TJJD News & Announcements

TJJD would like to recognize the following employees who have received a tenure award since November 2015. On behalf of the agency, we extend our sincerest gratitude and appreciation for their dedication and service to the State of Texas. November 2015 FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE Adrian B. Jones, McFadden Ranch Christy L. Watson, McLennan CSJCF David I. Whitson, Ron Jackson Deborah K. Unruh, Austin (Ombudsman) Dwight A. Sadler, Austin (Ombudsman) Frederick D. Clemmons, McFadden Ranch Frederick D. Mask, Gainesville Iyesha S. Bellard, Giddings James R. Williams, Giddings Jarrett R. Massey, Giddings Juan C. Fernandez, Schaeffer HWH Roxanne S. Martinez, McFadden Ranch Victor O. Hughes, McLennan CSJCF TEN YEARS OF SERVICE Charlene M. Hunter Lane, Giddings Mary M. Perez, Ron Jackson Natasha E. Brown, McLennan CSJCF Royce R. Myers, Austin (Human Resources) FIFTEEN YEARS OF SERVICE Carl M. Smotherman, McLennan RTC Darrell S. Lewis, McLennan CSJCF DeLana D. Smethers, ...

Willoughby House youth in Fort Worth were treated to a Christmas party and celebration with from The Potter’s House – Fort Worth Ministries. The youth were part of The Potter’s House angel tree and each received almost all of the gifts on their wish list.  Youth also received numerous gifts from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who have reached out to Willoughby, in hopes of a partnership. Willoughby House Superintendent Diane Eunice said, “The Potter’s House has an exceptional group of men, who have been very generous with their time, during the Thanksgiving (they brought and served the youth Thanksgiving dinner) and Christmas holidays.” One of the highlights for youth was being invited to audition for The Potter’s House Christmas Production for non-speaking roles as angels.  Two of the youth were selected to participate.  Another youth was given the opportunity for a guitar audition with Ms. Crystal Aikin, the Season 1 winner of the current television show Sund...

In 2013 the Vera Institute, in conjunction with Families as Partners in Ohio, concluded a research project in which findings supported that family visitation is associated with improved youth behavior and improved school performance of incarcerated youth. These findings suggested that correctional facilities should try to change their visitation policy to promote more frequent visitation with families.  Because Texas is such a large state and cost of travel is sometimes prohibitive for our families, in 2013 the Family Supports Department began a focus on virtual family visits with their youth.  In FY 2015, 188 webcam sessions connected youth with their family members who were unable to visit their facility. TJJD parole offices are playing an important role in offering virtual family visits.  Most recently the San Antonio District office partnered with Ron Jackson to conduct their 1st Family Connections Web Cam Family Day on December 19, 2015. They had 15 family members...

Pictured (standing left to right) are Family Liaison Elva Benitez and community volunteers Fernando Pacheco and Esteban Sanchez who are being thanked by family members of a youth at Evins that they sponsored with an overnight stay at a local hotel.  In addition, the Evins Volunteer Council assisted with a gift gas card allowance to make the trip possible.  The family attended the Annual Volunteer “Feast of Sharing” Thanksgiving meal and traveled more 1,200 miles round trip from their home town. Thirty-two turkeys were cooked for the event and more than 100 volunteers helped serve over 500 plates for the event.

On September 28-30, 2015, TJJD’s PREA Compliance Division hosted a statewide PREA Audit Readiness training in Austin at the Omni Southpark Hotel.  Attendees included 87 PREA Coordinators, PREA Compliance Managers, Facility Administrators and facility staff from state and local juvenile facilities across Texas.  The focus of this three-day intensive training was helping facilities understand the PREA audit requirements, the audit process and prepare for upcoming audits to ensure compliance with the PREA standards.  TJJD staff Lisa Capers and Jerome Williams, Department of Justice Certified PREA Auditors, conducted the training along with several guest speakers including Elizabeth Henneke, Policy Attorney for the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition, and Keisha C. Martinez, LPC-S, Clinical Services Director at Out Youth Austin. TJJD Begins PREA Audits for Counties TJJD’s PREA Compliance Division began conducting audits of the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act standards ...