Youth Justice Supports & Services
A growing body of evidence shows that youth incarceration does not decrease law-breaking behavior and actually does lasting damage to young people’s health and wellbeing. Policy and practice changes, including strengthening community-based reentry and alternatives to confinement focused on holistic youth development, can reduce youth incarceration while improving youth and safety outcomes. Youth development is public safety.
Credible Messenger
The Credible Messenger program connects justice-involved youth with trusted mentors who have personal experience navigating justice and other system involvement directly or indirectly.
DYD partners with community-based organizations and the LA County Probation Department to provide supportive, evidence-informed youth development programming and services to youth in facilities.
Consistent, quality, and structured programming that promotes youth engagement and development in juvenile facility settings has been proven to be fundamental to their growth, wellbeing, and facility safety.
These programs support youth during their commitment inside facilities and aim to prepare them to further pursue positive pathways as they transition back into their communities.
Reentry Action for Youth
The Reentry Action for Youth (RAY) program provides a care-first reintegration model for justice-involved youth aged 12 to 25. By pairing participants with Credible Messenger mentors and offering significant financial support—including monthly stipends and flexible funds for housing or education— RAY replaces punitive oversight with holistic advocacy.
RAY aims to reduce recidivism by bridging the gap between facilities and community life through personalized case management and stable resource access. RAY provides one-on-one support and helps youth process trauma, build life skills, navigate services, and coordinate reentry resources in their communities to promote healing and successful transition.