The push for a separate juvenile justice system in North Carolina began in the early 19th century. Reformers known as "child savers" led the movement after noticing a need to protect children from the influences of adult prisoners.

These reformers believed that treating child offenders was more important than punishing them. Rehabilitation, they thought, benefited both the child and society. Reforms such as this set the framework for North Carolina's current system, one dedicated to the best interest of children and to the protection of the community.

The first juvenile court in North Carolina was established in 1868. Innovative legislation regulating juvenile offenders followed. The first important piece of legislation was the Probation Courts Act of 1915. This bill set new precedents for handling juvenile offenders, including:

• Establishing separate categories of "dependent" and "delinquent" juveniles
• Employing probation officers for juveniles
• Putting youth offenders on probation
• Committing juvenile offenders to a state or county training school
• Providing separate trials for juveniles
• Separating juvenile criminal records
• Preventing youth contact with older and more hardened criminals by placing them in separate facilities.

These points were later incorporated into the Juvenile Court Statute of 1919.

The act called for facilities that housed and trained only youth. In 1909, Stonewall Jackson Manual Training and Industrial School, the first facility for juveniles, opened. Nine years later, Samarkand Manor opened as the first State Home and Industrial School for Girls.

All state juvenile facilities were supervised and funded independently until 1943, when they were unified into the statewide Board of Juvenile Correction. In 1971, the name changed to the Department of Youth Development.

The Juvenile Justice statute, granting juvenile justice courts jurisdiction of delinquent, dependent, or neglected children age 16 and younger.

In the 1960s, the constitutionality of the statute was questioned and tested in the State v. Burnett case. The trial presented the case of two children of ages younger than 10 who were indicted for murder. These children were tried as adults in the traditional criminal process. The outcome of the case established common law that measured children's liability for crimes based on age and capacity to form criminal intent. It also held children between the ages of fourteen to sixteen responsible for crimes they committed.

A 1969 revision to the Juvenile Justice Statute changed the law to include children aged 16 and 17.

The revolutionary nature of the 1960s prompted the reforms in systems across the nation. In North Carolina, the decade marked an era of some major operational reforms.

In 1965, The Juvenile Department Act placed the authority and jurisdictions of the inferior courts into the hands of superior, district courts. The law stated that these district courts would handle delinquent, dependent, and neglected children under age sixteen, domestic relations misdemeanors matters; and civil actions over annulment, divorce, alimony, and child custody.

Before this reform, counties, not the state, supervised juvenile courts and handled domestic cases. By 1971, the state had taken control of all district courts with civil and criminal jurisdiction.

While North Carolina was ironing out wrinkles in its juvenile system, the U.S. Supreme Court heard two trials that would lead to more changes in the system.

The first case was Kent v. U.S. (U.S. 1966), after a 16-year-old was arrested on charges of housebreaking, robbery and rape. The other case was Gault v. U.S. (1967). In this case, a 15-year-old made obscene phone calls and was arrested with no notice to the parents.

After these decisions juvenile offenders were granted due process of law and constitutional rights including notification of charges, protection against self-incrimination, right to counsel and the right to confront witnesses. The ruling ended decades of parens patriae, which allowed the courts to assume the role of substitute parent by providing for juvenile's needs. Nearly every state was required to modify its juvenile code to conform to the Supreme Court's mandate.

North Carolina's juvenile justice system spent the 1970s putting the new constutional rights for juveniles into effect.

During that decade, the number of juveniles committed to YDCs dropped. Five factors lead to the decrease:

• A revision of the standards for youth committed to YDCs
• New community-based alternative programs to keep youth out of YDCs
• A legal requirement that community resources be exhausted before a child could be committed
• The removal of status offenders from YDCs, so only delinquent youth could be committed
• Increased funding for juvenile services and alternatives to YDCs from local, state, and federal sources

Before the close of the 1970s, the first statewide system of juvenile services was created. Located in the administrative Office of the Courts, the Juvenile Services Division oversaw intake services and supervised probation and aftercare services for delinquent and undisciplined children. The Division of Youth Services operated training schools, developed community-based programs for youth and approved detention care for juveniles.

From 1990-1993, the number of juveniles served increased. DJJDP unveiled two new programs aimed at not only reducing but also preventing crime. One program provided intensive monitoring of convicted offenders. Another set up intensive counseling for juveniles that provided therapeutic assistance to youth and their families. Both programs reflect the department focus on creating a better environment for youth.

Since 1996, there have been slight declines in the rate of overall delinquent complaints and the number of delinquent juveniles. As the century came to a close, the juvenile justice system boasted a staff of highly qualified professionals who serve youth and their families. With the well-being of the child at the forefront of its policies and procedures, the system is child-centered.

Seeking to provide a single cabinet-level agency focused on deterring juvenile from crime through sanctions and prevention programs, former Governor Jim Hunt established the Office of Juvenile Justice. After a final name-change in November of 2000, the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention became the official agency for at-risk youth in North Carolina.

Today, DJJDP works to ensure public safety, develop innovative prevention programs for youth, and incite community leaders statewide to work together to put children first.

As part of its Youth Development Division, DJJDP operates nine youth development centers located across the state. These centers are:

• C.A. Dillion
• Cabarrus County YDC
• Chatham County YDC
• Dobbs
• Edgecombe County YDC
• Lenoir County YDC
• Samarkand
• Stonewall Jackson
• Swannanoa Valley

The Youth Development Division of DJJDP regulates the release of youth offenders from YDCs. Juveniles are released only after demonstrating an understanding of the consequences and negative impacts of their actions, for them and for the state. The system addresses both juvenile offenders and their families, taking into consideration local risk factors that vary with each child and community.

Since 1998, far less juveniles have been committed to YDCs.

• 975 admissions in 2000
• 660 admissions in 2001
• 605 admissions in 2002
• 478 admissions in 2003
• 473 admissions in 2004
• 428 admissions in 2005
• 486 admissions in 2006
• 437 admissions in 2007

DJJDP will continue to improve its services by addressing the social, physical, educational, vocational, and mental issues for all youth who come in contact with the justice system.

Recently, DJJDP has shifted its treatment methods from correctional to therapeutic. Treating juvenile offenders will prepare them to re-enter their communities as productive members of society.