To ensure the safety of individuals in the juvenile justice system, two independent groups work diligently to investigate alleged misconduct: the Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the Office of the Independent Ombudsman (OIO).

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) was created by the Texas Legislature and is charged with investigating (1) crimes committed by department employees, including parole officers employed by or under contract with the department; and (2) crimes and delinquent conduct committed at facilities operated by TJJD, residential facilities operated by another entity contracted with TJJD and any other facility in which a child committed to the custody of the department is housed or receives medical or mental health treatment. The Chief Inspector General is a sworn peace officer and is appointed by and reports to the TJJD Board.

The Office of the Independent Ombudsman (OIO) is a state agency established to investigate, evaluate and secure the rights of children committed to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department. It reviews complaints other than those alleging criminal behavior and determines if a child may need assistance. The OIO inspects TJJD facilities and procedures to assure the rights of children are being protected.

Other oversight entities include the Office of Internal Audit and the Monitoring and Inspections Division of TJJD.

The Office of Internal Audit provides the agency with auditing and consulting services to enhance accountability and help the agency manage risk, improve processes and facilitate change. Like the OIG, the Chief of this division, is appointed by and reports directly to the TJJD Board.

The Monitoring and Inspections Division of TJJD provides comprehensive reviews that promote safety and have a positive impact on the performance of juvenile justice facilities at both the state and county level. The M&I division teams review state-operated and state-contracted facilities and programs to assess compliance with agency policy, health and safety codes, accreditation standards, regulations and contractual agreements. The division also assists the agency in enforcing minimum standards at facilities operated by county juvenile probation departments and programs. Texas Family Code requires that all secure and non-secure juvenile county facilities register with TJJD annually. The M&I division also oversees compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), with staff dedicated to assuring TJJD adheres to PREA guidelines.