GOLDEN, Colo. — Colorado’s Division of Youth Services (DYS) has reopened portions of the Lookout Mountain Youth Services Center in Golden, just two months after transferring out all youth and most staff amid what internal emails described as ongoing “basic safety” failures.
The agency did not publicly announce the change but confirmed to 9NEWS this week that the center resumed limited operations on Nov. 1, launching a new assessment unit that can house up to 13 young people.
A second unit, a transition program with capacity for 37 youth, is scheduled to open Dec. 15. DYS said the phased approach is intended to relieve pressure on detention centers and provide a “more contained and effective environment” while the agency rebuilds staffing and restructures programming…