Statewide, the CYA operates 11 institutions and four camps. CYA deals with the State's most dangerous and recalcitrant juveniles and manages an increasingly violent population. Although one of the primary CYA responsibilities is to protect the public from such kids, it spends large amounts of money on programs to turn youthful offenders into productive citizens, giving them the skills they need to compete in the job market and the social tools they need to live crime-free. CYA's primary responsibility is to "re-socialize" youth educationally, psychologically, and occupationally. CYA wards either attend academic classes or work in vocational training programs. As the CYA director, the author helped turn the entire CYA into a single school district and hired a superintendent of education to manage this aspect of the program. CYA has also established partnerships with private-sector companies to provide jobs for juvenile offenders. Some 65 percent of the males and 55 percent of the females admitted to the youth authority need some kind of drug treatment, so CYA opened the State's largest (450 beds) alcohol and drug treatment center. One of the most beneficial programs operated by CYA is a parenting class for both male and female wards. Of the incarcerated offenders, 50 percent do not return to custody. Given that most of them have serious emotional problems and a chronic criminal lifestyle before coming to CYA, this is a significant achievement.