If you are newly acquainted with the Texas juvenile justice system, you may be feeling confused or overwhelmed by the many different terms used within the system. Even people with experience in the adult criminal court system may struggle to understand the unique terminology specific to the juvenile justice system.
One clear example of confusing terminology is the difference between the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) and the Texas Youth Commission (TYC). You may hear both acronyms -TJJD and TYC – used interchangeably to refer to the juvenile prison system in Texas, but it’s not exactly that simple.
In this article, Board Certified Juvenile Lawyer Lisa Herrick explains the history, structure, and current role of TJJD—and how it differs from its predecessor, TYC.
The Texas Youth Commission (TYC)
The Texas Youth Commission was formerly the agency responsible for operating the juvenile corrections system in Texas. The corrections facilities included juvenile prisons, residential mental health facilities, and halfway houses. TYC was also responsible for supervising youth who were released on parole. TYC was headquartered in Austin but there were facilities across the state.
While TYC operated correctional facilities, there was a separate organization called the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission. Just as it sounds, the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission assisted county-level juvenile probation departments. It also oversaw county-level juvenile detention facilities. Also headquartered in Austin, the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission maintained 165 probation departments that served the 254 Texas counties.
Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD)
TYC and the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission functioned separately for several decades, but in 2011, the Texas Legislature combined the functions of both agencies into a single agency called the Texas Juvenile Justice Department. Likely initiated by several scandals within juvenile correctional facilities in the early 2000s, the legislation changed more than just the name of the agency.
Three correctional facilities were closed for good, leaving only six facilities operating at that time. That number has now been reduced to five.
TJJD is also responsible for maintaining juvenile records as well as obtaining and analyzing statistics regarding juvenile justice. A 13-member board was created, which oversees every aspect of the juvenile justice system from beginning to end. Though the legislation creating TJJD was passed in 2011, the integration of the corrections department and the probation department wasn’t fully completed until 2017.
Texas Juvenile Correctional Facilities
Currently, the TJJD correctional facilities house juveniles between the ages of 10 through 19 years old. The maximum age was reduced from 21 years old to 19 years old in 2007. Only juveniles who have been adjudicated delinquent of felony conduct can be ordered to serve time at a TJJD correctional facility.
The five high-security facilities that are currently operated are located in Gainesville, Brownwood, Mart, Giddings, and Edinburg, Texas. Other medium and low security facilities are operated throughout the state, and those function more similarly to treatment centers.
The five TJJD high-security correctional facilities are gated, residential facilities, meaning the facilities are locked and the juveniles are not free to leave. Juveniles are assigned single-occupancy rooms in dorms and are issued basic uniforms to wear.
Female and male residents are not housed in the same facilities and do not have co-ed interaction. Youth committed to TJJD are provided education, treatment, and skills training while in custody, and well-behaved juveniles may earn the ability to take advantage of on-campus job opportunities or participate in competitive high school sports programs.
Juveniles who have been adjudicated on indeterminate sentence cases will be eligible for records sealing after release to allow a fresh start for rehabilitated youth. Juveniles sentenced on determinate sentence offenses, or those who have continuing sex-offender registry obligations are not entitled to records sealing.
Facing TJJD Commitment? Talk to a Juvenile Defense Attorney Today
The Texas juvenile justice system is complex, and the consequences for a child can be life-altering. Whether your child is facing adjudication for a felony or you’re simply trying to understand what TJJD means for your family, you don’t have to navigate this alone.
Lisa Herrick is a Board Certified Juvenile Defense Attorney with extensive experience defending youth in North Texas courts. Mike Hanson is a juvenile attorney who handles cases in our Houston location. Both have a deep understanding of how TJJD operates and what it takes to protect your child’s rights and future.
If your child has been accused of a crime, contact juvenile defense attorneys Lisa Herrick or Mike Hanson today at 817-203-2220 to schedule a confidential consultation. Early intervention can make a significant difference in the outcome of a juvenile case.
