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Texas Juvenile Justice Department
Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) formed in 2011, when the Texas Legislature combined the functions of the Texas Youth Commission (TYC) and the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission. It is charged with keeping communities safe through its role helping high-risk youthful offenders reform and find a more successful future.
QuickLinks
News
- Teamliness: Why a made-up word is critical for TJJD’s success
By Shandra Carter — The short answer is that it’s better than ‘Collective Efficacy’ — Teamliness rolls off the tongue in an easy to say and easy to understand way. Even without the definition, you… Read more: Teamliness: Why a made-up word is critical for TJJD’s success - Ellis County builds relationships, skills and opportunities for youth success
By TJJD Communications — When a youth begins to struggle, the most important question is not only what happened, but what happens next to get them on the right path. In Ellis County, the juvenile… Read more: Ellis County builds relationships, skills and opportunities for youth success - Career and technical education opens doors for youth at Mart and across TJJD
By TJJD Communications — Every youth has potential. In a typical setting, that potential may be easy to see. In juvenile justice, it can take someone willing to look beyond the mistakes a youth has… Read more: Career and technical education opens doors for youth at Mart and across TJJD
Executive Director
Welcome from Executive Director Shandra Carter
At TJJD we help young people and protect communities
Here at TJJD, our staff commit every day to keeping Texas communities safe and helping young people find a brighter, law-abiding future worth living. We believe deeply that the critical public service we provide is integral to keeping Texas strong. Our agency values are safety, accountability and transparency and we trust you will see those reflected throughout our website, where you can learn more about TJJD, our probation partners and our unified state juvenile justice system.
Texas Juvenile Justice by the Numbers
For more information, visit the Research and Legislative page and the TJJD Data and Statistics page.
Upcoming Meetings and Events
TJJD GOVERNING BOARD
The nine-member governing board meets several times a year at locations across the state. The public is welcome to attend.
- Date: Friday, November 20, 2026 at 9 a.m.
- Public Comment »
- Online Registration »
ADVISORY COUNCIL
The 13-member Advisory Council on Juvenile Services assists TJJD with long-range planning and review of operations.
- Date: Friday, October 9, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.
- Location: This meeting will take place virtually on Teams.
OIG TRAINING ADVISORY BOARD
The five-member Advisory Board serves to further the education of the members of the Office of Inspector General.
- Date: Thursday, September 10, 2026
- Time: 12:00 p.m. -1:30 p.m.
- Location: 1801 N. Congress Ave, Austin TX 78701 – Lonestar Room 13-1600
- Agenda »
How do I…?
Get copies of my juvenile records?
Request them from open.records@tjjd.texas.gov.
Get answers from TJJD about legal questions on juvenile justice topics?
Contact legalhelp@tjjd.texas.gov.
Locate Juvenile Probation Department offices?
Visit the searchable juvenile probation department directory at https://www2.tjjd.texas.gov/publications/other/searchjuvprobdirectory.aspx.
Inside the Texas system
Understanding Juvenile Justice
Fort Bend Co. Juvenile Probation Dept. assists youth with mentors and job training
The ticket to self-sufficiency is well within reach thanks to the transition program and its dedicated staff.
Texas Juvenile Justice Population
In Texas, of the youth referred to the juvenile justice system only about 1 percent were committed to TJJD.
Texas’ Juvenile Commitment Rate
The state ranks 27th in overall rate of commitments, putting the state in the middle for how many juveniles per capita it commits to secure care.
