If you need information about your child in state custody, please call or email the case manager. If your child has been arrested by law enforcement, he/she may have been taken to the nearest detention or receiving/youth services center. For information on visitation, please refer to JJYS Visitation Policy No 4-06.

At the time your child is placed with Juvenile Justice and Youth Services (JJYS), temporary custody is given to JJYS by order of a Juvenile Judge. Parents remain the child’s guardian.

Legal custody means, “the right to physical custody; the right and duty to protect, train and discipline; the right to provide food, clothing, shelter, education and ordinary medical care; the right to determine where and with whom the minor shall live; the right, in an emergency, to authorize surgery or other extraordinary care.”

Parents’ rights do not change when custody is temporarily given to JJYS. Parents have the right to have contact with their child by phone, letter or visitation as allowed by facility or program rules. Parents have the right to know their child is getting the care he/she needs. Parents have the right and should call their child’s Case Manager if there are questions or concerns.

You are still your child’s parent and you will be treated in a manner that reflects this. You will have a voice in treatment decisions and you will be included in Child and Family Team Meetings. You will also retain certain residual rights, including the responsibility for financial support (child support payments), the right to consent to adoption, the right to determine your child’s religious affiliation, and the right to reasonable visitation.

Your contact person is the Case Manager. Parents are encouraged to maintain close contact with their Case Manager.

The Youth Parole Authority (YPA) is a citizen board appointed by the Governor and approved by the State Senate. The YPA meets with each youth every 90-180 days in an objective hearing process to review progress of each youth in secure care, give counsel, and to determine if a youth has met the expectations set forth by the YPA to qualify for release from secure care, also ensuring fairness to the juvenile, and protection to the community.
The YPA Administrative Officer and two hearing officers collect information, and write reports and summaries in preparation for upcoming hearings in cooperation with the youth’s Case Manager, Advocate, Therapist, Secure Unit Supervisor and Area Program Director.