Dylan is the first to admit it. When he came to us at the state Division of Youth Corrections, he was combative and

hostile. One day, without provocation, he punched a staff member in the face.

As I think about the year we’ve had at DYC, I think about redemption, hope and salvation. I think about how hard our staff works to reduce fights, assaults and injuries, and teaching young people how to lead successful lives once they leave our care.

And I think about Dylan. He’s in college now and is mentoring other young people. His success story embodies everything we’re working to achieve at DYC. But it wasn’t always smooth sailing.

I mentioned that Dylan, whose last name is withheld to maintain his privacy, assaulted a staff member. That was Charles Tyous, assistant director at Lookout Mountain Youth Services Center. Charles went to check on Dylan and, before entering his room, the youth rushed out and hit him. Charles was out for a couple of days, and when he came back, Dylan approached him.

“Are you ready for round two?” Charles remembers Dylan saying.

Charles answered: “There isn’t going to be a round two. There was never a round one. I’m here to help you.”

That was the beginning of Dylan’s turnaround. There were setbacks along the way, for sure. But Charles and the rest of the staff kept at it, using the de-escalation and restorative justice practices we’ve taught them.

With the support of the administration and the additional staff the Legislature so generously gave us, we’ve had the time to work with Dylan and similarly troubled youths. For instance, one of our staff went to a local restaurant before Dylan was released and advocated for him so that he could get a job. Other jobs followed, and then college.

Recently, Dylan visited us and said that after his interaction with Charles Tyous, he turned a corner.

“I went from being assaultive and angry and not knowing where I wanted to go to being very direct and goal-oriented and being successful to this day,” said Dylan, who agreed to have his story told.

His transformation is affirming to all of us at DYC. This is why our staff takes on the difficult job of working with youth who come to us with complex problems. The overall trend at our youth corrections facilities is a positive one. We are seeing a decrease in fights and assaults, and with that, a decrease in injuries as well. We’ve achieved this while taking the time to develop relationships and help youth build skills and competencies.

Between October 2014 and October 2015, fights and assaults across our 10 facilities decreased by 22 percent. This year, Lookout Mountain Youth Services Center participated in a survey of facilities across 32 states, an effort designed to yield a “national field average” of fights and assaults. Compared to this national rate, Lookout had a 38 percent lower rate of fights and assaults.

We’re proud of the dedication and commitment of our staff and hope that every young person has the same outcome that Dylan has had. His success is the heart and soul of our work and the hope we have for every young person at DYC.

Charles Parkins is director of Division of Youth Corrections in the Colorado Department of Human Services.