Prison Place

Frank Lee Youth Center became operation on June 1964 with a capacity for 104 first time male offenders 21 or younger with a sentence of less than ten years. The facility was named in honor of A. Frank Lee who was a previous prison commissioner. In 1975, two additional dormitories were built increasing the capacity to 200 inmates. The facility has four dormitories, administrative area, and ancillary service areas. A minimum-security facility, the Center architecturally resembles a school rather than a prison, and uses frequent and irregular head counts for security rather than fences, bars, and towers.

The Center is immediately adjacent to the J. F. Ingram Trade School, who has in attendance about 220 inmates from nearby Staton, Draper and Elmore. Frank Lee provides security staff for these attendees while at Ingram, and also caters their noon meals.

Frank Lee’s inmate population is divided into two sub-categories: permanent party and pre-work release inmates.

Inmates assigned to permanent party are first offenders who are forty years or less; and have never committed a sex offense or a forcible sex offense. Additionally, they must not have committed a violent offense involving serious injury to the victim; and have a sentence of 20 years or less. Permanent party members must be eligible for minimum-out custody. Typically assigned to the Center on a long-term basis, the permanent party attends trade school for vocational training or GED, performs free labor in community work squads with neighboring municipalities, or is utilized within Frank Lee.

In contrast pre-work release inmates are assigned to the facility on a short-term basis, having been classified for work release and are awaiting placement to a center.

Frank Lee Youth Center’s motto is: "Through team work comes Success"