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TJJD Regionalization Division Established

TJJD established its Regionalization Division March 1, 2016, in response to Senate Bill (SB) 1630, which requires TJJD to implement a regionalization plan by August 31, 2016, that would keep more adjudicated youth out of state-run facilities and in their home regions. To do this, TJJD, working with county probation departments and associations around the state, must identify and utilize available local post-adjudication facilities that have the capacity to provide treatment to additional youth. The regionalization plan must include mechanisms to divert 30 juveniles from TJJD commitment in FY 2016 and 150 in FY 2017.


Current regional associations, lines of communication and collaboration, and programmatic resources currently exist to facilitate this initiative; however, regionalization represents a fundamental shift in the juvenile justice system in Texas requiring significant planning efforts in a limited timeframe.


TJJD’s regionalization department will be responsible for this new initiative. Three Regional County Program Administrators and a planner have been hired to oversee these efforts.


Regional County Program Administrators


Deborah Harris will be responsible for the Central and Southeast regions. Deborah has more than 26 years of experience in Social Services including 15 years with TJJD and legacy TYC. Her social services experience includes work in Protective Services, Community Mental Health, Probation, and Parole. Deborah has a unique understanding of criminal justice at both the community and secure facility level. She has extensive leadership experience as well as experience in program development and training among other skills. Deborah is nationally certified in Dealing with Gangs in a Juvenile Facility. She is actively involved in the Texas Violent Gang Task Force, Texas Gangs Investigation Association, American Counseling Association, and American Correctional Association among other professional associations relevant to her work.


Deborah has a Master’s of Arts Degree in Counseling and a Master’s of Science Degree Specializing in Marriage and Family Therapy both from Prairie View A&M. Deborah has a BS in Psychology with a Minor in Sociology. She also has an Associate’s Degree in Business Management.


Lou Serrano will oversee the South, West, and Panhandle regions. Lou has worked in the field of Juvenile Justice for 26 years, beginning in Deaf Smith County in 1989 as a field supervision officer. In 1990, Lou was appointed to the position of Chief Juvenile Probation Officer for Deaf Smith County. While in Deaf Smith County, Lou was able to obtain both State and local funding to open the Deaf Smith County Youth Home, a 12 bed residential facility for male delinquent offenders. At the time, the facility was noted for its innovative and creative approach in dealing with delinquent offenders.


On March 1, 2001, Lou was appointed the Director of Juvenile Services for Ector County. The department employed over 50 dedicated juvenile justice professionals, along with administrative staff. Part of the department operations included the Ector County Youth Center, a 48 bed secure juvenile detention facility. The Ector County Youth Center “post-adjudication” program was the first of its kind in the State of Texas, opening in 1974. Lou has been a past member of the Panhandle Association of Juvenile Probation Officer’s, the West Texas Juvenile Chief’s Association, and a member of the Texas Probation Association. Lou is a graduate of West Texas A & M University, obtaining his degree in Criminal Justice Administration in 1988.


Bill Bristow will work with the North and Northeast regions. Bill retired from the Grayson County Department of Juvenile Services following 35 years of service. He is originally from Lamesa, Texas but moved to Sherman to attend college. He served as a probation officer and was promoted to Chief in 1982. As the department grew from three employees to 75, Bill became director of a regional pre- and post-adjudication facility. The facility received national recognition by the National Association of Counties (NACo).


Bill has collaborated on regional mental health, criminal justice, and juvenile justice projects. He was
elected to the Sherman ISD school board and served for two terms and was President for three years. He has been a consultant with North Texas and Texoma COG’s, served on the faculty of Grayson College and Texoma Regional Police Academy and is active with the STAR Recovery Court. In semi-retirement, he and his wife moved to Aubry, TX to be closer to family. Bill graduated from Austin College and the University of Texas in Arlington with a Master’s of Science in Social Work. He is a licensed master social worker advanced practitioner.


Planner


Ashley Kintzer has worked for TJJD and legacy agency TYC for more than eight years. She worked as a legal assistant in the Appeals Section in the Office of General Counsel from 2008 – 2013 and as a technical writer in the Office of General Counsel from 2013 – 2016. Ashley graduated from St. Edward’s University in 2004 with a BA in criminal justice and a minor in communications. Ashley graduated from Texas State University in 2008 with a Master’s in criminal justice.


Photo: (Backrow left to right): Deborah Harris, Lou Serrano, Bill Bristow. (Front) Ashley Kintzer

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