Crisis Conditions at Texas Juvenile Justice Centers

In 2024, the United States Department of Justice released a report finding that the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TTJD) was violating the U.S. Constitution, as well as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The report detailed findings from a comprehensive investigation of five TJJD youth facilities, including the Evins Regional Juvenile Center, Gainesville State School, Giddings State School, McLennan County State Juvenile Correctional Facility, and Ron Jackson State Juvenile Correctional Complex. 

A summary:

• TJJD routinely violates the constitutional rights of children in all five facilities by:
• Exposing them to excessive force and prolonged isolation;
• Failing to protect children from sexual abuse; and
• Failing to provide adequate mental health services.
• TJJD violates the IDEA by failing to provide special education and related services to children with disabilities.
• TJJD discriminates against children with disabilities in violation of the ADA by:
• Not providing reasonable modifications necessary to permit their participation in programming required for release and
• Denying them an equal opportunity to benefit from education.

"According to our report, TJJD falls short of creating an environment that fosters rehabilitation,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton for the Northern District of Texas. “Instead, some of its personnel engage in the use of excessive force and subject children to prolonged isolation, both of which are damaging. Texans know that this is not how we rehabilitate our children. We look forward to working with the State and TJJD to eliminate these issues going forward. Together, I am confident that we can implement practices that result in a better rehabilitative environment at the TJJD and ensure a pathway for children in their care to grow, heal and reach their full potential.”

Nearly a year later, nothing appears to have changed to make TTJD facilities safer for juvenile occupants.

During committee meetings this spring, several Texas House members expressed frustration about the conditions at TJJD facilities and lack of action taken to address the findings of the August 2024 DOJ report. “I think one of the biggest problems is that the agency treats this report like it's nothing,” said House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee Vice Chair Gene Wu (D137-Houston).

Texas Non-Profit organizations are stepping in where the State falls short. LifeWorks, a non-profit organization based in Austin, Texas, tries to help homeless or displaced youth by providing housing, counselling, education and workforce programs to help people between the age of 16 to 27, as these are often the people who find themselves face to face with the Texas juvenile justice system.

To read more about the failings of the Texas juvenile justice system, the organizations stepping up to the plate, and the people behind the movement, read "The Texas Juvenile Justice system is in a crisis; here’s how people are trying to help" from Hilltop Views. Hilltop Views is a bi-weekly student newspaper published by the School of Humanities and serving the community of St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas.