TJJD News & Announcements

GIDDINGS, Texas – Just as TJJD has been increasing exercise time for youth, the PAWS program is working to raise the duration of exercise and play outings for the PAWS dogs in residence at TJJD facilities. To that end, PAWS is providing more toys and longer lines (exercise leashes) to the youth who work with the dogs. The longer lines will allow greater running distances for the dogs, enabling the youth to give them a workout on the wide grassy areas available on campus. These runs will supplement the dogs’ regular play times within the PAWS fenced areas. The dogs will benefit, and so with the youth who take them for a jog. Everyone wins! And after the work out, the youth trainers and their canine charges can relax in the spring sun. PAWS operates at three TJJD secure facilities – Gainesville State School, Ron Jackson State Juvenile Correctional Complex and the Giddings State School, where these photos were taken. (If you are interested in adopting a PAWS Dog, pleas...

GIDDINGS, Texas – Youthful offenders honored their mentors at an appreciation dinner at the Giddings State School in late December. About 40 youth served the mentors a barbecue dinner, then dine with the 20 or so mentors who came to the evening program.  Several youth paid tribute to the volunteers. “I appreciate mentors for coming out because they don’t have to do it,” said one young man. “This is free time for them, time out of their days and away from their families.” Said another, “Because we’re separated from family, the people who come out and talk to us become family. You find out you can trust people and people do help you even though they are strangers.   “You get closer and start knowing them and you become family,” the youth said.  “This is what mentors are to me.  They’re someone you can trust, rely on, and always look to for help.” Giddings Superintendent Jorge Gonzalez, Giddings Chaplain Frederick Horton, and Suzanne Scharle ...

GIDDINGS, Texas – Youth at the Giddings State School decorated their dorms for Christmas during their holiday break from classes. Here are photos of the amazing decor drawn, assembled and arranged by the youths from Dorm 8B and Dorm 3B.

GIDDINGS, Texas – Incentives have exploded at Giddings State School and the events just keep coming. The PBIS incentive team at Giddings State School have taken incentive programs to new heights and the youth have enjoyed a summer packed with fun. Events included a field day in which students were able to play water games and enjoy healthy snacks, a water kickball game complete with slip-n-slides and inflatable pools, and even the opportunity to ride newly purchased bicycles around campus. Along with these great opportunities, the PBIS incentive team renovated a dorm specifically for incentive use. With a boardwalk theme, bright colors, games, and relaxation stations, youth meeting criteria are able to spend leisure time with friends enjoying their day. In addition, even more is on the way. With a new dorm of the month program, students will be allowed access to themed Lego sets such as the NASA Apollo Saturn V spaceship or the Silent Mary pirate ship to build at their dorm.

GIDDINGS, Texas – On July 22, Giddings State School welcomed the Bill Glass Ministry team with the Behind the Walls event. The ministry event consisted of Behind the Walls team members who won the youth over with their inspiring life stories and extra special props. Speakers included a football player who is currently in the running to be a walk-on for the Green Bay Packers showing amazing strength and a racecar from the film Talladega Night s. Students saw the Talladega Nights racecar perform "burnouts" in front of the gym. The ministry team shared their stories of overcoming adversity through their own personal stories of struggle and finding faith. Their personal stories inspired both youth and staff alike and provided a beacon of hope and optimism for the future of our youth.

GIDDINGS, Texas – Staff and students welcomed youth ministry group, Mirror Image, to Giddings State School in July. Those in attendance were blessed to share in their worship and praise and to receive their message of encouragement. The One Step Away tour is a traveling choir organized by the First Baptist Church of Spartanburg, South Carolina, and includes youth in grades 9 through 12. They perform and travel through several states during the summer months spreading their message of faith, hope, and God’s love. This year’s tour brought them through Texas and included stops in San Antonio, Austin, and other TJJD facilities. Giddings State School youth sang along to "Man in the Mirror" and listened to the powerful message in the lyrics of every song the group performed. Mirror Image members shared with Giddings youth their own personal struggles through testimonials on cardboard signs that, when reversed, showed how God’s love helped them overcome. The One Step Away t...

GIDDINGS, Texas – On June 28, 2017, TJJD hosted a Legislative Open House at the Giddings State School. About 40 guests converged on the campus to learn more about the work of TJJD and specifically about the Youth In Custody Practice Model and how it is being woven into facility operations. Guests were able to hear from the YICPM consultants, tour the facility, visit with youth and staff, and hear about how the YICPM will affect TJJD’s approach to serving youth in state facilities. It was a unique opportunity for Capitol office legislative staff and an elected official to see what the agency does, rather than simply hearing about it. Other guests included members of the Texas Juvenile Justice Board, a juvenile judge from Williamson County, the Independent Ombudsman, and representatives from partner agencies. Executive Director, David Reilly, said, “I believe that as more people ‘come and see,’ more will understand and fully support the work we do. This is in large part because guests ...

GIDDINGS, Texas – On March 31, 2017, Giddings State School welcomed friends, family, and volunteers to a graduation ceremony where 31 students received their GEDs and three students were awarded their high school diplomas. The Texas Juvenile Justice Department’s Lone Star High School Southeast is a fully accredited high school where students work to earn their GED or diplomas. After graduation, they have the opportunity to earn certification in various vocations or earn college credits. Giddings State School offers certifications in fields like automotive technologies, welding, and general construction and works with outside instructors to provide OSHA and CPS certifications. During their stay at TJJD, youth can earn college credits through Navarro College and apply for scholarships to help with their transition after they return home. For more information or to inquire about how you can help, please call Anita Schwartz, Community Relations Coordinator for Giddings State School a...

GIDDINGS, Texas – Giddings State School hosted its 2017 Victim Impact Panel (VIP) on Sunday, April 1st and Monday, April 2nd. The highly emotional gathering featured several crime victims and their families meeting with youth and staff at the facility. The event began with snacks and fellowship shared between VIP members, the Giddings youth student council, and Giddings State School staff. Aside from the many smiles shared between attendees, a wonderful program was held outdoors at the flagpole, which highlighted the true essence of the event. Giddings Superintendent Jorge Gonzalez declared April 2-9 Victim Impact Week and members of the student council shared their favorite quotes of healing and forgiveness. The event wrapped up with a balloon release in which youth, staff, and volunteers alike wrote messages of love, remembrance, and healing on their balloons in hopes of bringing a small measure of comfort to themselves and those around them. Monday was a day of sharing as VI...

Every six weeks, all TJJD education departments participate in a Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS) incentive program, which addresses the youth’s individual ability to reach a set of identified expectations and behavior goals. This helps facilitate and shape behavior while building and reinforcing coping skills through targeted skill development. Overall, this offers the students directed practice, staff opportunity for modeling of pro-social skills, and positive reinforcement of targeted progress. The goal is to help youth reduce negative behavior while developing corresponding positive behaviors to build longterm, internalized changes in behavior. Below is a description of the PBIS Incentive Day held agency-wide on September 16, 2016. Gainesville: PBIS is going strong at the Gainesville State School. The last incentive was the largest yet with 68 students participating. The teachers came in early and prepared a home cooked breakfast for the students that included scra...