Massachusetts General Laws
Chapter 120 - Department of Youth Services and Massachusetts Training Schools
Section 16 - Discharge of Persons Committed as Delinquent Child or Youthful Offender

Section 16. Every person committed to the department until the age of 18 as a delinquent child, if not already discharged, shall be discharged upon reaching the person's eighteenth birthday. Every person committed to the department until the age of 19 as a delinquent child, if not already discharged, shall be discharged upon reaching the person's nineteenth birthday. Every person committed to the department until the age of 20 as a delinquent child, if not already discharged, shall be discharged upon reaching the person's twentieth birthday. Every person committed to the department until the age of 21 as a youthful offender, if not already discharged, shall be discharged upon reaching the person's twenty-first birthday. The department may continue to have responsibility for any person provided for in this chapter under 22 years of age for the purposes of specific educational or rehabilitative programs, under conditions agreed upon by both the department and such persons and terminable by either. Such services must be offered prior to the person's discharge date as provided herein; however, a person may request and the department shall consider any such request for the services described, for up to 90 days after the person's effective date of discharge, even where the person has previously declined services or services were terminated for non-compliance, and may reach an agreement with the person, terminable by either, to provide the services described herein until such person attains the age of 22.

Structure Massachusetts General Laws

Massachusetts General Laws

Part I - Administration of the Government

Title XVII - Public Welfare

Chapter 120 - Department of Youth Services and Massachusetts Training Schools

Section 1 - Corporate Status of Department of Youth Services; Holding and Investing Trust Funds

Section 2 - Management, Government and Care of Industrial Schools; Employment of Expert Personnel by Director

Section 3 - Appointment of Superintendents, Chaplains and Physicians

Section 4 - Rules and Regulations; By-Laws

Section 5 - Examination and Study of Children Committed; Re-Examinations; Records; Discharge

Section 6 - Liberty Under Supervision; Confinement; Reconfinement; Revocation or Modification of Order; Discharge

Section 6a - Correction of Socially Harmful Tendencies

Section 7 - Powers and Duties of Superintendent

Section 8 - Bond and Accounts of Superintendents; Accounting to Commissioner of Youth Services

Section 9 - Rogers Fund

Section 10 - Use of Public or Private Facilities, Institutions and Agencies; Control; Acceptance and Control of Delinquent Children; Inspection; Effect of Placement of Person in or Release From Institution or Control by Department

Section 10b - Involuntary Room Confinement Prohibited

Section 11 - Places for Detention and Diagnosis; Treatment and Training Facilities; Facilities to Aid Persons Given Conditional Releases; Forest or Farm School Camps

Section 12 - Release Under Supervision; Placement Into Families or Homes

Section 13 - Escape; Breach of Parole; Arrest; Detention

Section 13a - Compensation for Property Damage Caused by Inmates; Notice of Damage; Claim; Filing

Section 14 - Applications for New Commitments for Mentally Ill, Developmentally Disabled or Sexually Dangerous Persons

Section 15 - Transfers From Massachusetts Reformatory and Reformatory for Women

Section 16 - Discharge of Persons Committed as Delinquent Child or Youthful Offender

Section 17 - Control Beyond Age Limit; Persons Physically Dangerous to Public

Section 18 - Notice of Application for Review of Order; Hearing; Appointment of Counsel; Court Order

Section 19 - Continued Control; Later Discharge; Transfer to Appropriate Institutions

Section 21 - Effect of Commitment on Application for Public Service; Discharge; Restoration of Civil Rights; Records; Inspection; Consent; Evidence in Other Proceedings

Section 22 - Inquiry Into Effectiveness of Treatment Methods; Information; Annual Report; Contents

Section 23 - Power of Department to Act as Guardian of Children

Section 23a - Disposition of Unclaimed Money Held for Former Ward; Records

Section 24 - Expenditure of Gifts

Section 25 - Children Committed by United States Courts

Section 26 - Escape; Attempted Escape; Aiding or Assisting