Governor Abbott Appoints Five to Texas Juvenile Justice Board

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Pama Hencerling to the Texas Juvenile Justice Board for a term set to expire February 1, 2017 and appointed Edeska Barnes, Jr., Lisa Jarrett, Candy Noble and Wes Ritchey for terms set to expire February 1, 2021. The board is charged with developing and implementing rules to govern the department, executive director and staff, and to establish the mission and set goals for the department to emphasize keeping youth in home communities while balancing rehabilitative needs with public safety.

Pama Hencerling of Victoria is the chief juvenile probation officer of Victoria and Goliad Counties. She is past president of the Texas Institute on Children and Youth and a member of the Central Texas Chiefs Association, Texas Probation Association and the Juvenile Justice Associate of Texas. Hencerling received a Bachelor of Science from Sam Houston State University.

Edeska Barnes, Jr. of Jasper is the chief juvenile probation officer for the First Judicial District Juvenile Probation Department. He is on the board of directors for the Texas Probation Association, a member of Deep East Texas Council of Government and a facilitator for the New Chiefs Development Program for Correctional Management Institute of Texas at Sam Houston State University. Barnes received a Bachelor of Science from Lamar University.

Lisa Jarrett of San Antonio is Judge of the 436th District Court. She is a member of Friends of Communities in Schools, co-chair of the Community Justice Project and fellow of the San Antonio Bar Foundation and the Texas Bar Foundation. Jarrett received a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Texas at Austin and a Juris Doctor from the University of Houston Law Center.

Candy Noble of Lucas previously served on the Collin County Child Protective Services Board. She volunteers as the co-chair the Alumni Committee on the Hardin-Simons University Board of Development. Noble received a Bachelor of Education from Hardin-Simons University.

Wes Ritchey of Dalhart is the county judge of Dallam County. He is a member of the Texas Association of Counties and the Panhandle County Judge & Commissioners Association and volunteers for the Dallam County 4-H and the Dalhart Area Child Care Center as Board President. Ritchey received a Bachelor of Arts from Texas Tech University.

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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