The Massachusetts Department of Youth Services is a multi-faceted agency that serves youth committed as juvenile delinquents or youthful offenders.

The Department employs a "continuum" model of services and supervision. All DYS programs address the educational, psychological and health needs of each youth in its custody.

DYS operates (as of July 2016) 50 residential programs, ranging from staff secure programs to hardware secure programs and 22 district offices that are strategically located across Massachusetts to provide the supervision and support to the DYS committed population who are living in their home communities.

DYS divides the state geographically into five regions.  Each region has its own continuum of services and supervision.  The goal is to serve youth as close to their home communities and families as possible.