Welcome to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
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Mission & Justice Philosophy

Question: What offenders get sent to DJJ?

Answer: There are three ways an offender may be sent to DJJ:

  1. if they are committed by a juvenile court.
  2. if they are tried as an adult and committed by a criminal court; or
  3. if they are tried as an adult and committed to Adult Programs and Adult Operations, but ordered housed in a DJJ facility. These are called "M-cases."

The DJJ houses offenders between the ages of 12-25. Offenders that have been committed to CDC may be transferred to an adult facility on or before their 18th birthday. The District Attorney's Office or the Probation Department in the county from which the offender was committed can provide you with information regarding why the offender was sent to the DJJ.

Question: Where will the offender be sent?

Answer: The DJJ has 11 institutions and four youth forestry camps that house nearly 6,300 offenders.

Each offender is assigned to a program based on his or her age, maturity level, educational needs, program availability and the seriousness of their committing offense. The institutions and camps are located throughout California.

There are many special programs in the DJJ that the offender may be assigned to, including Young Men As Fathers classes, sex offender treatment, substance abuse treatment , anger management, victims awareness activities and specialized programs for the seriously emotionally disturbed. While the DJJ cannot place every offender in a specialized program, every effort is made to address their individual behaviors.

All offenders are required to attend school full-time. Those that complete their high school education may participate in a college program, vocational training or a combination of both. Many are assigned paid jobs within the institution, such as landscaping, food preparation or janitorial work. If they receive wages, some of those funds are collected to pay their court-ordered restitution.

Offenders are required to participate in the Impact of Crime on Victims Program which addresses the impact their crimes have had on their victims, their families and the community.

Every offender is assigned a youth counselor who will counsel them both individually and in a small group.

The counselor will monitor their institutional program and report that progress to the Youthful Offender Parole Board (YOPB).

Question: Does DJJ provide programs (e.g. boot camps) for troublesome youths?

Answer: The California Youth Authority is designed to deal with juvenile criminal offenders who have been committed by the court. Our facilities are not designed to deal with "truant or troublesome" juveniles. If you are having trouble with your child or if you need assistance in dealing with a difficult juvenile you should contact your county social welfare office, probation department or local school district.

Link to California County web sites

Question: How do I obtain records relating to a current or former DJJ ward?

Answer: A written request must be submitted to the Department with the name, date of birth and YA number of the ward. Please send the request to:

California Department of the Youth Authority
4241 Williamsbourgh Drive, Suite 201
Sacramento, CA 95823-2088

The information can only be released to the ward, his/her guardian or attorney and in some cases law enforcement. The files on juvenile court commitments are confidential in most cases.

Question: Who can visit wards while they are at a DJJ facility? When can wards be visited? Are there any requirements for visitors?

Answer: Anyone who is listed on the wards' visitors list and who would not be a threat to the security of the institution can visit a ward in the DJJ. The times and days of visiting vary at each institutions so the best way to determine the visiting hours is by calling the facility. In addition each institution will have guidelines available that explain required apparel, use of a cameras, numbers of visitors, etc. Our Locations page has the phone number and address for each DJJ facility.

Question: Does DJJ provide tours of DJJ facilities to the general public?

Answer: In some cases, the Department does provide tours of its institutions. Please contact the specific facility for more information. Our Locations page has the phone number and address for each DJJ facility.

Question: What does the Youthful Offender Parole Board (YOPB) do?

Answer: Each offender appears before the YOPB shortly after they arrive in DJJ. At that time, an Initial Hearing is conducted where the YOPB reviews the case and orders the type of program the offender must complete. In addition, the YOPB indicates the date the offender can be considered for release to parole. (Keep in mind that their parole consideration date may change depending on how well or how poorly they are doing in the institution.)

Every year, the offender's case is reviewed by the YOPB to assess their progress. If the offender behaves well in the institution and successfully completes all program goals that were ordered by the YOPB, they can be considered for release to parole. They are generally not considered for release to parole, however, until they have served a set amount of time.

Some offenders may be permitted to participate in a furlough program after they have successfully served the majority of their confinement time. Furloughs serve as an opportunity for the offender to gain work experience or live in a structured setting prior to their release to parole. All furloughs must be approved by the YOPB.

Question: How do DJJ wards get paroled?

Answer: During the month the offender is scheduled to appear before the YOPB for their Parole Consideration Hearing, the regular DJJ ward can be recommended for release to parole if they have successfully completed all of their program goals. At their Parole Consideration Hearing, the offender meets with the YOPB to discuss their progress.

It is the responsibility of the YOPB to determine their readiness for parole. If the offender is to be released to parole, the YOPB may impose "special conditions" of parole, in addition to establishing the standard rules which include paying restitution, maintaining contact with their parole agent, submitting to searches and not leaving the state without permission. Special conditions of parole are specifically ordered according to the individual needs of the case and may include participating in counseling or substance abuse treatment, testing for possible substance abuse not associating with negative peers, and earning a high school diploma or equivalent.

CDC offenders housed in the DJJ are usually released to parole when their fixed sentence has been served. The DJJ provides parole supervision for CDC offenders. In some cases, CDC offenders are transferred to state prison where they will complete the remainder of their sentence. The DJJ no longer has responsibility for these offenders.

Question: What happens when the offender is on parole?

Answer: The offender is assigned a parole agent who is required to monitor the offender's progress and to help them become productive and law-abiding members of the community. Many parole offices provide offenders with educational and employment opportunities, counseling, substance abuse treatment, parenting programs and life skills training.

If an offender commits a new crime, or if they violate their conditions of parole, their parole may be revoked.

If parole is revoked, the offender will be returned to an institutional setting for continued treatment and training.

Question: How does an offender get off of parole?

Answer: The DJJ has a maximum amount of jurisdiction time which expires on either their 21st or their 25th birthday, depending on the seriousness of the crime they committed.

Offenders committed to the DJJ can earn an honorable discharge if they perform well on parole and pay off all of their court-ordered restitution. They may also be dishonorably discharged if they do not do well by the time the DJJ's jurisdiction ends or if they are convicted of a new crime. The offender can earn an early discharge from parole supervision if they perform well on parole for a significant period of time and pay off their restitution in full. For a CDC offender housed in the DJJ, parole may be from 1-3 years.

Question: How do I volunteer to work at a DJJ facility?

Answer: Each institution has a person designated to coordinate volunteer workers. The best way to reach them would be to contact the specific institution. Our Locations page has the phone number and address for each DJJ facility.