The mission of the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) is to improve public safety and give court-involved youth the opportunity to become more productive citizens by building on the strengths of youth and their families in the least restrictive, most home-like environment consistent with public safety.

Summary of Services

In partnership with its families and the public, DYRS aims to empower court-involved young people and foster accountability to their communities. DYRS is the local juvenile justice agency responsible for providing safe and stable secure residential and community-based programs to court-involved youth. Programming targeting committed youth is designed to expand opportunities to youth so that they can become more productive citizens and to reduce delinquent behavior. DYRS also provides detention and shelter services to detained youth who are placed by court order from the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.