DEKALB REGIONAL YOUTH DETENTION CENTER

DeKalb Regional Youth Detention Center is a Title I public secondary school that is part of the Department of Juvenile Justice school district, located in Decatur, GA with about 23 students offering grade levels from 7th Grade to 11th Grade. A Title I school provides supplemental financial assistance to school districts for children from low-income families. Its purpose is to provide all children significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education.

The DeKalb Regional Youth Detention Center (RYDC), located in Decatur, Georgia, is a secure residential facility operated by the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). It is designed to provide short-term, secure custody for youth who have been charged with delinquent acts and are awaiting court proceedings or placement in long-term treatment programs. As a regional facility, it serves as a critical component of the state’s juvenile justice infrastructure, prioritizing the safety of the community while managing the needs of detained adolescents.

The facility functions under a model that balances institutional security with educational and rehabilitative programming. Because it is a detention center rather than a long-term correctional facility, the focus is on maintaining stability during the period of transition between an arrest and a court disposition. The center provides mandatory educational services to ensure that students continue their schooling while in custody, along with access to medical care, mental health support, and programs intended to address behavioral health and life skills, all within a highly structured environment overseen by the state.

For more information, contact DeKalb Regional Youth Detention Center at (404) 244-2183 or visit the school personally to speak with a faculty or administrative member about any specific questions you may have.