In 1986, the U.S. Congress passed the Anti-Drug and Alcohol Abuse Act. Among other things, the act authorized the funding of juvenile detention and shelter care facilities on reservations to implement Section 4220 of the act. The Bureau of Indian Affairs then requested applications for detention funding from interested tribes and nations. The Sac and Fox submitted their application in 1989 and were the first of thirty-one other applicants.

In 1990, they began planning the Juvenile Detention Center using the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Planning of New Institutions (PONI) process. This was a participatory process involving the users of the new facility, with consultants assessing their needs and developing a course of action. The PONI team consisted of Nation staff from various departments. A needs assessment was conducted and 1991 a validation study specified the needs of the Sac and Fox Nation, but also outlined the potential to develop a regional Native American Juvenile Center.

A Pre-Architectural Program resulted in a study of the needs and mission as it related to the physical plant. This study served as the basis for the new facility design. An architectual firm with experience designing juvenile facilities was found and the design was completed in the spring of 1994. The design resulted in a sixty bed facility with six intake beds. Construction began shortly after and was completed in the winter of 1996. The Juvenile Detention Center opened in January, 1997.

The Sac and Fox Nation is committed to providing a truly regional facility to meet the needs of Tribes and Nations in Oklahoma as well as those located outside Oklahoma. Not only do we serve juveniles from Indian Country, but we also serve juveniles who are placed in beds contracted by the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs.