Ingham County Youth Center is a juvenile detention facility in Lansing, Michigan,
operated by Ingham County.
Young people held here are in the juvenile justice system - not the adult criminal system. Juvenile detention is governed by different rules, different courts, and different rights than adult incarceration. If your child or a young person you care about is detained here, this page is designed to help you understand what is happening and what to do right now. Information on this page was last verified August 2026.
InmateAid has been helping families navigate detention and the justice system since 2012. Our founder served 66 months in federal custody. We know what it means to have a family member taken away, and we built this resource so families have the information they need when they need it most. InmateAid holds a BBB A+ rating.
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Call Ingham County Youth Center directly at 517-887-4330 - this is the fastest confirmation. Juvenile facility rosters are not always publicly searchable in the same way adult jail rosters are, because juvenile records are confidential in most states.
Steps to confirm your child is at Ingham County Youth Center:
1. Call 517-887-4330 and identify yourself as the parent or legal guardian
2. Provide your child's full legal name and date of birth
3. Ask for confirmation of admission and the name of the assigned case manager or youth advocate
4. Ask what the next scheduled court date is and which court it is in
If you have not been notified of the detention and you believe your child may have been arrested, also contact the arresting law enforcement agency and Michigan juvenile court for your jurisdiction.
Yes - and this is one of the most important things to understand immediately.
In most states, law enforcement is required to notify a parent or legal guardian promptly after a juvenile is taken into custody. In many states, a juvenile cannot be questioned without a parent or guardian present, or without a knowing and voluntary waiver of that right. If your child was questioned before you were notified, document that and consult a juvenile defense attorney immediately.
Your rights as a parent during juvenile detention typically include:
-- The right to be notified of the detention promptly
-- The right to visit during approved hours
-- The right to communicate with your child by phone
-- The right to be present at court hearings
-- The right to retain legal counsel for your child
Contact Ingham County Youth Center at 517-887-4330 immediately, identify yourself as the parent or guardian, and ask to be connected with your child's assigned case manager or youth advocate. Ask what proceedings are underway and what your participation rights are.
Juvenile court is a separate court system designed for young people, with a focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment. Key differences from adult criminal court:
Confidentiality: Juvenile proceedings and records are typically confidential in Michigan. This protects your child's record from public access in most circumstances.
Disposition not conviction: The outcome of a juvenile proceeding is a disposition, not a criminal conviction. This distinction matters for your child's future - a juvenile disposition generally does not carry the same lifelong consequences as an adult conviction.
No jury trial in most cases: A juvenile court judge makes the determination, not a jury.
Rehabilitation focus: Juvenile courts have access to a range of interventions - counseling, community service, probation, treatment programs - that are not typically available in adult court.
Adult court transfer: Serious offenses and repeat offenders can be transferred to adult court in Michigan. If adult court transfer is possible in your child's case, a juvenile defense attorney needs to be involved immediately. An adult conviction follows your child for life in ways a juvenile disposition typically does not.
Contact a licensed juvenile defense attorney in Michigan as soon as possible. Read InmateAid's what to expect guide for general context on the justice process.
Juvenile detention does not use traditional bail in most states. Instead, a detention hearing is typically held within 24 to 72 hours of admission. At that hearing a juvenile court judge determines whether your child should remain detained or be released to parent or guardian custody with conditions.
Factors the judge considers include the nature of the offense, prior record, whether the young person is a flight risk, and whether release to a parent or guardian provides adequate supervision and community safety.
If your child is held following a detention hearing, subsequent hearings are scheduled on a timeline set by Michigan juvenile justice law. A juvenile defense attorney can petition for release at any stage.
For cases where adult court transfer has occurred and traditional bail applies, read InmateAid's bail and bond guide for a full walkthrough.
Visitation rules at juvenile detention facilities are set by the facility and Michigan juvenile justice regulations. Contact Ingham County Youth Center at 517-887-4330 to confirm:
-- Current visiting days and hours
-- Whether advance registration or approval is required
-- What identification you must bring
-- Whether siblings or other family members are permitted
-- Any specific rules about what you can bring or wear
Juvenile facilities typically permit immediate family members to visit. Extended family and friends may require advance approval. Call before making the trip - hours can change without notice. Read InmateAid's visitation guide for a general pre-visit checklist.
Ingham County Youth Center - Visitation
***PHOTO I.D. CARD REQUIRED AT EACH VISIT***
Hours of Visitation:
Sunday: 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Wednesday: 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
To gain entrance, come to the intake door on the west side of the building, ring the buzzer and wait for someone to ask your purpose. Give your name and whom you have come to visit.
It is important that your visit be conducted in a calm manner. Arguments or loud talking will result in termination of your visit. It is mandatory that visitation rules be strictly adhered to as outlined below. Failure to follow these rules will result in termination of your visitation and may jeopardize future visiting privileges. All rules, designed to insure the safety and security of the youths in our care, apply to everyone entering the facility.
Purses, handbags, and unapproved items are not allowed in the building. Only keys and picture I.D. are allowed in the building.
Those arriving to visitation on public transportation (i.e. CATA) should secure all personal items (except picture I.D.) in token operated lockers in the intake hallway.
Mail, notes, pictures, and cards must be sent through the U.S. Postal system addressed to the Youth Center, before they can be given to a resident.
Food, beverages, money, tobacco, hair products or anything else may NOT be brought to the resident in the Youth Center.
Smoking is not allowed in the facility.
There will be no hair braiding or any other kind of grooming (nail cutting, braiding, combing, brushing of hair) during visitation.
No excessive hugging or physical contact.
We reserve the right to refuse visitation to anyone believed by our personnel to be under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.
If you have any questions or comments regarding procedures, we encourage you to contact the Youth Center Director at (517) 887-4340.
VISITORS ARE REQUIRED TO PRODUCE PROPER PICTURE
IDENTIFICATION AND MAY BE SUBJECT TO A SEARCH
Only parents or legal guardians may visit. They must be on the visitation list. No children are allowed in the building at any time. A maximum of two visitors per resident at one time are allowed in the visiting area. If a person exits the building the visit is concluded.
Phone contact rules at juvenile facilities vary significantly. Some permit daily calls; others limit contact considerably, particularly in early detention. Contact Ingham County Youth Center at 517-887-4330 to confirm current phone policies.
Contact Ingham County Youth Center at 517-887-4330 to confirm the current phone system and how to receive calls.
Commissary and mail rules at juvenile facilities vary more than at adult jails. Some have standard commissary systems; others provide all essentials as part of the program. Contact Ingham County Youth Center at 517-887-4330 to confirm:
-- Whether a commissary or trust account exists and how to fund it
-- What items your child is permitted to have
-- Mail rules including address format, what is permitted, and any restrictions
For money deposits where a standard system exists, visit InmateAid's send money page for deposit instructions for Ingham County Youth Center.
For mail, address to 700 East Jolly Road with your child's full legal name and any facility ID number assigned at intake. Keep mail supportive and simple - plain white paper, no stickers, no glitter, standard print photos.
InmateAid's send mail service handles formatting so rejection is not a risk.
Michigan's juvenile justice system - how detention hearings work, what rights young people and their parents have, what programs are available, and what happens at release - is governed by Michigan law and varies from adult incarceration in important ways. InmateAid's Michigan resources hub covers Michigan-specific resources including legal aid organizations and juvenile justice information.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ingham County Youth Center
How do I confirm my child is at Ingham County Youth Center?
Call 517-887-4330 and identify yourself as the parent or legal guardian. Juvenile facility rosters are confidential and not publicly searchable - direct contact with the facility is the fastest and often only way to confirm placement.
Can my child be questioned without me present?
In most states a juvenile cannot be questioned without a parent or guardian present, or without a knowing and voluntary waiver of that right. If your child was questioned before you were notified, document that and contact a juvenile defense attorney immediately.
Will this result in a criminal record?
Juvenile records are typically confidential and may be sealed or expunged when your child turns 18, depending on Michigan law and the nature of the offense. However, serious offenses can result in adult court transfer, which creates a permanent adult record. Contact a juvenile defense attorney for guidance specific to your child's situation.
How long can my child be held before a court hearing?
In most states a detention hearing must be held within 24 to 72 hours of admission. The juvenile court judge determines at that hearing whether to release your child to parent custody or continue detention. Contact 517-887-4330 for the scheduled hearing date and time.
Can I bring things when I visit?
Contact 517-887-4330 to confirm what is permitted. Most juvenile facilities restrict what visitors can bring - typically only valid ID is required, and items for the young person must be approved in advance through proper channels rather than brought during a visit.
Juvenile detention is frightening for everyone involved - for the young person inside and for the family outside. The system is designed with different goals than adult incarceration, and most of the time the path through it is shorter and less permanent than families fear in those first hours. What matters most right now is getting connected - to the facility, to a good juvenile defense attorney, and to as much information as you can find.
InmateAid was built for these moments. Use us.