DeKalb Regional Youth Detention Center

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.