In the 2018 amendment of the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA), the Mayor of the District of Columbia was required to develop and submit a strategic plan for providing facilities, treatment, and services for YRA offenders [in the care and custody of the DOC] by September 30, 20191. The statute also specified that the BOP is authorized to provide these services for (YRA) offenders in their custody2. At the conclusion of fiscal year 2020, the development of a strategic plan for YRA offenders was not yet finalized.

In May 2019, the Justice Policy Institute (JPI) was awarded the contract to develop the Mayor’s strategic plan for YRA offenders. The DC Emerging Adult Justice Action Collaborative (DC Action Collaborative) was formed as an initial workgroup on behalf of the Justice Policy Institute (JPI) in partnership with the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice - and the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS).