are transported to their court hearings by the Bucks County Sheriffs Department. Parents will be notified about the residents Juvenile Court hearing schedule by the Juvenile Probation Department.

Please contact the residents’ attorney, Public Defender 215-348-6473 and/or the Juvenile Probation Department 215-348-6514 for additional court information.

Visitation Policy

Residents are permitted to receive visits with approved family members (parents/legal guardians, grandparents, brothers/sisters 21 years of age and older). Any other visitors must be approved by the Deputy Director and Bucks County Juvenile Probation. Visiting times and days will be provided to parents when they are contacted by BCYC staff for intake information. All visitors must show photo identification before entering BCYC.

Mail

Residents of BCYC may write letters for delivery outside of the facility. Postage is supplied by BCYC. Mail is not sent or received on weekends or holidays. All mail coming to residents must be received through the U.S. Mail. The address for a resident to receive mail must include the following information:

[Resident’s Name]
Bucks County Youth Center
1750 S Easton Road
Doylestown, PA 18901

Education

Residents of BCYC are expected to participate in school classes led by the Bucks County Intermediate Unit #22. They will also be involved in Life Skills classes, Physical Education and other recreational programming. Questions and concerns about a resident’s educational needs should be directed to the Bucks County Intermediate Unit at 215-348-2940.

School Lunch Program

BCYC participates in the National School Lunch Program. This program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day. The program was established under the National School Lunch Act, signed by President Harry Truman in 1946. More information can be found at www.fns.usda.gov/.

View the Bucks County Youth Center Wellness Policy (PDF).

ARP ESSER Health and Safety Plan for the Bucks County Youth Center

Section 2001(i)(1) of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act requires each local education agency (LEA) that receives funding under the ARP Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund to develop and make publicly available on the LEA's website a Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan, hereinafter referred to as a Health and Safety Plan.

ARP ESSER Health and Safety Plan for the Bucks County Youth Center

Permitted Items for Residents

Residents will be issued items including bedding, a towel, washcloth, hygiene supplies and clothing. Residents may also have three pieces of reading materials in their room (books, magazines, letters). They are also permitted religious reading material in addition to other reading materials. Residents may also have three photographs once they reach Level 1. Once a resident reaches Level 2 they may have a radio in their room supplied by their family. Radio must be in good repair and cannot have batteries.

All other items not mentioned will be considered contraband and will be removed from the resident’s possession. Issued items cannot be altered in any way.

Clothing Guidelines

Upon admission, residents will be issued BCYC clothing. When a resident advances to Level 1 they will be permitted to wear their own clothing that has been approved by BCYC staff. Residents are permitted two additional sets of clothing. Clothing must fit properly; pants cannot drop below the waist. Residents are not permitted to have the following: thong style underwear, under wire bras, cropped shirts that show the abdomen, belts, clothing with draw strings, zippers other than a zipper fly, hooded sweatshirts. All clothing should be marked with the resident’s full name using a permanent laundry marker. Clothing cannot be exchanged once it is received except for seasonal change due to weather.