Skip to main content

TJJD Advisory Council’s Standards Committee – Creation, Purpose, and Accomplishments

By Doug Vance, PhD
Chair, TJJD Advisory Council

The TJJD Advisory Council has for a number of years maintained several standing committees charged with addressing a specific area of importance to the field of juvenile justice. These committees focus on standards of care, performance measures, mental health, probation funding, and regionalization. For this article I wish to provide a general overview of the Standards Committee.

The Standards Committee was formally created on May 1, 2012 at a regular meeting of the TJJD Advisory Council. At that time the Advisory Council deemed it a top priority to initiate a systematic review of certain administrative rules (standards of care) impacting juvenile probation departments. After establishing the committee,  Brazos County Chief Doug Vance was appointed Committee Chair and Cass County Chief Philip Hayes as Vice-Chair.

In addition to Advisory Council membership on
the committee it was deemed prudent to solicit
additional representation from juvenile justice
professionals from across the state. As such,
membership on the committee soon expanded
to include representation from the following
organizations and or entities:
  • Juvenile Probation Regional Chiefs Associations
  • Texas Juvenile Justice Department
  • TJJD Advisory Council
  • Texas Juvenile Detention Association
  • Juvenile Justice Association of Texas
  • Texas Probation Association
  • Subject Matter Experts
To ensure the best chance for success the Standards Committee implemented a very distinct and uniquely strategic method of operation as outlined below:
  • Standards Committee Receives an Assignment
  • Chair Secures Committee Membership from Across the State
  • Project Parameters are Established
  • Committee Develops a Plan of Action
    . Goals
    . Guiding Principles
    . Time-Lines    . Methodology. Independent Research. Homework Assignments 
  • Committee Meetings Objectives:
    . Create Atmosphere that Encourages
    . Input & Debate
    . Provide for a Thorough Vetting Process
    . Keep Accurate Meeting Drafts
    . Solicit On-Going Feedback
    . Stay-on-Task
  • Seek TJJD Board Approval
  • Recommend an Effective Date
  • Provide State-Wide Training
Since 2012 the Standards Committee has been hard at work reviewing and revising multiple chapters of the Texas Administrative Code. Following is a list of projects completed by the Standards Committee.

2012 Elimination of the TAC 343 Compliance Resource Manual
2012 Creation of the TAC 343 Addendum
2012 Creation of Specific TJJD Auditing Procedures
2012 Revision of TAC 343 Mental Health Rules
2013 Creation of TAC 355 – Standards for Non-Secure Facilities
2014 Comprehensive Revision of TAC 343 - Secure Pre & Post-Adjudication Facilities
2014 Major Revision to How Seclusion is Administered in Texas Juvenile Detention.
2015 Revision of TAC 341 with Special Emphasis on Case Management.
2016 Revision of TAC 344 – Employment, Certification, & Training.

Each of these projects was very difficult and required extensive independent research as well as multiple meetings filled with debate and healthy discussion before completion was secured. If not for the dedication of a small group of juvenile justice professionals, these projects would have been impossible to undertake or complete.

The following list of individuals participated in one or more standards committee projects, either as a committee member, or as a subject matter expert. Their unselfish efforts will for many years to come provide the framework for the rules of engagement in juvenile probation as well as specify the modus operandi for how juvenile probation should operate. Finally, their work provides a seminal benchmark of excellence, for posterity’s sake, and will forever impact the scope, direction, and course of the Texas Juvenile Probation System.

Kristy Almager, Denise Askea, Josh Bauremiester, Linda Brooke, Darryl Beatty, Ed Cockrell, Jamie Coronado, Nekandra Coulter, Gerald Crain, Karol Davidson, Terri Dollar, Dr. Nicole Dorsey PhD, Kevin Dubose, Neil Edins, Lupita Fuentes, Dr. Jennifer Farnum. EdD, Scott Friedman, Richard Garza, Barry Gilbert, Carols Gonzales, Bruce Gusler, Kavita Gupta, Forrest Hanna, Darryl Harrison, Philip Hayes, Tom Hough, Bryan Jones, Susan Humphrey, Deborah James, Aris Johnson, Upendra Katrangadda, Monica Kelly, Ashley Kintzer, Diane Laffoon, David Lenington, Kathryn Lewis, Ron Lewis, Vicki Line, Sal Lopez, Virginia Martinez, Reba Moore, Jesse Murillo, Diana Norris, Susan Orendac, Dr. Delbert Price PhD, Leah Probst, Dr. Diana Quintana PhD, Steve Roman, Bryant Sears, Lou Serrano, Kaci Singer, James Smith, Chet Thomas, Laura Torres, Dr. Doug Vance PhD, Jim Vines, James Williams, Ross Worley.

Popular posts from this blog

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
Read more

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
Read more

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.
Read more