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Gwinnett RYDC closing, transferring some offenders to Gainesville
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By: Nat Gurley

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The regional youth detention center in Gwinnett County is closing in June, with some offenders set to transfer to the Gainesville RYDC, the Department of Juvenile Justice announced Thursday evening.

The Gwinnett facility at 650 Hi Hope Lane, Lawrenceville, was built 30 years ago and would have required “increasing maintenance costs for an aging facility with significant infrastructure issues,” said Avery Niles, commissioner of the department, in a news release. The facility can house 49 offenders.

Offenders from Hall County and the northern half of Gwinnett will be reassigned to the Gainesville RYDC at 450 Crescent Drive. Other offenders will go to the newly renovated Rockdale RYDC at 2165 Chambers Drive, Conyers.

The Gwinnett facility often houses those awaiting placement in special treatment programs or long-term youth development centers.

Niles said the department’s human resources division will help staff find employment at other department facilities.

The department will begin meeting monthly with Gwinnett officials to plan the transition.