Lubbock County Juvenile Justice Center Achieves Federal PREA Compliance

(This article appeared on the website of Lubbock television station KCBD)

LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) - “I am excited to announce that on June 2, 2016 the Department of Justice certified the Lubbock County Juvenile Justice Center as PREA compliant. This means LCJJC was found to be in compliance with all 41 of the audited PREA standards. We became only the 6th County operated facility in the State of Texas to do so,” said director William Carter.

“The Lubbock County Juvenile Justice Center has always provided excellent care of the individuals in our custody and achieving this certification simply confirms our commitment to provide excellent services to the youth of Lubbock County,” said Carter.

The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) was passed in 2003 with unanimous support from both parties in Congress. PREA is the first United States Federal Law passed dealing with sexual abuse of incarcerated persons.

The purpose of the act is to “provide for the analysis of the incidence and effects of prison rape in Federal, State, and local institutions and to provide information, resources, recommendations, and funding to protect individuals from prison rape.” (Prison Rape Elimination Act, 2003).

The act also created the National Prison Rape Elimination Commission and charged it with developing draft standards for the elimination of prison rape. Those standards were published in June 2009, and were turned over to the Department of Justice for review and passage as a final rule. That final rule became effective August 20, 2012.

“The hard work of our PREA Coordinator Mr. Regan Bullard and Facility Administrator Chris Hill along with all of our staff enabled us to achieve this certification and I want to thank them for their dedication to this project,” said Carter.

McFadden Sends Youth Home with Backpack of 'Hope'

By Y. Denise Caldwell Community Resource Coordinator, Northern District Parole Office FLOWER MOUND, Texas - Larry Bossaler, McFadden volunteer McFadden Ranch Volunteer Larry Bossaler enjoys his assignment: Making sure that every youth who leaves the McFadden halfway house knows that people are praying for him and wishing him the best in his future. He is the man who brings them their “Good-Bye” backpack. When he delivers the backpacks, he makes sure to do three things – visit with the youth, show the contents of the backpack (because staff put them in the lockers until the youth leaves), and lastly close the visit with a heartfelt prayer. The youth enjoy and appreciate the backpack, the visit and the prayer. Many are a little anxious and scared to leave but knowing that the McFadden volunteers care enough to send them off in this special way, helps them feel a bit less worried. “I always bring an extra backpack,” Larry said. ...

IN MEMORY AND APPRECIATION: Trayce Haynes Alexander

Trayce Haynes Alexander, of Cat Spring, Texas passed away in April. She was a JCO IV at the Giddings State School and began her employment with the Texas Youth Commission on January 5, 2009, as a JCO III. She was promoted to a JCO IV on April 1, 2010. Trayce was a hardworking, loyal and dedicated staff member and friend. Her number one priority was the youth in her dorm and she would drive one hour and forty minutes everyday (even in ill health) to try to make a difference in the lives of the youth she worked with. She was well respected by both staff and youth due to her extraordinary work ethic. The boys could always depend on her to hold them accountable. She is survived by her husband Geoff Alexander and two daughters, Kristyn and Robyn Alexander. Trayce was born on September 3, 1952. She earned a BS from Southwest Texas State University in Law Enforcement.

The House of Eli

Situated on a quiet corner lot in a Sherman, Texas neighborhood is a turn-of-the-century home recently renovated to its former grandeur. And just as the house has undergone a renewal, those living inside the house are engaged their own transformations. House of Eli, Inc. is a transitional living home for boys ages 17-21. The driving force behind the home is Tawni Hodge, the home’s executive director and visionary who has discovered an outlet for her concern for young men in difficult situations. Hodge has a passion and expertise in working with young men from her years as a foster parent and her experiences as a chaplain working with juvenile services. Her vision of a home where young men could grow spiritually and emotionally, learn life skills and make lifelong family connections was enough to convince local community and business leaders to provide the necessary resources to make House of Eli a reality. Guidance is provided by Hodge, two additional house parents, and two...

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