Juvenile center director: Education key to keeping kids out of trouble for good

At the Culpeper Juvenile Correctional Center, the scenes and surroundings appear much like any other school and that’s just the way Crystal Wynn wants it to be.

Wynn, superintendent of the state-run center in Mitchells, says education is the key to making sure the young men don’t come back into the correctional system once they leave.

And for the approximately 140 juvenile offenders — known in the system as residents — who live at the correctional center in Mitchells, there is no summer break. In one form or another, school is in session year round.

“We operate a full high school here,” she said. “One of our goals is for everyone to leave here with a high school diploma.”

So far, the initiative seems to be succeeding. Wynn said about 90 percent of young men leave with either a diploma or a GED.

“I never thought I would be doing this,” said reading instructor Shelia Bertrand, “but I really enjoy doing it,” she said. A 25-year educator and former principal from Fairfax, she relocated to Culpeper four years ago.

Besides academic education, job skills are also taught and certificates are awarded in barbering, building maintenance, floor care, and culinary arts.

“When you have kids that come in off the street, they’re very angry, very aggressive,” Wynn said. But during their time in custody, “I actually get to see these guys turn from boys into young men,” she said.

Wynn came to Culpeper from North Carolina, where she worked in adult corrections. She has worked in all aspects of industry for 15 years and earned an undergraduate degree from North Carolina Central University and a graduate degree from Troy University.

A Fredericksburg resident, she has worked at the Culpeper juvenile center since 2005 and has two daughters, ages 18 and 8.

Most of the 170 staffers are involved in educating and teaching the residents, not taking care of them. Nearly all aspects regarding the maintenance and operation of the facility are handled in some fashion by the residents, from cooking and serving meals to raising flowers in the on–site greenhouse to landscape the buildings.

Wynn said it’s important for the public to know that everyone is working.

And with education and meaningful work, comes respect. Wynn said serious problems are few and far between.

Meals in the center’s dining room are a quiet, regimented affair. The sounds of occasional, restrained conversation are eclipsed by the hum of kitchen equipment and the crackle of radios carried by the staff.

Wynn reiterated a common corrections theme – it’s easier and more effective to maintain order with cooperation rather than force. Wynn reiterated a central theme in corrections – with no privileges to take away, maintaining an orderly, respectful atmosphere without excessive control becomes difficult.

But Wynn also acknowledged that the center’s staff has a responsibility to make sure their obligations are met as well.

“If the meals or the recreation aren’t right, we’ll hear about it,” Wynn said. “Everybody wants a chance to go outside and get some fresh air.”

Despite housing younger people until their 21st birthday, on approach, the juvenile center complex looks just as intimidating as nearby Coffeewood Correctional Center, which houses adult male inmates.

Wnukoski said everyone literally eats up the educational growth as basic skills are learned and latent ones are enhanced.

“One of our residents makes a cheesecake to die for,” he said.

Nate Delesline III can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 110 or .