NCJ Number
195023
Date Published
2000
Length
37 pages
Annotation
This handbook presents an overview of the Texas juvenile justice system.
Abstract
The Texas Youth Commission (TYC) is charged with holding, treating, and rehabilitating the most serious juvenile offenders. TYC uses individual treatment plans to focus on offenders' specific needs, with specialized rehabilitation programs for capital offenders, sexual offenders, and drug and alcohol abusers. The Texas Juvenile Probation Commission (TJPC) is in charge of overseeing Texas juvenile probation services. Probation is the follow-up supervision provided to a youth pursuant to a juvenile court order. TJPC is empowered to: (1) adopt rules and minimum standards for probation and detention services; (2) provide alternatives to the commitment of juveniles through financial aid to local juvenile boards; (3) set education and certification standards for probation officers; and (4) provide training and technical assistance to counties, juvenile boards, and probation offices. The document lists other State resources to help at-risk juveniles and local juvenile entities that address juvenile crime. It describes the juvenile justice process; the jurisdiction of the juvenile court; charging and trying a child in juvenile court; disposition of sentencing of a juvenile; the Progressive Sanctions guidelines; sharing information between schools and police; statutory and court-approved tools for battling juvenile crime; gangs; and crime control and prevention districts. Notes