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SPOTLIGHT: Tom Brooks, Chief, Harris County Juvenile Probation Department

What enticed you to become a Probation Chief?
My aspiration growing up was to be a private investigator, a lawyer, a stockbroker, or a therapist. I have always had the desire to help others. After being a volunteer Big Brother and then an intern at Michigan State University with the Ingham County Juvenile Probation Department, I realized that I wanted to spend my career working with troubled youth.

What drives you to do a good job?
Knowing that we as an agency and we as a profession have the obligation to do the best we can at creating opportunity for youth to be successful while also taking into consideration the protection of the community. The youth and family “needs” change and we have to position ourselves to be flexible enough to meet their changing needs.

What are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen during your career?
I have seen many changes in my 34 years of employment at the Juvenile Probation Department from advances in technology to changes in philosophical approaches to working with juveniles (rehabilitative vs. punitive), to increased severe mental health disorders in juveniles.

What is your proudest moment?
I do not have any one proudest moment, but just my overall pride in the creativity of our staff and the ability to succeed with our probationers. It is always great to have a youth approach you years later to say thanks and they are doing fine. I am happy with the relationships I have made in the legislature that have enabled us to create good laws and fight off bad bills.

What do you do in your spare time?
My favorite thing is to sit in my Lafuma chair and have a cigar and a drink. That’s how I make my best decisions. I also like to hunt and do country boy stuff.

What do you wish people knew about you?
I am a simple country boy that has been on loan to the big city for 35 years. I care about people and I know that their story is as important as mine is.

What advice do you have to young employees just starting out today?
If you don’t have the heart for working with our kids then move on down the road. Kids are smart enough to see through someone that is just here for a paycheck. They need someone who is here for the right reason and really cares.

What do you want your legacy to be?
Leaving a legacy is not important to me. Everyone can decide on their own if I did a good job or not. I put as much pressure on myself as anyone. If I walk away and know that I’ve done my best, that’s all I need. Oh, and whoever takes my place is welcome to blame me for anything that goes wrong. LOL

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