TJJD News & Announcements

Life inside a secure juvenile justice facility is vastly different from the fluid routines in the outside world. Young men and women sentenced to time in Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) secure facilities follow a strict daily schedule of mandated treatments, group therapy and recreation as well as voluntary community service events – all aimed at moving them toward improved mental health and pro-social behavior. But a big slice of the day mirrors the world at large. Like their peers outside, TJJD’s youthful offenders spend weekdays in school. For some of these young people, it’s been a while since they regularly attended classes. By the time they arrive at TJJD, the majority are behind by at least one grade-level and have difficulty reading. Various factors disrupted schooling -- learning disabilities, physical abuse, sexual exploitation, gang involvement -- and of course, the criminal activity than landed them in the juvenile justice system. Many TJJ...

Gainesville staff are proud to announce that one of their school’s basketball players, KA, was named to the All-State Basketball, Second Team, in the TAPPS (Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools) League. This same student was named Offensive Player of the Year in the district, where he averaged 18 points per game, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. He led the Tornadoes Basketball Team to a 13-6 record overall, and 7-3 in the district. The Tornadoes tied for second place in the district during the regular season. But they lost in the state playoffs to Colleyville Christian, the #1 ranked team in the state. KA has been “a great example in both football and basketball this year,” said Henry Thomas, Athletic Director and Basketball Coach for Gainesville’s Lone Star High School North. This student athlete also excelled off the court, making the A/B honor roll multiple times and completing his GED (high school equivalency diploma) in  October 2017, Coa...

Youth from Ayres Halfway House in San Antonio participated in an exciting event on April 12. Pam Colaw, the Director of Hidden Springs Youth Ranch, brought two of her cowboy ropers to teach our youth how to rope steers. The cowboys spent the evening teaching the techniques of roping. Our youth really enjoyed this event and have been invited to tour her ranch and ride the 10 therapy horses there sometime soon.

FORT WORTH, Texas – Willoughby House youth are gaining a new and valuable skill thanks to the efforts of JCO IV Christopher Golden. Mr. Golden has created a woodworking class for youth who are interested in refurbishing furniture. Mr. Golden said he initiated this project because, “I wanted to provide the guys with an opportunity to stay busy and learn a craft, which they can later use as an opportunity to generate income. One youth has expressed to me that he wants to pursue this as a possible career, since he enjoys it so much.” Mr. Golden has donated most of the supplies, such as a sander, paint, stain, paintbrushes, and other items as needed to complete the projects. So far, the youth have completed two end tables, a card table, and they are currently working on refurbishing the television stand in the facility. Other staff have donated items for the youth to work on as well. Mr. Golden stated that this was a craft that he’s been doing for the past ten years and wanted to g...

AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas Juvenile Justice Department served as a lead agency in Texas for the twelfth consecutive year and convened a coalition of 23 partners for the 28th Annual Global Youth Service Day (GYSD). Youth Service America hosted the global event, held during April, and it is now the largest service event in the world and celebrated in over 100 countries. During GYSD, children and youth address the world’s most critical issues in partnership with families, schools, community and faith-based organizations, businesses, and governments. Our state-operated facilities were joined by eleven county juvenile probation departments, and seven public school campuses across the state, to implement a total of 72 service-learning projects focusing on issues like kindness/tolerance, poverty, hunger and homelessness, bullying, violence and safety, public health, environment, pollution and beautification, literacy, and human rights. Nearly 1,200 youth logged a total of 5,246 hours of se...

DALLAS, Texas – Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) is about learning the needs of your community and giving your time and energy to help others. Youth at the Cottrell House and youth on parole in Dallas County decided that they wanted to understand 1) how the homeless population in Dallas is receiving help and 2) what makes cancer so difficult to cure. Youth decided that they wanted to work at two different locations to help the homeless — City Square and at the Bridge, which is the largest homeless shelter in Dallas. They also wanted to visit UT Southwestern Medical Center to learn about cancer. When youth arrived at City Square, they were amazed that there was an actual shopping pantry for homeless people. Youth received a tour of the pantry and were shocked that the pantry had a freezer that held frozen foods which has meats and vegetables for the homeless. Youth met homeless individuals at the entrance, grabbed a shopping cart, and began to help the homeless choose foods off the s...

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Art teacher Debra Mersky is back this spring at Ayres House providing weekly art classes to the youth. The classes have evolved to include a cooking class every fourth session. Obviously, with growing teenagers a class that offers an extra meal through the day is always a house favorite.

By Daniel Burgess, Staff Writer DENTON, Texas – A new specialty court directed at juveniles with mental illnesses who are at higher risk of committing another crime is seeking to help young offenders and their families and to protect the public from crime. Denton County Court at Law No. 1 Judge Kimberly McCary, along with staff at the Juvenile Probation Department, described the new juvenile mental health court, called Soar, at a presentation Thursday night at Emily Fowler Central Library in Denton. The National Alliance on Mental Illness Denton County hosted the presentation. The county is calling the program Soar, but McCary said it’s not an acronym — it means whatever the kids believe it means. The court itself is an intensive, phased six-month program that places a high level of accountability on the juvenile participants. It provides access to outside counseling and therapy to those who could not otherwise afford it and ensures the parents are part of the child’s rehabilit...

By Y. Denise Caldwell, CFRC Northern District ROANOKE, Texas – Family members of McFadden Ranch and Willoughby House youth have been receiving beautiful handcrafted greeting cards thanks to the efforts of former TJJD/TYC Parole Officer Nancy Davidson who currently volunteers as an Arts and Craft instructor for both Halfway Houses. She started last year with Christmas cards and assisted at the January Volunteer Appreciation Event where she designed the centerpieces and helped create the Souvenir Booklet. To date she’s had the youth make Christmas, New Year’s, Valentine’s, Easter, and Mother’s Day cards. She plans to continue her monthly classes with Father’s Day, 4th of July, Thinking of You, and more cards. “I enjoy it a lot,” said Davidson. “It helps me as much as it helps the youth.” The youth like making the cards too. They sometimes ask to make several because not only do they want to give their mother a card, but they want every woman in their life to have a unique car...

MART, Texas – Juvenile Justice Training Academy trainer Terry Williams took a break from teaching staff in the classroom to teach CPR to youth in TJJD’s Capstone Project at McLennan County Juvenile Correctional Facility. Mr. Williams has been an employee with the Texas Juvenile Justice Department for over 33 years and sees great value in the opportunity to utilize his passion for teaching others beyond the scope of training staff. “Teaching these kids skills that could potentially save lives is another great way the agency is making a positive impact toward empowering our youth to return back to the community and help others,” says Williams. The Capstone Project is an agency wide initiative implemented at each of the five secure facility locations to assist youth with skills necessary to successfully transition back to the community and achieve long-term positive outcomes. The program targets leadership, social, life and job skill development based on the youth’s specific risk factor...

DALLAS, Texas – Cottrell House youth recently had the rare opportunity to provide guidance to future juvenile justice workers currently studying at the University of Texas at Arlington. TJJD youth eagerly participated in a learning session, making an impact with people who are interested in helping juveniles make better decisions. The Cottrell House youth provided the UTA students with background information on why youth commit crimes. Youth informed students that committing crimes is a learned behavior, usually from family members or friends. Youth CG encouraged students remain positive and be patient when working with juveniles. Youth DJ told students that he has made positive changes to his life and now he is ready to go home. He says that he has learned to control himself and think before he acts. DJ told the group that he plans on joining the military once he is released from TJJD. Youth JL told students that he made several mistakes in the past by not listening to the peo...

BROWNWOOD, Texas – This past summer, Lone Star High School West at Ron Jackson State Juvenile Correctional Complex worked to beautify the atrium in the center of the school. Students, along with teachers and JCO’s, painted concrete benches in a variety of colors and designs. During the Fall 2016 semester, the school decided to continue the beautification by building a picnic table in one of the woodshop classes and planting flowers. In addition, the decision was made to finish the benches by holding a competition. The students were asked to create a design for a bench that fit the theme of “Believe in yourself, achieve your goals, be a success.” Staff then selected four benches that best fit the theme. The atrium is currently used for staff and student events, as well as for some class activities. The upgrades to the benches give students ownership and pride in their school.

HARLINGEN, Texas – Tamayo House celebrated Red Ribbon week in November by celebrating the hashtag #YOLO! “You only live once, live it drug free.” Each day, the youth where reminded about being drug free with ribbons, bookmarks and a #YOLO party at the end of the week. During the week, four boys from Tamayo House volunteered to share their personal stories at two middle schools in the community. They reached over 300 students with their message of choosing a drug-free life. Several of boys commented they were nervous speaking to so many people but in the end hoped they made a difference in someone’s life. Photo: Four Tamayo House youth share their personal stories at a local middle school.

FORT WORTH, Texas – On Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016 Willoughby House youth attended a Breakfast with the Brother’s from the Potter’s House, Fort Worth. TX. The Deacons and youth shared a breakfast but the men shared wisdom as well. They encouraged the youth to consider entrepreneurship when they think about their future. Several Deacons spoke from personal experience, about how they started and continue to maintain specific businesses – ranging from construction and water removal/janitorial services to BBQ restaurants and barbershops. One Deacon discussed being a published author and encouraged the youth to write their own story. In addition, several discussed how they dealt with peer pressure and learned to NOT follow the crowd but think for themselves. But this wasn’t their first meeting. These men also provided Thanksgiving dinner for the youth as well. The Potter’s House Fort Worth, under the leadership of Pastor Patrick Winfield has become instrumental in helping the youth...