Parents allege drug use, violence at Youth Services Center in DC
WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — Christina Smith called her son’s detainment “life-changing.”
Smith’s son, Markis, was detained back in fall 2020 at the Youth Services Center under the District’s Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS).
Her son, who is now 18, told her about drug use at the facility where he and other youth were allowed to smoke marijuana. Smith said staff has also been violent against the young people. They also needed medications which were being withheld for some at the facility, including for her son.
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Smith’s allegations of abuse and other challenges at DYRS echoes others that have complained to City Council members. That has led to scrutiny from D.C.’s attorney general who is concerned about people re-offending when they are released.
Council held a nearly five-hour virtual hearing on problems at the troubled agency Tuesday.
“I didn’t feel like he was rehabilitated at all,” Smith said. “I feel like the little issues that he had, it made it 100% worse because of the lack of mental health attention. He started becoming violent. He was angry all the time after coming from the program.”
These claims come after a lawsuit was filed on behalf of a 16-year-old earlier this month, alleging that staff members at DYRS’ New Beginnings Correctional Center in Laurel, Md. used physical violence against the teenager who has asthma.
Sam Abed, the director of DYRS, testified for more than two hours on Tuesday about problems at the agency before a council hearing called to listen to concerns. He said DYRS’ mission is to “rehabilitate court-involved youth and give them an opportunity to become more productive citizens” and that is taken seriously.
“It is unacceptable that anyone would compromise a youth’s pathway to success and the agency is taking proactive measures to enhance security,” Abed said in a statement to DC News Now.
“DYRS fully investigates all reports of contraband introduction or attempted introduction into our facilities.”
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As of April, there have been 38 critical incidents at the center, according to the Office of Independent Juvenile Facilities Oversight.
Denise Baldwin’s 17-year-old son Isaiah, has been in the Youth Services Center in Northeast D.C. since April 18. She said her son was slow to receive medical attention for a broken finger after he defended himself in a fight at the facility earlier this month.
“I expect them to be on their job,” Baldwin said. “I feel as though by him being locked up in there and not getting the help he needs is bringing him down. Frustration, anger and sometimes sadness, I see it.”
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