Secure Facilities
Secure facilities in the Texas juvenile justice system, managed by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD), function as high-level rehabilitative centers for youth who have committed felony-level offenses and exhausted local probation options. They provide therapeutic programming, education, and specialized care intended to reform youth and ensure public safety.
The Texas juvenile justice education system provides academic and vocational instruction to justice-involved youth through two primary channels: the state-operated Lone Star School District, which is a fully accredited year-round program for youth in secure facilities and county-level Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Programs (JJAEP).
Family members and volunteers play a vital role in ensuring that a youth’s stay at TJJD will be most productive.
TJJD offers many options for families to stay connected and informed. Interactive caregiver classes are offered quarterly and can be helpful to parents and caregivers. They also help caregivers understand the programs at TJJD that aim to help their youth.
Volunteering at a TJJD secure facility offers opportunities to support high-risk youth through mentoring, education, and skill-building programs. Volunteers play a critical role in providing positive connections and helping youth prepare for successful community reintegration. For more information about becoming a volunteer, send an email to volunteer.mentor@tjjd.texas.gov.
For addresses, visit the Locations page.
Evins State Juvenile Correctional Facility
Treatment Programs
In addition to the DBT, case management, education, medical, and other key services provided uniformly at all secure facilities, specialized services provided at Evins include:
- Male General Population
- Male Violence Intervention Continuum (VIC)
- Intensive Intervention Program: The intensive intervention program is the first level of our VIC programming, serving youth with a history of aggressive behavior.
- Redirect: Focuses on redirecting aggressive behaviors with neurodivergent youth and building skills through Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
- Specialized treatment services
- Substance Use Service: Provides support for youth with a history of substance use, helping them develop the skills, awareness, and coping strategies needed to maintain a healthy, substance-free lifestyle.
- Career and Technical Education: Vocational courses and certifications are available to youth in various categories including Principles of Technology, Business, Marketing & Finance, Construction Technology , Horticulture, Career Preparation, Graphic Design/Printing & Imaging, Welding, and Automotive Tech.
Contacts
Luis Medina, Superintendent
Kelly Contreras, Clinical Director
Steve Van Nest, Principal
Gainesville State Juvenile Correctional Facility
Treatment Programs
In addition to the DBT, case management, education, medical, and other key services provided uniformly at all secure facilities, specialized services provided at Gainesville include:
- Male General Population
- Male Young Offender Program for youth with Sexual Behavior Treatment needs: Serves youth 10-14 with problematic sexual behaviors, providing specialized treatment and support.
- Male Violence Intervention Continuum
- Intensive Intervention Program: The intensive intervention program is the first level of our VIC programming, serving youth with a history of aggressive behavior.
- Specialized treatment services
- Building Attachment Resilience K-9 Program: Incorporates trained dogs into treatment and rehabilitation efforts to support youth with specialized treatment needs and lower-risk behaviors.
- Capital Offender Group: Serves youth who have committed serious offenses, resulting in death or substantial bodily injury and require specialized interventions targeting their unique criminogenic risk factors.
- Residential Sexual Behavior Treatment Program: Serves youth with problematic sexual behaviors and provides interventions designed to promote healthy values, decision-making, and behavior change.
- Substance Use Services: Provides support for youth with a history of substance use, helping them develop the skills, awareness, and coping strategies needed to maintain a healthy, substance-free lifestyle.
- Career and Technical Education: Vocational courses and certifications are available to youth in various categories including Principles of Manufacturing, Welding/Dual Credit Welding, Horticulture/Advanced Animal Science/Principle of Agriculture, Professional Communication, Principles of Digital Information Technology and Digital Design.
Contacts
Darryl Anderson, Superintendent
Daniel Krall, Clinical Director
Giddings State Juvenile Correctional Facility
Treatment Programs
In addition to the DBT, case management, education, medical, and other key services provided uniformly at all secure facilities, specialized services provided at Giddings include:
- Male General population: Serves male youth 15-19 who have not been identified as needing services in one of our specialty programs.
- Specialized mental health programs
- Male Crisis Stabilization Unit: Serves youth with crisis level, significant mental health needs who typically would be served in a hospital setting.
- Male Mental Health Treatment Program: Serves youth with high-level mental health needs who cannot be housed in a traditional dormitory environment and require a residential model of care.
- Specialized treatment services
- Capital Offender Group: Serves youth who have committed serious offenses, resulting in death or substantial bodily injury and require specialized interventions targeting their unique criminogenic risk factors.
- Substance Use Services: Provides support for youth with a history of substance use, helping them develop the skills, awareness, and coping strategies needed to maintain a healthy, substance-free lifestyle.
- Career and Technical Education: Vocational courses and certifications are available to youth in various categories including Welding, Basic Automotive Technology, Auto Collision & Repair, Construction Technology, Building Maintenance, Graphic Design/Printing & Imaging, Principles of Business Management & Finance/Career Preparation-General Employability Skills, Horticulture/Culinary Art.
Contacts
Robin Motley, Superintendent
Spencer Washington, Clinical Director
Gary Blasig, Principal
Mart State Juvenile Correctional Facility
Treatment Programs
In addition to the DBT, case management, education, medical, and other key services provided uniformly at all secure facilities, specialized services provided at Mart include:
- Male General population
- Female General population
- Female Orientation & Assessment Unit: Provides comprehensive evaluations for youth entering TJJD to assess their individual needs, risks, strengths, and treatment requirements to determine appropriate placement and services needed to support rehabilitation.
- Specialized mental health programs
- Female Mental Health Treatment Program: Serves youth with high-level mental health needs who cannot be housed in a traditional dormitory environment and require a residential model of care.
- Male Behavioral Stabilization Unit: Serves youth who present with complex behavioral disorders with risk of harm to themselves or others.
- Male Violence Intervention Continuum
- Intensive Intervention Program: The intensive intervention program is the first level of our VIC programming, serving youth with a history of aggressive behavior.
- Phoenix Program: Serves youth with significant histories of intentional assaultive behavior who present a danger to themselves or others.
- Female Violence Intervention Continuum
- Redirect Program: Focuses on redirecting aggressive behaviors with neurodivergent youth and building skills through Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
- Male Young Offender Program: Provides age-appropriate programming for male youth 10-14 in a separate setting from older populations.
- Specialized treatment services
- CAT Dorm: Provides a specialized, supportive residential environment that integrates cat companionship and enhanced programming to promote the well-being, development, and independence of female youth with identified needs.
- Sexual Behavior Treatment Programming: Serves youth with problematic sexual behaviors and provides interventions designed to promote healthy values, decision-making, and behavior change.
- Substance Use Services: Provides support for youth with a history of substance use, helping them develop the skills, awareness, and coping strategies needed to maintain a healthy, substance-free lifestyle.
- Career and Technical Education: Vocational courses and certifications are available to youth in various categories including Welding/Dual Credit Welding, Horticulture/Agriculture, Ag Mechanics, Graphic Design/Printing & Imaging, Principles of Construction Technology , Culinary Arts, Business Information Management/Career Preparation-General Employability Skills.
Contacts
Jason Tweedle, Superintendent
Mike McKenzie, Principal
Ron Jackson State Juvenile Correctional Facility
Treatment Programs
- Male Orientation & Assessment Unit: Provides comprehensive evaluations for youth entering TJJD to assess their individual needs, risks, strengths, and treatment requirements to determine appropriate placement and services needed to support rehabilitation.
- Specialized mental health programs
- Female Crisis Stabilization Unit: Serves youth with crisis level, significant mental health needs who typically would be served in a hospital setting.
- Female Behavioral Stabilization Unit: Serves youth who present with complex behavioral disorders with risk of harm to themselves or others.
- Career and Technical Education: During Orientation & Assessment, youth begin exploring their future from day one. Within the first two to three days, they learn about available vocational programs, enroll in Employee Readiness and General Employability Skills courses, and learn about things like CareerSafe certifications, workplace soft skills, and potential career pathways. Education staff also document each youth’s participation and achievements, providing a reentry summary to support a smooth transition from O&A to their new program while helping to identify the best pathway toward the youth’s goals.
Contacts
Chris Ellison, Interim Superintendent
Keith Williams, Clinical Director
Helen Spearman, Principal