Juvenile Justice Oversight Director (Washington)

Job Title: Juvenile Justice Oversight Director

Location: Washington, D. C. 20024

Description:

Provides independent monitoring, investigation, and reporting on DYRS facilities and services on behalf of the Office of the Ombudsperson for Children, to improve systemic outcomes, safety, and service access in DYRS care and custody.

Project Overview & Objective

The purpose of this contract is to secure the services of a Juvenile Justice Oversight Director to provide independent monitoring, data analysis, and reporting on Department of Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) facilities and services.

Scope of Work & Duties

The Contractor shall independently perform the following duties under the direct supervision of the OFC Ombudsperson, and responsibility to the D.C. Council:

Facility Monitoring & Site Visits

• Conduct regular, unannounced, and announced onsite visits to YSC, NBYDC, and other local and out-of-area facilities as necessary to ensure are housed in constructive environments contributing to their rehabilitation.
• Evaluate physical facility conditions and document data trends affecting resident.
• Evaluate facility operations against established juvenile justice program best practices.

Complaint Investigation

• Receive, log, and investigate complaints on an as-needed basis regarding facility conditions and service delivery.
• Investigate allegations of policy and legal violations affecting safety or resource access.
• Identify themes and underlying systemic reforms necessary to address issue areas found across investigations.

Systemic Reviews & Advocacy

• Track and monitor DYRS's adherence to requirements of the ROAD Act (Recidivism Reduction, Oversight, and Accountability for DYRS Act of 2024), enacted in February 2025.
• Track DYRS's progress in achieving Jerry M Work Plan Goals, including critical Work Plan indicators not achieved prior to the Superior Court's termination of the Jerry M lawsuit.
• Investigate and report on broader, systemic issues identified during routine monitoring, including timely needs assessments and service planning; consult with relevant District agencies and departments to assess structural modifications or service delivery improvements.
• Track, monitor, and verify all corrective actions implemented by DYRS to ensure compliance.

Deliverables & Reporting Schedule

1. The Contractor must submit all formal work products to the OFC Ombudsperson for initial review and approval. All formal work products should consider legal requirements, best juvenile-justice practices, and other criteria to objectively and accurately review and assess DYRS's policies, procedures, programs, and practices. These should aim to identify any systemic problems, the reasons for the systemic problems, and, if possible, suggest possible solutions to those problems.