Department of Juvenile Services

What Department of Juvenile Services does

The Maryland Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) is a state executive agency responsible for managing the full continuum of juvenile justice — from intake and pre-court supervision through secure detention, residential treatment, probation, aftercare, and re-entry. It serves youth under 18 charged with delinquent acts, their families, Maryland juvenile courts, and impacted communities, delivered through 5 detention centers, 6 committed treatment facilities, and 33 regional offices statewide under the leadership of Secretary Fox Tolentino. Core service lines include Intake and Pre-Adjudication Services, Community Supervision (including Community Detention, Evening Reporting Centers, and Probation/Aftercare), Residential Programs, the Juvenile Services Education Program (JSEP, transferred from MSDE on July 1, 2022), and Family Engagement.

Technology infrastructure centers on long-standing case management and assessment systems: ASSIST (Automated Statewide System of Information Support Tools, in use since 1999), METS (Maryland Evaluation and Treatment Services), MCASP (Maryland Comprehensive Assessment and Service Planning), and PowerSchool for JSEP. The agency operates proprietary assessment instruments — the Detention Risk Assessment Instrument (DRAI), revalidated effective February 1, 2025, and the Intake Decision Tool developed with the University of Maryland (introduced July 2020). Analytics are provided through Evident Change's SafeMeasures, and clinical operations are standardized on the Comprehensive Treatment Model (CTM), introduced in 2023 with Dialectical Behavior Therapy as the foundational framework.

Name

Department of Juvenile Services

Legal name

Department of Juvenile Services

Website

https://djs.maryland.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1830

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The Maryland Department of Juvenile Services is a state executive agency that manages juvenile justice from intake through aftercare, operating detention centers, treatment facilities, and 33 regional offices serving justice-involved youth, families, and courts across Maryland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Sector Juvenile Justice Services

NAICS

Correctional Institutions (92214), Parole Offices and Probation Offices (922150), Child and Youth Services (62411)

akta.pro primary industry

State/Provincial Corrections, Probation & Parole Administration (BPAIABAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Juvenile Detention & Youth Custody Services (BPAKANAC), Juvenile Justice System (Courts & Detention) (BPAIAFAF), Juvenile Justice Education Programs (Detention & Correctional Education) (EDAJAEAB)

Keywords

• Juvenile justice services
• Community supervision
• Residential treatment
• Detention services
• Case management

Headquarters

HQ city

Baltimore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices22 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. State Government Funding: Primary funding from Maryland state government budget allocations to operate juvenile detention centers, treatment programs, community supervision services, and administrative operations.
2. Federal Reimbursement (Title IV-E): Evidence-based family therapy programs (Functional Family Therapy, Multisystemic Therapy) are included in Maryland's Family First Prevention Services Plan, making them eligible for federal Title IV-E reimbursement.
3. Medical Assistance Funding: DJS uses out-of-state providers including Residential Treatment Centers funded through Medical Assistance for certain services.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) is the Maryland state executive agency responsible for managing the entire juvenile justice continuum from intake through aftercare. It operates secure detention centers and residential treatment facilities, provides community supervision and case management, delivers evidence-based therapeutic and educational services (including the Comprehensive Treatment Model based on Dialectical Behavior Therapy and the Juvenile Services Education Program), and runs targeted initiatives such as the Thrive gun violence reduction program and Family Support at Home therapy services.

Product overview

The Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) is a unified service delivery organization, not a product company. It operates as an integrated portfolio of interconnected programs serving Maryland's juvenile justice system. The core programs include: Juvenile Justice Process Management (intake, court proceedings, case management); Residential Programs (5 detention centers and 4 committed treatment facilities providing secure confinement with health, mental health, and academic services); JSEP educational services; Community Supervision (pre-court, community detention, probation, and aftercare); Behavioral Health and Somatic Health services; the Thrive Initiative for gun violence reduction; Victim Services; and Family Engagement. Key technology systems supporting operations include ASSIST (client database since 1999), METS (web-based case management), PowerSchool (JSEP student information system), and SafeMeasures analytics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Juvenile Services Education Program (JSEP) Provides comprehensive educational services to all juveniles placed in DJS-operated detention and residential facilities, including core academic subjects, CTE certifications, GED testing, counseling supports, post-secondary opportunities, and specialized instruction.
• Detention Centers Five secure detention centers across Maryland where youth may be held on a short-term basis when police have requested detention, providing full health, mental health, and academic services.
• Committed Treatment Programs Treatment centers for youth committed to DJS care after a judge finds them delinquent, offering therapeutic treatment, health services, and academic services focused on supporting youth toward success when they return to the community.
• Community Supervision Supervision services for youth living at home or in the community, including pre-court supervision, community detention, and probation or aftercare services provided through regional offices.
• Community Detention Program A statewide alternative to secure detention that allows youth to be safely supervised in the community on court-ordered home detention pending court appearances, including electronic monitoring.
• Evening Reporting Centers Programs serving youth as an alternative to detention where youth are required to report daily, with transportation, meals, and enrichment activities to redirect youth and support rehabilitation.
• Probation and Aftercare Services Court-ordered supervision of youth in the community requiring youth to meet court-ordered conditions, with case management specialists providing supervision and connecting youth to services, including aftercare for youth returning from residential programs.
• Case Management Continuous case management where a youth's case is assigned to and managed by the same case manager for the duration of court-ordered supervision, guiding youth and families through their involvement with the juvenile justice system.
• Family Support at Home Community-based family therapy programs including Functional Family Therapy (FFT), Multisystemic Therapy (MST), and Family Centered Treatment (FCT) to address youth needs and prevent out-of-home placements.
• Comprehensive Treatment Model (CTM) DJS treatment framework using Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) as foundational treatment, incorporating Positive Youth Development principles and trauma-informed care for residential treatment.
• Juvenile Justice Process Management Oversight of the juvenile justice process from intake through court proceedings, including intake assessments, case forwarding decisions, fact-finding hearings, and sentencing/disposition orders.
• Intake and Pre-Adjudication Services Statewide intake operations managing the review of intake complaints, conducting assessments, providing continuum of care services, making service referrals, and supervising youth on informal pre-court supervision.
• Victim Services Support for crime victims within the juvenile justice system, including victim impact statements, restitution information, status updates on complaints, and referrals to community-based resources.
• Thrive Initiative (Gun Violence Reduction) DJS Gun Violence Reduction Strategy serving probation and aftercare youth identified at highest risk of gun violence as victims or perpetrators, using credible messengers and intensive case management.
• Entry Level Training (ELT) Academy Initial training academy for new DJS employees in mandated positions, meeting Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commissions (MPCTC) approved entry-level training objectives.
• Volunteer Services Program Program connecting volunteers with youth to provide enriching experiences including religious education, career development, tutoring, life skills, and art programs.
• Family Engagement Program Framework for family inclusion including monthly family support groups, family surveys, and feedback opportunities guided by youth voice, family partnership, and community connection principles.

Quantifiable outcome

• Youth on pre-court supervision agreements (90 days, extendable to 180 days) can have cases resolved without going to court if successful
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• University of MarylandsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020The Intake Decision Tool was developed in partnership with the University of Maryland and introduced in July 2020 to help staff assess youth situations, identify reoffending likelihood, strengths, and service needs.
• Georgetown UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015DJS partnered with Georgetown University to implement the Crossover Youth Practice Model (CYPM) in Prince George's County in 2015. The program coordinates casework for youth dually involved in juvenile justice and child welfare systems.
• Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSafer Stronger Together is a cross-agency partnership among DJS, DHS, and DPSCS focusing on approximately 2,000 families who interact with more than one public system. The initiative coordinates staff work and community action boards to invest in youth, strengthen families, and improve public safety.
• Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTri-agency partnership through Safer Stronger Together to coordinate services for families involved in multiple government systems, concentrating services in neighborhoods most affected by crime and system involvement.
• Frederick Community CollegesupportingOthersJSEP students can enroll in college-level courses online through Frederick Community College as part of post-secondary education opportunities.
• Anne Arundel Community CollegesupportingOthersJSEP students can enroll in college-level courses online through Anne Arundel Community College as part of post-secondary education and vocational training programs.
• Baltimore City Community CollegesupportingOthersJSEP students can enroll in college-level courses online through Baltimore City Community College for post-secondary education opportunities.
• Garrett Community CollegesupportingOthersStudents at Backbone Mountain Youth Center attend classes at Garrett Community College as part of educational programming.
• University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Choice ProgramsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Choice Program at UMBC uses community-based, family-centered approach to engage youth and families. AmeriCorps members provide advocacy and connect families to resources. Available in Baltimore City and parts of Central and Capital South regions.
• Youth Advocate Program (YAP)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerYAP provides mentors from similar backgrounds to support youth wellbeing through services delivered in homes and communities. Available in Anne Arundel, Howard, and Baltimore Counties.
• Annie E. Casey FoundationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDJS participates in the Juvenile Justice Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI), a best practice model of the Annie E. Casey Foundation that addresses inappropriate detention use and reduces failures to appear in court.
• National Institute for Criminal Justice ReformsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform, along with the Annie E. Casey Foundation, conducted analyses of cases in Maryland to support identification of youth at high risk for gun violence for the Thrive Initiative.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Colorado Division of Youth Services: Colorado's state division within CDHS managing juvenile justice residential and community programs. Comparable in scope, though structured as a division within a larger human services agency.
• Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justice: Louisiana's state agency managing secure care facilities and community-based supervision for justice-involved youth. Comparable in agency structure and service continuum.
• Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice: Georgia's state agency managing juvenile detention centers, youth development campuses, and community supervision. Directly comparable in agency mandate and service portfolio to Maryland DJS.
• Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice: Illinois's state juvenile corrections agency operating secure facilities and aftercare services. Comparable agency structure serving youth committed by courts, with similar evidence-based treatment focus.
• Ohio Department of Youth Services: Ohio's state juvenile corrections agency operating secure facilities and community programs. Comparable in operating model, evidence-based programming, and statewide regional office structure.
• California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation - Division of Juvenile Justice: Operates California's state juvenile justice facilities and community supervision programs. Directly comparable as a state executive agency managing juvenile corrections, detention, and treatment — though California has been actively reforming and shrinking its system.
• Texas Juvenile Justice Department: Texas's state agency for juvenile justice operations, operating state-run secure facilities and community-based programs. Closely comparable in scale and scope to Maryland DJS, serving a similarly large population.
• Florida Department of Juvenile Justice: State agency responsible for juvenile justice in Florida, overseeing detention, residential treatment, and community supervision. Directly comparable agency structure and service continuum to Maryland DJS.

Others

• Annie E. Casey Foundation: National philanthropy that operates the Juvenile Justice Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) — the reform framework DJS participates in. Comparable as a juvenile justice thought leader and standards-setter, not a direct service provider.

Broad incumbents

• New York State Office of Children and Family Services - Juvenile Justice: New York's state agency overseeing juvenile justice facilities and community programs alongside child welfare. Comparable mandate but operates within a broader portfolio of children and family services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MarylandDJS
• Facebookfacebook.com/DJSMaryland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maryland-department-of-juvenile-services

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Department of Juvenile Services