Classification Process

(1) All youth committed to the Department of Youth Services shall undergo an Assessment within 30 through 45 days of commitment. (2) Within two weeks of commitment, the Departmental members of a youth's Treatment Team shall determine an anticipated date for completion of a youth's Assessment and set a date for the youth's initial Staffing to take place following the date of anticipated completion. The Treatment Team shall make reasonable efforts to schedule the Staffing at a time and location that is facilitates participation by the youth's parent or legal guardian, attorney and other relevant community partners. (3) The youth's Staffing shall include, but not be limited to, a review of the Assessment and any other information relevant to the youth's treatment needs, personal history, history of offending behavior, and risk of re-offense. The Staffing shall afford all Treatment Team members an opportunity to be heard regarding the information presented. (4) Within five business days of the youth's staffing, the assigned caseworker shall update the youth's case file to reflect the outcome of the Staffing and any other information relevant to the youth's Classification. This information, including a copy of the youth's Assessment and Case History shall be made available to authorized Treatment Team members, for review prior to the presentation of the Treatment Team's recommendations to the RRT. (5) Within ten business days of the youth's Staffing, the RRT shall convene to review the recommendations of the youth's Treatment Team and classify the youth. The Caseworker or his or her designee shall present the recommendations of the Treatment Team and contextual information. The youth shall be afforded the opportunity to be heard by the RRT regarding this recommendation. Within five business days of the RRT meeting, the RRT shall issue a Classification decision. The Regional Review Team will consider all information presented at the RRT meeting and render a Classification decision consistent with the Classification Factors outlined in 109 CMR 4.06. This decision shall be in writing and shall reference the information considered by the RRT and provide the rationale for the RRT's decision. The RRT shall provide the decision to the youth, his or her guardian, and attorney of record. Accompanying this decision shall be information regarding the youth's right to appeal and the requirements regarding appeals outlined in 109 CMR 4.07. (7) Nothing in 109 CMR 4.00 shall preclude a youth's Treatment Team from presenting a youth's case to the RRT for review of the youth's Classification at any time; however, the youth shall be notified of any request for extension of his or her treatment beyond the upper limit of the treatment time for the Grid level approved at his or her Classification. The youth shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard by the RRT and to appeal the RRT's decision. Any such appeal shall follow the requirements outlined in 109 CMR 4.07.