Nicholas Knowles

Ohio Department of Youth Services

The Ohio Department of Youth Services (DYS) is the juvenile corrections system for the state of Ohio. DYS is statutorily mandated to confine felony offenders, ages 10 to 21, who have been adjudicated and committed by one of Ohio's 88 county juvenile courts. During their stay with DYS, youth are engaged in programming that is designed to address their criminological and behavioral needs. Each of the three DYS facilities also operates a year-round school that offers general curriculum as well as vocation opportunities. DYS touches the lives of thousands of youth in Ohio. Beyond youth in DYS facilities and those on parole, DYS funds and supports over 664 direct service programs throughout the state offering more than 88,000 youth (based on annual program admissions) opportunities and services to encourage positive change. These range from prevention and diversion programs to residential treatment and community treatment in areas such as mental health, sex offending and substance abuse. The mission of the Ohio Department of Youth Services is to improve Ohio's future by habilitating youth and empowering families and communities. The vision of DYS is a safer Ohio: one youth, one family and one community at a time.