Research Involving CYA Wards, Parolees, or Staff

The California Department of the Youth Authority (CYA) encourages research that furthers the purposes of the CYA while complying with federal and state guidelines as well as accepted professional and scientific ethics. Wards and parolees under the jurisdiction of the CYA are entitled to all of the rights and protections human subjects typically receive. In addition, the CYA ensures that wards and parolees are accorded the additional protections given to members of vulnerable groups, such as minors and prisoners.

The CYA has adopted a comprehensive set of guidelines with which researchers must comply before any research proposal will be approved.  Researchers interested in submitting a research proposal for review and approval should download a copy of the CYA's Research Project Approval Process Guidelines* and a copy of the required Confidentiality Assurance Form*.  These guidelines are intended to supplement applicable state and federal laws, regulations, and policies regarding the protection of human research subjects.

Basic information about about protections for human resesearch subjects is available from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's Office for Human Research Protections.  Researchers may also contact their Institutional Review Boards for advice and guidance prior to submitting their proposals to the CYA.

All research proposals are first submitted to staff in the Research Division for preliminary review and comment.  A Research Project Approval Committee (RPAC) then reviews each research proposal along with the comments of Research Division staff.    Finally, the RPAC submits a recommendation to the Director to either approve or reject the proposal.  Each research project involving wards or parolees must receive approval from the Director of the CYA before the project can begin.

Research project proponents are encouraged to contact the RPAC's Research Project Approval Coordinator to discuss their research concepts and proposals prior to submission.

* Printable (PDF) versions

   Research Project Approval Process Guidelines
   Confidentiality Assurance Form