Independent Ombudsman

In accordance with Human Resources Code, §261.101 (g), counties wishing to report a private facility in which they have contracted to place children adjudicated as having engaged in conduct indicating a need for supervision or delinquent conduct can do so by sending an email to .

Human Resources Code, §261.101 (g):

The department and juvenile probation departments shall notify the office regarding any private facility described by Subsection (f)(1) with which the department or the juvenile probation department contracts to place children adjudicated as having engaged in conduct indicating a need for supervision or delinquent conduct. The report under this subsection must be made annually and updated at the time a new contract is entered into with a facility described by this subsection. The office shall adopt rules to implement the reporting requirements under this subsection, including the specific times the report must be made.

Administrative rules regarding this requirement will be posted to this page once they have been adopted. Questions regarding this requirement can be sent to .

Overview

What is the Independent Ombudsman?

The Independent Ombudsman is a state agency established for the purpose of investigating, evaluating, and securing the rights of the children committed to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD).

Responsibilities include:

Review complaints, other than those alleging criminal behavior, filed with the IO and investigate each complaint in which it appears that a child may be in need of assistance.
Provide assistance to a child in the custody of TJJD who the IO determines is in need of assistance, including advocating with an agency, provider, or other person in in the best interests of the child.
Inspect periodically the facilities and procedures of the facilities where a child in the custody of TJJD has been placed to ensure that the rights of children are fully observed.
Review the procedures established by TJJD and evaluate the delivery of services to children to ensure that the rights of children are fully observed.
Review reports relating to complaints regarding juvenile probation programs, services, or facilities and analyze the data contained in the reports to identify trends in complaints.
Report a possible standards violation by a local juvenile probation department to the appropriate division of the department.

Who is the Independent Ombudsman?

In March 2024, Governor Greg Abbott appointed Robert “Sean” McCleskey as the Independent Ombudsman for the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) for a term set to expire on February 1, 2025. The Office of the Independent Ombudsman is a state agency established for the purpose of investigating, evaluating, and securing the rights of the children committed to TJJD.

Robert “Sean” McCleskey of San Antonio is the former chief criminal investigator for the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office and serves as an adjunct professor at The University of Texas at San Antonio. He previously spent over 16 years as a special agent and task force group leader with the United States Secret Service. He is a member of the Texas District & County Attorney’s Association, Texas Municipal Police Officer’s Association, and the State Bar of Texas and the first vice president of the Texas Area Police Chiefs Association. McCleskey received a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Criminal Justice from Texas Christian University and a Juris Doctor from St. Mary’s School of Law.

What makes us independent?

When should you call the Independent Ombudsman?

Before contacting the IO, you should try to resolve complaints through the TJJD grievance process. After going through the grievance process, if the problem remains unsolved, contact the Independent Ombudsman for assistance. When you believe the health, safety, welfare, or rights of a youth in TJJD have been negatively affected, it is important that you call us.

Public Comment

Sunset Advisory Commission Invites Public Input on the Office of the Independent Ombudsman for the Texas Juvenile Justice Department

The Sunset Advisory Commission is reviewing the mission and performance of the Office of the Independent Ombudsman (OIO) for the Texas Juvenile Justice Department and welcomes public comments on ideas to improve its operations and services. The Texas Sunset Act requires the Sunset Commission to periodically review OIO and recommend whether to change state law to improve the agency’s efficiency and effectiveness. The Legislature ultimately will decide whether to adopt Sunset’s statutory recommendations. The Sunset Commission also may adopt management directives for OIO that do not require statutory change.

The Sunset process has three stages. First, Sunset staff will evaluate OIO, seek public input, and issue a report recommending solutions to problems found. Second, the Sunset Commission will hold two public meetings: a hearing on the staff report and the agency, and a decision meeting to adopt recommendations to the Legislature based on the report and public comments. Third, the Legislature will convene in January 2023 and will consider Sunset’s statutory recommendations in a Sunset bill for OIO.

Here are several ways to provide comments and suggestions to Sunset staff on OIO’s mission, operations, and services: ·

Send an email to
Submit comments online at www.sunset.texas.gov
Send a letter to Sunset Advisory Commission, Attn: OIO, P.O. Box 13066, Austin, Texas 78711
Call (512) 463-1300 to speak to Rachel Gandy, project manager of the OIO review

Please provide your comments by February 1, 2022 to ensure Sunset staff can fully consider your input while conducting their review. Comments submitted before the staff report is published in May 2022 will remain confidential.

Stay informed! Visit www.sunset.texas.gov to sign up for email alerts on the Sunset staff report and the Sunset Commission’s public meetings on OIO.

About the Texas Juvenile Justice Department

State Services For Youth in Crisis

Support Services for Probation Departments

Investigating Alleged Misconduct

Key Agency Leadership and Management