General Counsel

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;
• handling youth records and requests for records; and
• coordinating the development and publication of official agency rules, policies, procedures, and forms.

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
  1801 N. Congress Ave., Suite 13.1400
  Austin, Texas 78701
• Submitted via the Public Information Request Online Submission Form
• Emailed to open.records@tjjd.texas.gov
• Open Records (512) 490-8455

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 Research and Legislative Reports page for information on how to request data for a research or statistical project.

Research and Statistical Project Request – Family Code 58.009

The Texas Family Code allows TJJD to release juvenile justice information maintained by the department for statistical and research or statistical project or for any purpose approved by TJJD. The information consists of juvenile justice information as defined by Section 58.104 of the Texas Family Code and information collected from juvenile boards as required in Section 221.007 of the Texas Human Resources Code.

Information identified in Section 58.104 is considered criminal justice information, the release of which is governed by 28 CFR Part 20 and the FBI CJIS security policy manual. This information and all information subject to Section 58.009 can only be released in the aggregate form and to the below listed individuals or entities:

1. Criminal justice agencies as defined by Section 411.082, Government Code
2. The Texas Education Agency, as authorized under Section 37.084, Education Code;
3. Any agency under the authority of the Health and Human Services Commission;
4. The Department of Family and Protective Services;
5. A public or private university; or
6. An individual or entity working on a research or statistical project.

Procedures

1. Requests must be submitted in writing using the LS-355 Request for Research and Statistical Data form and may be submitted as follows:
   • Mailed to:
     Texas Juvenile Justice Department
     Attn: Open Records Section
     Central Services Building (CSB)
     1711 San Jacinto Blvd., Austin, TX 78701
   • Delivered to:
     Central Services Building (CSB)
     1711 San Jacinto Blvd., Austin, TX 78701
   • Emailed to open.records@tjjd.texas.gov
2. After you submit your request, TJJD staff will review the request to determine if it is for statistical or research purpose and decide whether or when TJJD can fulfill the request for the information.
3. If the request is unclear or if a large amount of information is requested, you may be contacted to discuss options for 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.
4. Any information that may reveal the identity of a youth will be redacted.
5. For individual-level data, please visit the TJJD Legislative Reporting and Statistics webpage for information on how to request data for a research or statistical project.

All requests are subject to the Texas Public Information Act. If you have any questions, please contact the TJJD Open Records Department at (512) 490-8455.

Ethics

Jana Jones, General Counsel, serves as the Chief Ethics Officer for TJJD. Questions or concerns regarding ethical matters can be sent to her at jana.jones@tjjd.texas.gov.

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

• Facility Registry
• Texas Juvenile Probation Directory
• Attorney General’s Opinions
• Codes & Statutes
• Contracts and Procurement
• Final Orders & Decisions
• Texas Constitution
• Texas Administrative Code, Title 37. Part 11, Texas Juvenile Justice Department

Policy Manuals

Documents

Contact Information