Maricopa County-Southeast Juvenile Detention is a juvenile detention facility in Mesa, Arizona,
operated by Maricopa 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 Maricopa County-Southeast Juvenile Detention directly at 602-506-2544; 602-506-4533 - 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 Maricopa County-Southeast Juvenile Detention:
1. Call 602-506-2544; 602-506-4533 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 Arizona 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 Maricopa County-Southeast Juvenile Detention at 602-506-2544; 602-506-4533 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 Arizona. 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 Arizona. 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 Arizona 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 Arizona 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 Arizona juvenile justice regulations. Contact Maricopa County-Southeast Juvenile Detention at 602-506-2544; 602-506-4533 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.
Maricopa County - South East Facility - Visitation
Visitation Hours
- Visiting for all juveniles is restricted to parents, grandparents or legal guardians. Approved visitors must have government issued photo identification. No exceptions. Other visitors (or family whose last name is different from the youth's) must have prior authorization from the Detention Management Team. This authorization can be requested through the juvenile's assigned Probation Officer.
- Only authorized visitors will be permitted to remain in the building. Persons accompanying authorized visitors will be required to wait outside. Please do not bring friends or children with you, as we cannot assume responsibility for children since we have neither space nor staff to supervise them.
- No one under 18 years of age, other than those juveniles who are detained or are being considered for detention, are allowed in the Detention Center.
- Visitors are not permitted to carry anything into visiting areas. Specifically prohibited are packages, purses, food and drinks, cards and games.
- Reading material may be left with the officer on duty and will be reviewed for acceptability before delivery to your child's unit. Such reading material is not considered the personal property of the child, but rather a donation to the unit.
- Any visitors passing any object whatsoever to a youth will be asked to leave and may forfeit any further visiting privileges.
- Visiting is a privilege and may be cancelled or terminated if it is felt that such action would be in the best interest of the child or others in Detention.
PLEASE NOTE: There may be occasions when for safety and security reasons, visitation is cancelled or shortened, without the opportunity to give visitors advance notice.
Check for the times you may visit your child in the charts below. Visiting times are different at each facility and are based on the juvenile's LAST name.
For questions regarding visiting, please contact your child's assigned Probation Officer.
Durango - Detention Visiting Hours: located at 3131 W. Durango St. Phoenix, AZ 85009
| If the juvenile's last name begins with: |
Days | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A - F | Tuesday | 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. |
| Saturday | 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. | |
| G - L | Tuesday | 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. |
| Saturday | 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. | |
| M - R | Tuesday | 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. |
| Saturday | 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. | |
| S - Z | Tuesday | 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. |
| Saturday | 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. |
SEF - Detention Visiting Hours: located at 1810 S. Lewis St. Mesa, AZ 85210
| If the juvenile's last name begins with: |
Days | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A - F | Thursday | 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. |
| Sunday | 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. | |
| G - L | Thursday | 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. |
| Sunday | 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. | |
| M - R | Thursday | 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. |
| Sunday | 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. | |
| S - Z | Thursday | 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. |
| Sunday | 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. |
Phone contact rules at juvenile facilities vary significantly. Some permit daily calls; others limit contact considerably, particularly in early detention. Contact Maricopa County-Southeast Juvenile Detention at 602-506-2544; 602-506-4533 to confirm current phone policies.
Contact Maricopa County-Southeast Juvenile Detention at 602-506-2544; 602-506-4533 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 Maricopa County-Southeast Juvenile Detention at 602-506-2544; 602-506-4533 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 Maricopa County-Southeast Juvenile Detention.
For mail, address to 1840 South Lewis St 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.
Arizona'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 Arizona law and varies from adult incarceration in important ways. InmateAid's Arizona resources hub covers Arizona-specific resources including legal aid organizations and juvenile justice information.
Frequently Asked Questions about Maricopa County-Southeast Juvenile Detention
How do I confirm my child is at Maricopa County-Southeast Juvenile Detention?
Call 602-506-2544; 602-506-4533 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 Arizona 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 602-506-2544; 602-506-4533 for the scheduled hearing date and time.
Can I bring things when I visit?
Contact 602-506-2544; 602-506-4533 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.
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