The primary goals of the Strickland Youth Center, in addition to maintaining public safety, are skill development, habilitation, rehabilitation, addressing treatment needs, and successful reintegration of youth into the community.

The James T. Strickland Youth Center and Court  is part of a larger process including law enforcement,  intake, probation, community-based treatment programs, volunteer programs, state training schools, and aftercare. The mission of the James T. Strickland Youth Center’s detention facility is to provide a safe, secure, healthy, and humane detention environment to juveniles in Mobile County who are alleged to be delinquent and must be detained pending their court appearances. Also, to those juveniles who have been adjudicated delinquent and must be detained pending their acceptance into treatment facilities. 

Immediately upon becoming Juvenile Court Judge in 1965, Judge James T. Strickland recognized the need for a youth center for Mobile County. Almost single handedly, Judge Strickland obtained funding from local, state, and federal sources. The Mobile County Juvenile Court’s new complex was dedicated on Sunday, July 2, 1973. Built on 15 acres, the twenty-thousand square foot facility was constructed for approximately two million dollars.