Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services in District Of Columbia County, District of Columbia is a county juvenile detention center, used primarily for pretrial holding of minors in juvenile court proceedings and short-term post-adjudication placements. Youth here are typically waiting for adjudication hearings, awaiting transfer to a state facility, or serving short county-level dispositions. Visitation is structured around these realities: scheduled visits for parents and approved family, court and attorney access, and case management contact. Before traveling, call 202-299-5362 to confirm the current schedule and your status on the approved visitor list.
Approved visitors typically include parents, legal guardians, custodial grandparents, and siblings. Stepparents and extended family may be approved case-by-case through the juvenile court or facility case management. Foster parents, child welfare caseworkers, and probation officers are generally pre-approved through their professional role. Attorneys, court-appointed advocates, and clergy have separate access. Minor siblings usually require a parent or guardian to accompany them. To add someone to the approved visitor list, the parent or legal guardian typically submits a written request, sometimes with court or case manager input.
County juvenile detention centers commonly schedule visits on weekends and selected weekday evenings, with shorter and more frequent visits than adult facilities. Visits at Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services may be contact visits in a structured family area, non-contact visits through glass, or video visits depending on facility setup and the youth's current status. Call 202-299-5362 for the current schedule and whether the youth is eligible for visits.
Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. Custodial parents and guardians may also need legal documentation establishing custody. Dress code is enforced: no revealing attire, no clothing that resembles staff or resident uniforms, no items that could be passed to the youth. Leave phones, bags, and personal items in your vehicle or lobby lockers. Visitor behavior is monitored; violations can result in the youth losing visiting privileges.
Most youth at Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services are involved with the juvenile court and assigned to a probation officer or case manager who coordinates the case. The probation officer is often the family's primary point of contact for case status, court hearings, release planning, and visitor approvals beyond immediate family. Building a working relationship with the probation officer helps families stay informed and advocate effectively. Ask for the probation officer's name when you call 202-299-5362.
Youth at Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services are typically scheduled for an initial detention hearing within a few days of being detained, followed by adjudication and disposition hearings as the case proceeds. Release outcomes vary: release to a parent or guardian, community supervision, transfer to a state juvenile facility, or transfer to adult court in serious cases. Family attendance at court hearings is important and can affect the judge's decisions on release conditions.
For information on phone discount plans and mail support for juvenile facilities, see InmateAid's services and call 202-299-5362.
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.
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.
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.
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.
1000 Mt. Olivet Road, NE, Washington, DC 20002
Visiting hours are held every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday according to the following schedule.
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.