Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center


Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center is a juvenile psychiatric facility of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, located in the Lorenz Hall Annex on the grounds of the Mendota Mental Health Institute in Madison, Wisconsin. It has space for 29 patients. The inmates at Mendota usually have anti-social personality disorders who do not feel empathy, guilt, nor remorse. It uses the Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center Program.
The impetus for the facility's creation was an increase in violent crime perpetrated by minors. It was established in 1995 by two psychologists, Michael Caldwell and Greg Van Rybroek. It was deliberately staffed with psychologists instead of regular prison guards; while most facilities for delinquent and criminal youth are operated by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, MJTC is under the health services department instead.