The settlement, which resolves a federal lawsuit filed by the Southern Poverty Law Center, mandates the creation of a comprehensive arts therapy program and daily access to creative programming for all detained youth. The agreement also requires the facility to partner with local cultural organizations to provide regular workshops in visual arts, music, and creative writing.

“Art has this incredible power to help young people process trauma and find their voice,” said Maya Rodriguez, who will oversee the new programming as the center’s first Arts Coordinator. “These kids have stories to tell, and they deserve the tools to tell them.”

The settlement addresses longstanding concerns about conditions at the North Charleston facility, where advocates documented overcrowding, inadequate mental health services, and limited educational opportunities. Under the new agreement, the center must reduce its population by 40 percent and provide each young person with at least two hours of structured programming daily, including arts activities.

Local organizations are already stepping forward to support the initiative. Redux Contemporary Art Center has committed to monthly workshops, while the Charleston Jazz Orchestra plans to launch a music mentorship program. The Gibbes Museum of Art will provide art supplies and coordinate exhibitions of work created by detained youth.

“Charleston has this rich cultural fabric, and these young people are part of that community,” said Jennifer McCurry, executive director of Redux. “Art doesn’t judge. It just asks you to show up and be honest.”

The settlement requires the county to invest $2.3 million in facility improvements over the next three years, with $400,000 dedicated specifically to arts programming and equipment. Plans include converting a former storage room into a dedicated art studio and installing soundproofing for music practice.

Defenders of the current system argue that security must remain the primary concern at any detention facility. County Councilman Robert Hayes expressed reservations about the cost and scope of the mandated changes.

“Nobody wants to see kids suffer, but we have to balance rehabilitation with public safety,” Hayes said. “I hope these programs prove their worth.”

The settlement takes effect immediately, with full implementation required within 18 months. Federal monitors will oversee compliance and report quarterly on progress toward meeting the agreement’s benchmarks.