Youth Development Centers
The Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention currently operates five youth development centers statewide. YDCs provide mentoring, education and therapeutic treatment to prepare youth for a fresh start when they re-enter their communities.
Youths who are adjudicated for offenses that occurred prior to their 18th birthday may be committed to the DJJDP and assigned to a youth development center, which is the most restrictive, intensive dispositional option available to North Carolina's juvenile courts. A commitment is typically for an indefinite period of at least six months and may continue until the youth's 18th birthday. The commitment period may be extended until the youth's 19th or 21st birthday if the youth was committed for a particular violent offense. A youth must be at least 10 years old to be committed.
DJJDP provides developmentally appropriate health services for youths in youth development centers and detention centers. Licensed medical staff provide screening, assessment and examination of youth and interventions as indicated.
Upon commitment to a youth development center, a juvenile undergoes a comprehensive screening and assessment of developmental, educational, medical, neurocognitive, mental health, psychosocial and relationship strengths and needs. Results from these assessments, in combination with other relevant current and historical data, are used by Juvenile Justice staff, parents/caregivers and community providers/stakeholders to develop an individualized service plan that outlines commitment services, including plans for education, mental health services, medical services and treatment programming as indicated. Assessments also provide a framework for the development of post-release supervision services.
Upon arrival at a youth development center, juveniles are assigned to a service planning team that operates under a child and family-centered model. Each service planning team develops an individualized plan to meet each child's service needs within a month of the juvenile's arrival. The team meets at least monthly thereafter to monitor progress on service plan goals and to make adjustments in the plan when needed. The service planning team consists at a minimum of the juvenile, his or her parent(s) or guardian, a court counselor from the youth's home district, a social worker who facilitates team meetings, a licensed mental health clinician and a school representative. Other YDC staff and community stakeholders (e.g., chaplains, substance abuse counselors, direct-care staff) may also be members of a juvenile's service planning team.
Core programming rooted in a Risk-Need-Responsivity model is offered at each of the state's youth development centers. Core programming is informed by the research literature addressing “what works” with confined juvenile offenders, is rooted in a cognitive-behavioral treatment approach, and encompasses a motivation system as well as focused interventions targeting common criminogenic needs.
The Juvenile Justice section operates as a local education agency, providing education services by teachers licensed by the N.C. Department of Public Instruction. The majority of youth in youth development centers are enrolled in standard public school courses. Youth aged 16 and older may enroll in General Education Development study, post-secondary vocational courses or online college courses in cooperation with local community colleges. Required special education services are provided for youth throughout the system.
Each juvenile is assigned to a licensed mental health clinician (LMHC) who develops an individualized mental health treatment plan addressing needs identified during a comprehensive psychological assessment. In most cases, youths receive either group or individual psychotherapy with their LMHC on a weekly basis. Psychiatric services are also available. Where indicated, some youth may participate in substance abuse education and treatment services.
Cabarrus YDC is a 96-bed facility located at:
850 Holshouser Road, Concord, N.C. 28027
Facility Director Peter Brown can be reached at peter.a.brown@ncdps.gov
Phone 704-652-4300
Fax 704-652-4444
Originally built in 1909, Cabarrus was North Carolina's first youth development center. It is comprised of 60 structures on about 100 acres of land, but only 23 structures are currently in use, many for storage. Fifty of the buildings are listed on the National Register of Historical Places. Many of the buildings are condemned. A 15-foot tall fence surrounds the 55 acres of the campus that are currently in use. The YDC is a self-contained secure complex that serves males.
PLEASE NOTE: The North Carolina Department of Public Safety does not allow the general public to visit, view or access any building or area encompassing the grounds of the Cabarrus Youth Development Center. Many buildings have been designated on the National Register of Historic Places. As such, they are not in use, do not have life-preserving features that meet current building safety requirements, and are not safe for access. Harmful materials, e.g., asbestos, are present and are not mitigated. Those found in violation of this prohibited access policy will be considered trespassing. Law enforcement will be called and trespassers will be removed and charged under the appropriate citation.
Chatham YDC is a 24-bed facility located at:
Central Carolina Business Park 560 Progress Blvd., Siler City, N.C. 27344
Facility Director Fleuretta McDougald can be reached at fleuretta.mcdougald@ncdps.gov
Phone 919-742-6220
Fax 919-742-6291
Chatham Youth Development Center, located in Siler City, was opened in 2008. A self-contained secure complex, it is the one youth development center that serves females.
Edgecombe YDC is a 44-bed facility located at:
78 Positive Way, Rocky Mount, NC 27801
Facility Director Joseph Payne can be reached at Joseph.R.Payne@ncdps.gov
Phone 252-544-5730
Fax 252-442-1904
Originally built in 2008, Edgecombe Youth Development Center was reopened in April 2016 following modifications to increase its housing capabilities within four housing units. The YDC is a self-contained secure complex that serves males.
Lenoir YDC is a 22-bed facility located at:
3055 Dobbs Farm Road, Kinston, N. C. 28504
Facility Director Devante Hicks can be reached at devante.hicks@ncdps.gov
Phone 252-208-4920
Fax 252-523-2583
Originally built in 2008, Lenoir Youth Development Center reopened in May 2017 following modifications to increase its housing capabilities within four housing units. The YDC is a self-contained secure complex that serves males.
Rockingham YDC is a 60-bed facility located at:
424 Elliot Rd, Reidsville, NC 27320
Facility Director Jason Grice can be reached at Jason.grice@ncdps.gov
Phone 336-520-6200