FAQs for Juvenile Justice Institutional Services

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Are all juveniles committed to the Youth Services Center residents of NH?
2. What percentage of juveniles committed to the Youth Services Center are male and female?
3. What types of criminal offenses committed by youth result in commitment to the Youth Services Center?
4. Are youth detained at the Youth Detention Services Unit for criminal offenses similar to those at the Youth Services Center?
5. What is the average length of stay at the Youth Detention Services Unit?
6. When a youth is discharged from YDSU or YSC can the contracted psychiatrists or medical doctors continue to treat and prescribe medication?
7. Will my child be able to continue taking the medication they were receiving prior to admission into your programs?

Questions & Answers:
1. Are all juveniles committed to the Youth Services Center residents of NH?	Back to top
Yes.

2. What percentage of juveniles committed to the Youth Services Center are male and female?	Back to top
Approximately 82% of committed youths are male, approximately 18% are female.

3. What types of criminal offenses committed by youth result in commitment to the Youth Services Center?	Back to top
The most frequently committed criminal offenses for males were, in descending order of frequency: simple assault, criminal threatening, burglary, criminal mischief and violation of conditional release. The most frequently committed criminal offenses for females were, in descending order of frequency: simple assault, possession of stolen property, resisting arrest, theft and contempt of court. 15% of committed youths had at least one offense involving the sale or possession of drugs. 100% of committed youths had a prior history of at least one criminal offense. 4% of committed youths were involved in sexual assault offenses. Less than 1% of committed youths were involved in arson related offenses.

4. Are youth detained at the Youth Detention Services Unit for criminal offenses similar to those at the Youth Services Center?	Back to top
Yes. The most frequently alleged criminal offenses for males were: assault (49%), criminal threatening (11%), resisting arrest, property offenses, violation of court order, violation of probation, failure to appear, fugitive from another jurisdiction, status or public nuisance offenses; serious violent offenses (i.e., attempted murder), drug and alcohol related offenses and weapons possession. The most frequently alleged criminal offenses for females were: assault (62%), criminal threatening (10%), resisting arrest and domestic violence; serious violent offenses (i.e., attempted murder), violation of probation, failure to appear, violation of bench warrant, runaway from another jurisdiction and dual status; status or public nuisance offenses, property offenses, violation of court order, drug and alcohol.

5. What is the average length of stay at the Youth Detention Services Unit?	Back to top
The average period of detention is 21 days (range: 1 day to 171 days).

6. When a youth is discharged from YDSU or YSC can the contracted psychiatrists or medical doctors continue to treat and prescribe medication?	Back to top
No. Once a youth is discharged from programs of the Division of Juvenile Justice Services, medical and psychiatric care must be obtained from community based providers.

7. Will my child be able to continue taking the medication they were receiving prior to admission into your programs?	Back to top
For the most part the answer to this question is yes. However, at YDSU and YSC all medications are first confirmed by the nursing staff through the pharmacy or by the prescribing physician's office and then reviewed by the DJJS physician before administration to a youth.