About the DJJ

This section of our Web site will provide you with a brief overview of the Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), the locations of its facilities and parole offices throughout the state, the mission and values statement, some general statistical information, and a group of frequently asked questions.

The CYA was created by law in 1941, but it wasn't until 1943 that the agency began to operate "reform schools," providing institutional training and parole supervision for juvenile and young adult offenders. It is the largest youthful offender agency in the nation.  In a massive reorganization of California corrections in 2005, the CYA became the Juvenile Justice Division under the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.  As part of the state's juvenile justice system, the DJJ works closely with law enforcement, the courts, prosecutors, probation, and a broad spectrum of public and private agencies concerned with and involved in the problems of youth.

Executive Office
1515 S Street, Suite 502 South
Sacramento, CA 95814
Voice (916) 323-2848    FAX (916) 323-5584

The DJJ Mission

The DJJ's mission, as described in Section 1700 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, is to protect the public from criminal activity. The law mandates the division to:

• Provide a range of training and treatment services for youthful offenders committed by courts;
• Direct these offenders to participate in community and victim restoration;
• Assist local justice agencies with efforts to control crime and delinquency; and
• Encourage the development of state and local programs to prevent crime and delinquency.

The DJJ is a division in the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, whose Secretary reports directly to the Governor and serves on his Cabinet. The DJJ carries out its responsibilities through three divisions - the Division of Juvenile Facilities, the Division of Juvenile Programs, and the Division of Juvenile Parole Services.

The DJJ receives its youthful offender population from both juvenile and superior court referrals. Offenders committed directly to the DJJ do not receive determinate sentences. The Board of Parole Hearings, Juvenile Justice Division, a separate administrative body, determines their parole release. The DJJ does provide housing for juveniles under the age of 18 who have been sentenced to the Adult Division.

A ward’s period of incarceration is determined by the severity of the committing offense and the offender's progress toward parole readiness. In addition, the DJJ's jurisdiction for the most serious offenders ends on the offender's 25th birthday.