One of DJS’s primary functions is to provide treatment to juvenile offenders. At disposition, a juvenile court may commit a youth to the care of DJS. Legal custody of the youth is thereby transferred to DJS. Once a youth is committed to DJS, a range of treatment programs are available.

Community-Based Treatment Programs allow youth to remain living at home in their community while they receive treatment. The treatment programs that DJS has implemented in communities throughout Maryland are Evidence-Based Services, which have been scientifically proven to be effective in changing youth behavior.

Out-of-Home Treatment Programs​ provide specific types of treatment in a range of settings from least restrictive to more restrictive. The type of out-of-home program that is best suited for a youth is determined by reviewing their current offense, prior juvenile history, evaluations, and assessments to determine what kind of treatment is recommended and the appropriate security level.