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.

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 case a youth i

McFadden Ranch High School Graduates Honored

DENTON, Texas -- The Kiwanis Club of Denton recognized nine youth from McFadden Ranch who earned their high school diploma or equivalency by inviting them to their April 17 noon meeting and luncheon where they were awarded $50 each for their trust fund. Spearheaded by JCO IV Gregory Winn, a longstanding member of the Kiwanis Club of Denton, the event was truly memorable for the youth who attended. They heard a motivational and moving presentation by Texas Rep. Pat Fallon, who completed the Greatest Endurance Challenge – the World Marathon Challenge – tackling seven marathons in seven days on seven continents. He took the challenge after being inspired by Jonny Wade, a 7-year-old boy who battled pediatric cancer and had only one wish – ‘that no other kid ever gets cancer.’ Wade’s death led to the creation of Pediatric Cancer Foundation for which Fallon raised over $250,000 so far. Fallon, who represents a portion of Denton County, said the takeaway from his experience is that we

Teamwork Leads to Arrest Without Incident

GAINESVILLE, Texas – Late at night on July 21, a young man escaped from the Gainesville State School, and an exceptional team effort ensured that he was found the very next day. Employees from TJJD State Programs, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, local law enforcement, and TJJD Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigators from Gainesville, Brownwood, Mart, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin all answered the call that night. Sgt. Gabriel Medellin was contacted at approximately 2:00 a.m., on July 22. He left San Antonio for Gainesville at approximately 6:00 a.m. to meet with other investigators and begin searching for the youth. At approximately 12:25 p.m., Sgt. Medellin observed a male walking down a highway in Gainesville who matched the description of the youth. Sgt. Medellin made contact, confirmed his identity, and made the arrest without incident. He was assisted by OIG Sergeants Walker Willey (Ron Jackson) and Tom Hamilton (Mart). OIG Chief Forrest Mitchell s

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