David Reilly Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

On Tuesday October 25, 2016 Texas Juvenile Justice Department Executive Director David Reilly received the prestigious Amador R. Rodriguez Lifetime Achievement Award during the Juvenile Justice Association Of Texas’ (JJAT) Fall Conference in Corpus Christi.

The award is given annually to a juvenile justice professional who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in the juvenile justice field. Mr. Reilly was nominated by his peers in the juvenile justice field and vetted by a committee of juvenile justice professionals. This prestigious award is recognition of Mr. Reilly’s service to the youth in Texas. JJAT President Stephanie Fowler presented the award to Reilly during the awards luncheon. The Juvenile Justice Association of Texas is proud to include Reilly among the small number of previous recipients.

Reilly, who has served as TJJD’s executive director since 2014, previously served as the Chief Probation Officer for the Bexar County Juvenile Probation Department in San Antonio for 17 years. In that capacity, he oversaw a department that has 680 employees and operates three secure juvenile facilities, serving both pre-adjudication and post-adjudication youth. He has a combined total of 49 years’ experience in the delivery of children and youth services in Texas.

Before joining Bexar County in 1997, Mr. Reilly served 23 years with the state, with the last five years as the Director of Field Operations for Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services from 1992-1997. Prior to that, Reilly had served as Regional Director for Child Protective Services for 10 years in the San Antonio region and three years as Regional Director in the Austin region.

He began his career as a juvenile probation officer shortly after graduating from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio with a B.A. degree in Psychology. After two years as a juvenile probation officer, Reilly returned to graduate school at Our Lady of The Lake University (OLLU) and received his Master of Social Work degree in 1970. Reilly was selected as an Outstanding Alumni, OLLU in 1996. Reilly is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

Amador R. Rodriguez, who the award was named for, worked in the Cameron County juvenile department from 1971 until his death in 2000. During his time there, he created a juvenile boot camp and an alternative education program. He was elected as the first president of the Juvenile Justice Association of Texas in December of 1999. JJAT is the largest juvenile specific trade organization in Texas, boasting over 500 members representing all of the seven regions from across the state.

PHOTO: David Reilly (left) receives the Amador R. Rodriguez Lifetime Achievement Award from Juvenile Justice Association of Texas Vice President Brandon Borski.

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.

Canyon Lake Evening Reporting Center

When Comal County Juvenile Probation Chief Kris Johnson joined the department in March 2011, he brought with him a long-term vision to open an Evening Reporting Center (ERC) in the county. ERCs, which require youth offenders to report to specified locations during evening hours for programming, skills building and community service, were first used in Chicago, where juvenile justice advocates needed after school programs to keep their higher risk kids from getting involved in the gang scene. They also serve as an alternative to detention pending a youth’s hearings. ERCs have become common detention alternatives in many communities throughout the United States and are based on research and best practices recognized by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Johnson believed implementing an ERC in Comal County would reduce juvenile crime by providing supervision during the hours crime is most likely to occur. Additionally, it could significantly reduce the cost of deten...

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