Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services is a juvenile detention facility in Washington, District of Columbia,
operated by District Of Columbia County.
Young people held here are in the juvenile justice system - not the adult criminal system. Juvenile detention is governed by different rules, different courts, and different rights than adult incarceration. If your child or a young person you care about is detained here, this page is designed to help you understand what is happening and what to do right now. Information on this page was last verified August 2026.
InmateAid has been helping families navigate detention and the justice system since 2012. Our founder served 66 months in federal custody. We know what it means to have a family member taken away, and we built this resource so families have the information they need when they need it most. InmateAid holds a BBB A+ rating.
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Call Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services directly at 202-299-5362 - this is the fastest confirmation. Juvenile facility rosters are not always publicly searchable in the same way adult jail rosters are, because juvenile records are confidential in most states.
Steps to confirm your child is at Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services:
1. Call 202-299-5362 and identify yourself as the parent or legal guardian
2. Provide your child's full legal name and date of birth
3. Ask for confirmation of admission and the name of the assigned case manager or youth advocate
4. Ask what the next scheduled court date is and which court it is in
If you have not been notified of the detention and you believe your child may have been arrested, also contact the arresting law enforcement agency and District of Columbia juvenile court for your jurisdiction.
Yes - and this is one of the most important things to understand immediately.
In most states, law enforcement is required to notify a parent or legal guardian promptly after a juvenile is taken into custody. In many states, a juvenile cannot be questioned without a parent or guardian present, or without a knowing and voluntary waiver of that right. If your child was questioned before you were notified, document that and consult a juvenile defense attorney immediately.
Your rights as a parent during juvenile detention typically include:
-- The right to be notified of the detention promptly
-- The right to visit during approved hours
-- The right to communicate with your child by phone
-- The right to be present at court hearings
-- The right to retain legal counsel for your child
Contact Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services at 202-299-5362 immediately, identify yourself as the parent or guardian, and ask to be connected with your child's assigned case manager or youth advocate. Ask what proceedings are underway and what your participation rights are.
Juvenile court is a separate court system designed for young people, with a focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment. Key differences from adult criminal court:
Confidentiality: Juvenile proceedings and records are typically confidential in District of Columbia. This protects your child's record from public access in most circumstances.
Disposition not conviction: The outcome of a juvenile proceeding is a disposition, not a criminal conviction. This distinction matters for your child's future - a juvenile disposition generally does not carry the same lifelong consequences as an adult conviction.
No jury trial in most cases: A juvenile court judge makes the determination, not a jury.
Rehabilitation focus: Juvenile courts have access to a range of interventions - counseling, community service, probation, treatment programs - that are not typically available in adult court.
Adult court transfer: Serious offenses and repeat offenders can be transferred to adult court in District of Columbia. If adult court transfer is possible in your child's case, a juvenile defense attorney needs to be involved immediately. An adult conviction follows your child for life in ways a juvenile disposition typically does not.
Contact a licensed juvenile defense attorney in District of Columbia as soon as possible. Read InmateAid's what to expect guide for general context on the justice process.
Juvenile detention does not use traditional bail in most states. Instead, a detention hearing is typically held within 24 to 72 hours of admission. At that hearing a juvenile court judge determines whether your child should remain detained or be released to parent or guardian custody with conditions.
Factors the judge considers include the nature of the offense, prior record, whether the young person is a flight risk, and whether release to a parent or guardian provides adequate supervision and community safety.
If your child is held following a detention hearing, subsequent hearings are scheduled on a timeline set by District of Columbia juvenile justice law. A juvenile defense attorney can petition for release at any stage.
For cases where adult court transfer has occurred and traditional bail applies, read InmateAid's bail and bond guide for a full walkthrough.
Visitation rules at juvenile detention facilities are set by the facility and District of Columbia juvenile justice regulations. Contact Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services at 202-299-5362 to confirm:
-- Current visiting days and hours
-- Whether advance registration or approval is required
-- What identification you must bring
-- Whether siblings or other family members are permitted
-- Any specific rules about what you can bring or wear
Juvenile facilities typically permit immediate family members to visit. Extended family and friends may require advance approval. Call before making the trip - hours can change without notice. Read InmateAid's visitation guide for a general pre-visit checklist.
Youth Services Center (YSC) - Visitation
We strongly encourage family members and caregivers to visit their youth and keep in touch with them by phone during this pivotal time in the youth's life. The youth benefits from having his or her support network involved. If your youth is at a community-based residential facility, please talk with your youth’s case manager about visiting hours.
People Permitted to Visit Youth
- Parents or Guardians
- Siblings
- Parent of a youth’s child (if under 18, must visit with child)
- Youth’s child
- Youth’s attorney of record
- Other adult with close relationship to youth (with approval of facility Superintendent or designee)
Required Visitor Identification
- Over the age of 14: Valid government-issued photo identification with name, address and date of birth.
- Under the age of 14: Valid identification (i.e. School ID) and must be accompanied by an adult with valid government-issued identification.
- Attorneys/Legal Representatives: DC or state bar card or Public Defender Service credentials, plus government-issued ID.
Permitted Items
All visitors to either New Beginnings or the Youth Services Center are subject to searches, which include physical pat searches, electronic hand devices, metal detector scans and search of all property. Entry may be denied for failure to submit to a search. Both facilities have small lockers to store any unauthorized item(s).
Please note that a family member with an infant(s) is allowed to bring 1 bottle of formula, 1 diaper, 2 wipes, and a clear plastic bag.
- Small purse or wallet
- Keys
- Feminine hygiene items
- Prescription medication needed for emergency use (i.e. epi-pen)
- Coats
Visitors must be wearing appropriate clothing, defined as clothing with sufficient coverage (no tank tops or halter tops, no open-toed shoes, nothing provocative, revealing, or too tight). Clothing must be free of images that reflect profanity, illegal substances, alcohol, tobacco, or sexually explicit material.
Locations
New Beginnings Youth Development Center
8400 River Road, Laurel, MD 20742
Visiting hours are held every Saturday and Sunday from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm. Visitors must arrive by 2pm. Each youth may have up to three visitors at a time.
DYRS offers free transportation to New Beginnings every Saturday and Sunday. The bus is scheduled to arrive for pick up at the Minnesota Avenue Metro Station at 11:00 am and departs promptly at 11:54 am. The bus departs New Beginnings at 2:30 pm.
Youth Services Center (YSC)
1000 Mt. Olivet Road, NE, Washington, DC 20002
Visiting hours are held every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday according to the following schedule.
- Tuesdays and Saturdays
- For youth on the housing unit A/B 100, Tuesday from 5pm-6pm and Saturday from 11am-noon
- For youth on the housing unit C/D100, Tuesday from 6:15pm-7:15pm and Saturday from 12:15pm-1:15pm
- Thursdays and Sundays
- For youth on the housing unit A/B 200, Thursday from 6:15pm-7:15pm and Sunday from 11am-noon
- For youth on the housing unit C/D 200, Thursday from 5pm-6pm and Sunday from 12:15pm-1:15pm
The youth has 30 minutes per visit with a limit of two visitors at a time.Visitors must arrive at least 30 minutes before the end of the visitation period.
Phone contact rules at juvenile facilities vary significantly. Some permit daily calls; others limit contact considerably, particularly in early detention. Contact Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services at 202-299-5362 to confirm current phone policies.
Contact Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services at 202-299-5362 to confirm the current phone system and how to receive calls.
Commissary and mail rules at juvenile facilities vary more than at adult jails. Some have standard commissary systems; others provide all essentials as part of the program. Contact Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services at 202-299-5362 to confirm:
-- Whether a commissary or trust account exists and how to fund it
-- What items your child is permitted to have
-- Mail rules including address format, what is permitted, and any restrictions
For money deposits where a standard system exists, visit InmateAid's send money page for deposit instructions for Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services.
For mail, address to 450 H St, NW with your child's full legal name and any facility ID number assigned at intake. Keep mail supportive and simple - plain white paper, no stickers, no glitter, standard print photos.
InmateAid's send mail service handles formatting so rejection is not a risk.
District of Columbia's juvenile justice system - how detention hearings work, what rights young people and their parents have, what programs are available, and what happens at release - is governed by District of Columbia law and varies from adult incarceration in important ways. InmateAid's District of Columbia resources hub covers District of Columbia-specific resources including legal aid organizations and juvenile justice information.
Frequently Asked Questions about Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services
How do I confirm my child is at Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services?
Call 202-299-5362 and identify yourself as the parent or legal guardian. Juvenile facility rosters are confidential and not publicly searchable - direct contact with the facility is the fastest and often only way to confirm placement.
Can my child be questioned without me present?
In most states a juvenile cannot be questioned without a parent or guardian present, or without a knowing and voluntary waiver of that right. If your child was questioned before you were notified, document that and contact a juvenile defense attorney immediately.
Will this result in a criminal record?
Juvenile records are typically confidential and may be sealed or expunged when your child turns 18, depending on District of Columbia law and the nature of the offense. However, serious offenses can result in adult court transfer, which creates a permanent adult record. Contact a juvenile defense attorney for guidance specific to your child's situation.
How long can my child be held before a court hearing?
In most states a detention hearing must be held within 24 to 72 hours of admission. The juvenile court judge determines at that hearing whether to release your child to parent custody or continue detention. Contact 202-299-5362 for the scheduled hearing date and time.
Can I bring things when I visit?
Contact 202-299-5362 to confirm what is permitted. Most juvenile facilities restrict what visitors can bring - typically only valid ID is required, and items for the young person must be approved in advance through proper channels rather than brought during a visit.
Juvenile detention is frightening for everyone involved - for the young person inside and for the family outside. The system is designed with different goals than adult incarceration, and most of the time the path through it is shorter and less permanent than families fear in those first hours. What matters most right now is getting connected - to the facility, to a good juvenile defense attorney, and to as much information as you can find.
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