Office of the Independent Ombudsman – Texas Juvenile Justice Department

The Independent Ombudsman provides important oversight

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.
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.

Sean McCleskey
Independent Ombudsman

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?

The IO reports to the Governor and the Texas Legislature. The IO is not a part of TJJD and does not report to TJJD executive management or the TJJD Board.

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.

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 OIOCountyReports@tjjd.texas.gov.

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 OIOCountyReports@tjjd.texas.gov.