Council Approves Wells’ Emergency Legislation to Provide Greater Authority for Oversight of DYRS Youth

Yesterday, DC Council gave approval to emergency legislation offered by Councilmember Tommy Wells, Chairman of the Council’s Committee on Human Services, authorizing the committee to inspect records of youth committed to the custody of the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) to better provide oversight of the agency.

Councilmember Wells introduced the legislation to support his committee investigation and oversight of DYRS placement decisions and programs for delinquent youth committed to DYRS custody by the D.C. Superior Court and the impact on public safety.

“Under the strict confidentiality rules of the District of Columbia, DYRS is currently prohibited from answering even the most basic questions pertaining to youth committed to its custody,” Wells said.  For example, if a youth committed to DYRS custody is killed or re-arrested upon being placed in the community by DYRS, the agency is precluded from discussing the circumstances surrounding the youth’s death or re-arrest with members of the Council.

“The legislation will allow me to review records of any youth committed to DYRS custody when necessary to provide meaningful and effective oversight of the agency’s actions,” Wells said. He added, “This authority will allow me to more thoroughly evaluate actions taken by the agency. Without it, we are neither able to confirm nor refute allegations that DYRS actions may have fallen short of the mark.”

The information obtained by the Committee will continue to be governed by the District’s strict confidentiality requirements, and the emergency authority will end after 90 days.

While the authority to inspect records pertaining to youth in the custody of DYRS will lapse after 90 days, Wells will use the experience to determine whether legislation permitting members of the Council to review youth records should be enacted on a permanent basis.

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