What North Carolina Youth Development Centers Are — A Family Guide

A Youth Development Center (YDC) is a secure, court-ordered placement within North Carolina's juvenile justice system. The focus is on helping youth change direction through mentoring, education, and therapeutic treatment, all aimed at preparing them to re-enter their communities. YDCs are also the most restrictive dispositional option available to the state's juvenile courts. If your child has been placed in one, it means the court decided a higher level of structure and supervision was needed.

The Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (DJJDP) operates five youth development centers across the state. That's worth knowing upfront: you're working within a statewide system, not a single local program.

Core programming at North Carolina's YDCs is built on the Risk-Need-Responsivity model and uses cognitive-behavioral treatment approaches. In plain terms, staff zero in on the factors most connected to reoffending (often called criminogenic needs) and use structured, skill-based methods to help youth change thinking patterns and behavior. The goal goes beyond compliance inside the facility. It's measurable progress that supports a safer return home.

School is a central part of life at a YDC. The Juvenile Justice section operates as a local education agency, and instruction comes from teachers licensed by the N.C. Department of Public Instruction. Most youth are enrolled in standard public school courses, so your child's education typically continues while they're confined.

Older youth may have additional options. Those age 16 and older may be able to enroll in GED study, post-secondary vocational courses, or online college courses through local community colleges. If your child is close to 16 (or already there), ask what's available at their assigned center and what the eligibility requirements look like.

YDCs provide health services designed specifically for youth. DJJDP delivers developmentally appropriate care, and licensed medical staff handle screening, assessment, and examinations, with interventions provided as needed. If your child has ongoing medical needs, ask how those are identified during the screening process and how follow-up care works inside the facility.

A youth can be committed to DJJDP and assigned to a YDC if they are adjudicated for an offense that occurred before their 18th birthday. There's also a minimum age: a youth must be at least 10 years old to be committed to a youth development center.

A YDC commitment is typically indefinite, with a minimum of six months, and it may continue until the youth's 18th birthday. In some cases (certain violent offenses), the commitment can be extended until the youth's 19th or 21st birthday. If you're trying to plan around school, work, and family logistics, these age limits and timeframes are some of the most important questions to clarify early on.

Next Steps Families

• ✓ Ask the assigned YDC how mentoring, education, and therapeutic treatment are structured for your child, and what “re-entry preparation” looks like in practice.
• ✓ Request a clear explanation of the center’s Risk-Need-Responsivity approach and the cognitive-behavioral programming your child will participate in, including how they identify the needs they are targeting.
• ✓ Connect with the education staff (DPI-licensed teachers within the Juvenile Justice local education agency) and ask what standard public school courses your child will be enrolled in.
• ✓ If your child is 16 or older, ask about GED study, vocational courses, and online college options offered in cooperation with local community colleges.
• ✓ Ask what medical screening and assessment will happen, and how you should communicate any existing health concerns so licensed medical staff can address them.