TJJD Admission Trends
A major shift in the profile of youth committed and admitted to TJJD occurred during this time period, reflecting referral trends. In FY 2023 an unprecedented 8% (1 in 12) of admitted youth committed murder and 33% (1 in 3) had a determinate sentence.
TJJD Youth Have Increasing Treatment Needs
At the same time, TJJD saw more higher-risk youth with higher needs. Aggression and mental health treatment needs as a percent of population are at all-time agency highs.
Juvenile Justice Population Rebounded After Pandemic
Overall formal referrals, probation supervision ADP, and violent felony referrals all fell during the pandemic but have since returned to near pre-pandemic levels.
Homicide, Crimes Involving Firearms and Drug Offenses Rose
In this timeframe homicide referrals doubled, firearms offenses increased by 50%, and felony drug referrals sharply increased due to changes in the law.
Residential Placement vs. Diversion, ADP
County residential ADP fell in this time period largely due to pandemic-induced labor shortages and cost increases. Diversion efforts have taken priority and diversion ADP now exceeds county residential ADP.
County Commitments to TJJD and Adult Certifications
Adult certification dispositions returned to pre-pandemic levels, and TJJD commitment dispositions from counties have stabilized at reduced levels.
The Number of Youths Committed to TJJD Has Declined
Counties have committed fewer youth overall with commitments of indeterminate youth driving the decline. Determinate commitments, though, increased over this same period.
Declines in Non-Secure Average Daily Population
As a result, TJJD suffered a major decline in non-secure Average Daily Population – a higher risk profile meant fewer youth eligible for parole or halfway house placement.
Contract Care has Fallen Sharply
Contract care has declined steeply. Previous contractors dealt historically with only moderate- or low-risk youth.
Severe Staffing Shortages
TJJD secure facilities faced severe staffing shortages, only recouping losses in FY23 but still with immense churn.
Youth Get Waitlisted
As secure facility, halfway house, parole, and contract capacity all declined, the agency began waitlisting committed youth to avoid dire safety issues.
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.
Sickmund, M., Sladky, T.J., Puzzanchera, C., and Kang, W. (2021) Easy Access to the Census of Juveniles in Residential Placement.
https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/ezacjrp
