Youth in juvenile detention suffer from various health disparities that warrant access to health and mental health care. Although adjudicated youth receive health care while detained, many are disconnected from youth-serving institutions that may facilitate access to care when in the community. Examining the unique challenges impacting detention youth’s independent access to health services has the potential to improve health care services for this high-risk population. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 13 detention youth, and five health professionals serving justice-involved youth to identify barriers preventing detention youth from independently accessing care. Individual-level and structural barriers were identified. Individual-level barriers included youth’s lack of knowledge in a variety of areas, including fear, disinterest, and instability. Structural barriers included clinic restrictions on when patients can access services, challenging scheduling processes, and difficult interactions with clinic staff and providers. Several barriers limiting detention youth’s ability to independently access care were identified. Based on study findings, programs fostering health care utilization among detention youth should address both individual-level factors and structural factors.