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TJJD PREA Audits Completed; Agency Assisting Counties

Each of TJJD’s 14 facilities (secure and halfway houses) have been audited for compliance with the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act and have all been found PREA compliant, completing the first three-year audit cycle which ends August 19, 2016. Congratulations to each of these facilities and their staff for maintaining the sexual safety culture of TJJD youth. TJJD staff remains committed to sustaining this effort!

The second three-year audit cycle begins on August 20, 2016 through August 19th, 2019. During this second audit cycle, beginning in mid-2017 Ron Jackson, Brownwood House, Evins, Tamayo House and McFadden Ranch will be scheduled to have their second audit. The TJJD PREA Compliance Department will commence the preparation process for these facilities in the fall of this year.

Ten county detention facilities have been PREA audited and have been found PREA compliant. Val Verde, Tarrant, San Patricio, Brazoria, Galveston and Grayson County are the latest ones to be audited and are currently in their post-audit corrective action phase. Upcoming audits in the months of July through August will be Nueces, Van Zandt, Midland, Dallas, Harris, Angelina, Brazos, Cameron, Collin, Ft Bend, Hays, Hidalgo, Jefferson, Randall, Starr, Taylor, Tom Green, and Webb counties respectfully.

TJJD is committed to assisting county partners in achieving PREA compliance through the provision of technical assistance, PREA training and by either facilitating or performing their PREA audits. Thus far Victoria and El Paso counties have requested that TJJD conduct their audit during this second three- year audit cycle while Hardin, Atascosa, Duval, Hunt, Kerr, Guadalupe, McLennan, Smith, Wichita, Deaf Smith, Floyd, Ector, Harrison, and Ellis counties have all expressed an interest in having TJJD perform their audit during this audit cycle.

If you would like to learn and or know more about the Prison Rape Elimination Act and the PREA audit process please feel free to contact Jerome K. Williams, Director of the PREA Compliance Department at 512-490-7671 or email him at Jerome.williams@tjjd.texas.gov.

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