Commissioner reports juvenile court beds down to 15 from typical 25–27

The Richland County Board of Commissioners heard a report during its Sept. 3 session that juvenile court bed capacity is currently 15, below the usual range of 25 to 27. "Currently, I have 15. Normally, it's 25 to 27," said a commissioner (Speaker 4).

The chair opened the meeting and placed the bed-count report on the record but no staff presentation or budgetary proposal followed in the transcript. The exchange identified a capacity shortfall but did not include a request for immediate action, a timeline for addressing the gap, or details about where affected juveniles were being placed.

The board did not take formal action on the report during the recorded session. Commissioners did not specify whether temporary placements or inter-county transfers were being used, and no funding figures or program names were provided in the transcript.