Juvenile Justice


McLaughlin Youth Center

For additional information, please contact:

McLaughlin Youth Center
2600 Providence Drive
Anchorage, AK 99508
Phone: 907 261-4399
Facility Superintendent
Fax: 907 261-4321

McLaughlin Youth Center

McLaughlin Youth Center is the State’s oldest and largest juvenile detention and treatment center. Dedicated on July 13, 1968, the Center was named for George M. McLaughlin, a prominent Anchorage attorney and magistrate who had been a leader in the development of programs for "kids in trouble."

From a humble beginning and simple mission, McLaughlin Youth Center (MYC) has grown to be model juvenile justice facility dedicated to the restorative justice principles of holding juvenile offenders accountable for their behavior, promoting the safety and restoration of victims and communities, and assisting youth and their families is developing skills to prevent crime.  MYC offers specialized programs for sex offenders, girls, older teens, those who have participated in gangs, and youth posing significant risk to themselves and others.

Among the programs offered at MYC are secure detention, long-term treatment programs, reentry transition services such as the Transitional Services Unit and the Community Detention Program which is an alternative to more expensive secure detention that provides intensive supervision of youth at home, school, and work. In addition, the Community Detention Program, in partnership with the Anchorage School District, initiated Step Up, a school for students who have been expelled or placed on long term suspensions for dangerous behavior. The school provides a way for these students to continue earning high school credits and helps with their transition back into the district. The Step Up program includes groups such as Aggression Replacement Training and community service opportunities.

Strong support from the community, legislature, executive branch and dedicated staff all combine to maintain progressive and highly successful programs. The administration at McLaughlin Youth Center also provides oversight and support services for the Mat-Su Youth Facility in Palmer and the Kenai Peninsula Youth Facility in Kenai.

One of the most recent and more exciting developments at MYC involves the construction of a new 25 bed Detention Unit to replace the existing structure, which will be followed by the renovation of the Intensive Treatment Unit and an upgrade to the Medical Suite and Training Room.  After many years of planning and one long year of construction, the new state-of- the- art Detention Unit will be unveiled at a dedication ceremony on April 08, 2011 and then be ready for occupancy in Spring 2011. Soon after the building opens the other construction projects will begin. Each project will be a year in the making. These much needed renovations will improve the quality of care and provide a safe and secure environment that is conducive to positive growth for the youth served in our custody.