Bill

Bill > B25-0826


DC B25-0826

Recidivism Reduction, Oversight, and Accountability for DYRS Act of 2024 (ROAD Act)


summary

Introduced
05/21/2024
In Committee
12/03/2024
Crossed Over
11/12/2024
Passed
02/07/2025
Dead

Introduced Session

25th Council

Bill Summary

AN ACT IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA To amend the District of Columbia Auditor Subpoena and Oath Authority Act of 2004 to require the District of Columbia Auditor to regularly monitor and publicly report on Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services facilities and the completeness and timeliness of individualized rehabilitation plans; to amend the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services Establishment Act of 2004 to expressly provide for the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services’ duties to include developing and updating individualized rehabilitation plans, monitoring and ensuring safety of contracted facilities, and conducting oversight of facility compliance; to amend Chapter 23 of Title 16 of the District of Columbia Official Code to increase accountability and oversight of the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services and to reform its supervision and intervention practices, to require the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services, prior to a dispositional hearing, to develop and complete an individualized rehabilitation plan to aid in decreased risk of recidivism, implement the plan upon commitment and placement, and regularly update the plan as necessary, to require the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services to develop a discharge and reentry plan within 60 days of a child’s admittance into a placement outside the child’s family’s, guardian’s, or custodian’s home, and to allow a petition to modify a dispositional order to be filed no more frequently than every 4 months if the child is not receiving appropriate services or placement designed to reduce recidivism based on the individualized rehabilitation plan; and to require the Mayor to submit to the Council a plan to create a unified juvenile justice system in the District of Columbia by no later than one year after the applicability date of that provision, and to require the Mayor to submit a report to the Council evaluating the feasibility of constructing and operating a Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility by no later than 2 years after the effective date of this act.

AI Summary

This bill, known as the Recidivism Reduction, Oversight, and Accountability for DYRS Act of 2024 (ROAD Act), introduces comprehensive reforms to the District of Columbia's juvenile justice system, focusing on improving the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) practices. The bill requires DYRS to develop individualized rehabilitation plans for each youth based on validated risk and needs assessments, which will identify criminal risk factors, protective factors, and specific needs to reduce the likelihood of reoffending. The legislation mandates that these plans be created before dispositional hearings, implemented upon placement, and regularly updated, with provisions for a predisposition meeting that includes the youth, their family, attorneys, and relevant agencies. Additionally, the bill requires DYRS to begin developing a discharge and reentry plan within 60 days of a youth's placement outside their home and allows youth or their representatives to petition for modification of dispositional orders if appropriate services are not being provided. The bill also tasks the Mayor with submitting plans to create a unified juvenile justice system and explore the feasibility of constructing a Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility for youth. Furthermore, it strengthens oversight by requiring the DC Auditor to regularly monitor and report on DYRS facilities, rehabilitation plans, and the implementation of previous reform efforts, with protections against retaliation for those who provide information to the auditor.

Committee Categories

Education

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Enacted without Mayor's Signature with Act Number A25-0720 (on 02/07/2025)

bill text


bill summary

Loading...

bill summary

Loading...
Loading...