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Date: November 22, 2024 Fri
Time: 11:49 am
Time: 11:49 am
Results for juvenile detention facilities (texas)
2 results foundAuthor: Moss Group, Inc. Title: Systemic Assessment of the Texas Youth Commission’s Sexual Safety Reform Strategies: Final Report Summary: The leadership of the Texas Youth Commission (TYC) engaged The Moss Group, Inc. to assess the application of reforms related to sexual safety that have been implemented over the past three years. Specifically, The Moss Group reviewed the policies, practices, reporting culture, trends, and operational issues related to the prevention, detection, and response to sexual abuse. The outcome of this process was the identification of the strengths of the reforms and the recommendations for further improving the overall sexual safety of the youth under TYC’s supervision. During site reviews of nineteen facilities - ten secure institutions and nine halfway houses - consultants spoke with staff, youth, contractors, volunteers, and advocates and observed operations on all shifts. Overall Findings -- Based on our review, The Moss Group consultant team concludes that the many reform efforts implemented by the agency to ensure sexual safety as a result of Senate Bill 103 and House Bill 3689 have significantly increased the sexual safety of the youth under the care of TYC. Staff and youth with whom The Moss Group consultants spoke have all acknowledged that (1) they understand the zero tolerance for sexual abuse, (2) reporting mechanisms are institutionalized and understood, and (3) immediate responses to all allegations of sexual abuse represent the agency’s policy and commitment to the safety of youth. TYC leadership has placed a high priority on the elimination of sexual abuse in the secure facilities and halfway houses, which is reflected in the culture of each facility. Our team observed consistent and ongoing efforts by the facility leaders to ensure that all staff is trained in their responsibilities for responding to allegations of sexual abuse and that staff value the importance of creating an environment where youth recognize their rights to be free from all forms of abuse. Throughout the course of the project, The Moss Group recognized TYC’s commitment to promptly enhancing operations as demonstrated by their continual improvements during the five month assessment period. Some of these corrective actions or initiatives were influenced by our work and others were a part of the agency’s ongoing commitment to the implementation of best practices. Implications of Facility Culture -- Our assessment process took into consideration the interrelated issues throughout the system, integrating a number of data sets and sources of information. We looked beneath the formal systems that are in place throughout the agency (e.g., policies, procedures, and what is in writing) and considered the individual characteristics of how things operate at the local level. Gaining an understanding of the informal practices and the values and beliefs of both staff and youth enabled The Moss Group consultants to have a deeper understanding of how the reform efforts are taking root at each facility. The importance of shaping staff culture as a strategy for creating safe environments for youth and staff is foundational to sustaining the positive changes realized by the reform efforts. As such, each facility’s strengths and challenges must be taken into consideration as the agency reform transitions into models of best practice in all areas of operations. Details: Austin, TX: Texas Youth Commission, 2010.; 73p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 11, 2012 at: http://www.tjjd.texas.gov/about/TYCFinalTMGReport_111910.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.tjjd.texas.gov/about/TYCFinalTMGReport_111910.pdf Shelf Number: 124927 Keywords: Juvenile Detention Facilities (Texas)Sexual Assault, Juvenile Inmates |
Author: Deitch, Michele Title: Understanding and Addressing Youth Violence in the Texas Juvenile Justice Department. Report to the Office of the Independent Ombudsman Summary: Following numerous reports in 2012 of increased levels of youth violence in secure facilities operated by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD), the Office of the Independent Ombudsman (OIO) requested assistance from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas to analyze the extent and nature of youth misbehavior within TJJD and to identify strategies to effectively address the violence. This report responds to that request and aims to support the OIO in its efforts to understand and address misbehavior in TJJD’s secure facilities so that youth and staff are safe and youth receive effective rehabilitative programming. This report focuses on “major rule violations,” the most serious offenses a youth can commit during his or her time at TJJD. These include a wide range of non-violent and violent infractions, as well as attempted escapes, riots, and other group disturbances. At the OIO’s request, TJJD provided information about all of the major rule violations that took place within its six long-term, secure facilities from January 2009 through December 2012. These data were thoroughly analyzed to identify trends in the occurrence of violence. The report also examines youths’ and staff members’ personal experiences with assaultive behavior based on the results of a survey the OIO administered to youth and staff in five of the secure facilities in August and September 2012. To understand how TJJD manages youth misbehavior, we also analyzed data about current disciplinary practices, reviewed agency policies, and spoke with relevant agency administrators. In order to identify best practices for managing the behavior of youth within institutional settings, we conducted an extensive literature review and consulted with a wide variety of national experts in the field, including current and former administrators of other state juvenile systems. The findings presented in this report are timely as Texas legislators, TJJD administrators, and the OIO work to address the chronic challenge of youth misbehavior in TJJD’s secure facilities. The persistent nature of violence and other major rule violations has critical implications for juvenile justice system reform efforts during the 83rd Legislature and beyond. Details: Austin, TX: Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, The University of Texas at Austin, 2013. 152p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 6, 2013 at: http://www.utexas.edu/lbj/sites/default/files/file/faculty/DeitchUnderstandingandAddressingYouthViolenceinTJJDMay%202013FINAL.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.utexas.edu/lbj/sites/default/files/file/faculty/DeitchUnderstandingandAddressingYouthViolenceinTJJDMay%202013FINAL.pdf Shelf Number: 128973 Keywords: Juvenile Detention Facilities (Texas)Juvenile Inmate MisconductJuvenile InmatesJuvenile OffendersYouth Violence |