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General Counsel

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  • About
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About

The Office of General Counsel (OGC) provides in-house legal services for the agency. In addition, the OGC is responsible for:

  • responding to youth appeals;
  • tracking and coordinating youth grievances;
  • conducting administrative due process hearings for youth and employees;
  • determining whether to release to parole, discharge from TJJD custody, or extend the length of stay for youth who have reached their minimum length of stay; and
  • handling youth records and requests for records.
  • coordinating the development and publication of official agency rules, policies, procedures, and forms.

Public Information Requests

Public Information Requests

The Public Information Act guarantees the public access to information maintained by a government agency. It is our policy to provide you with the fullest possible access to public information. If you wish to request records under the Texas Public Information Act, please refer to the following requirements and guidelines.

Requests for public information must be made in writing. Your request should include your name, address, and as much description as you can provide regarding the records you are requesting. 

Requests for information may be:

  • Mailed to:
    Texas Juvenile Justice Department
    Attn: Open Records Section
    Central Services Building (CSB)
    1711 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701
  • Submitted via the Public Information Request Online Submission Form
  • Emailed to
  • Open Records (512) 490-8455

Public information requests will be accepted only if submitted to the above designated locations.

Please Note:

  • If the information requested is unclear or if a large amount of information is requested you may be contacted to discuss clarifying or narrowing your request. There may be charges associated with production of the requested information. You may find more information regarding the charges on the Texas Attorney General's Public Information Act website.
  • Juvenile justice information provided to TJJD by county juvenile boards is confidential and can only be used for research and other statistical projects. TJJD can only disseminate this information as permitted by §58.009 of the Texas Family Code. Please see 37 TAC 380.8153 or visit the Legislative Reporting and Statistics page for information on how to request data for a research or statistical project.
Notification of Rights and Responsibilities

Notification of Rights and Responsibilities

Notification of Rights (English) HOT 

Notification of Rights (Español) HOT 

Ethics

Christian von Wupperfeld, General Counsel, serves as the Chief Ethics Officer for TJJD. Questions or concerns regarding ethical matters can be sent to him at .

General Principles of Ethical Conduct

  1. Public service is a public trust that requires employees to place loyalty to the Constitution, the laws, and ethical principles above private gain.
  2. Employees shall not hold financial interests that conflict with the conscientious performance of duty.
  3. Employees shall not engage in financial transactions using nonpublic government information or allow the improper use of such information to further any private interest.
  4. An employee shall not, except as permitted by these standards of conduct, solicit or accept any gift or other item of monetary value from any person or entity seeking official action from, doing business with, or conducting activities regulated by the employee’s agency, or whose interests may be substantially affected by the performance or nonperformance of the employee’s duties.
  5. Employees shall put forth honest effort in the performance of their duties.
  6. Employees shall not knowingly make unauthorized commitments or promises of any kind purporting to bind the government.
  7. Employees shall not use public office for private gain.
  8. Employees shall act impartially and not give preferential treatment to any private organization or individual.
  9. Employees shall protect and conserve government property and shall not use it for other than authorized activities.
  10. Employees shall not engage in outside employment or activities, including seeking or negotiating for employment, that conflict with their official government duties and responsibilities.
  11. Employees shall disclose waste, fraud, abuse, and corruption to the appropriate authorities.
  12. Employees shall satisfy in good faith their obligations as citizens, including all just financial obligations, especially those—such as federal, state, or local taxes—that are imposed by law.
  13. Employees shall adhere to all laws and regulations that provide equal opportunity for all Americans regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or handicap.
  14. Employees shall endeavor to avoid any actions creating the appearance that they are violating the law or the ethical standards set forth in this part. Whether particular circumstances create an appearance that the law or these standards have been violated shall be determined from the perspective of a reasonable person with knowledge of the relevant facts.

Resources & Documents

Juvenile Records

  • A Summary of Texas Family Code Provisions Regarding Juvenile Records in Texas (2021)
  • Juvenile Records: Sealing and Destruction -- Texas Family Code Chapter 58, Subchapter C-1 (2021)
  • Juvenile Records: Sealing and Destruction -- Texas Family Code Chapter 58, Subchapter C-1 (Español) (2022)
  • A Juvenile's Guide to Understanding Juvenile Records and Sealing (2022)
  • A Juvenile's Guide to Understanding Juvenile Records and Sealing (Español) (2022)

Legal Resources

  • Facility Registry
  • Texas Juvenile Probation Directory
  • Minimum Length of Stay Calculation

Documents

  • Attorney General's Opinions
  • Codes & Statutes
  • Contracts and Procurement
  • Final Orders & Decisions
  • Recent Directives
  • Texas Constitution
  • Texas Administrative Code, Title 37. Part 11, Texas Juvenile Justice Department
  • Texas Juvenile Law
  • TJJD Policy & Procedure Manuals
  • Youth Rights Brochure

Visit the General Counsel category of the Document Library for a complete listing of documents. 

Contacts

Legal Help Desk

TJJD operates a Legal Help Desk to assist juvenile probation officers and other practitioners throughout the state with questions about TJJD standards and juvenile law in Texas. The Legal Help Desk is unable to provide legal advice. The Legal Help Desk is not intended for TJJD employees.

Office of the General Counsel

The following email address is for TJJD employees with questions for TJJD’s Office of the General Counsel. TJJD is unable to provide legal advice to non-TJJD employees.

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