Director
terri.dollar@tjjd.texas.gov
The Monitoring & Inspections Division employs a staff of 44 with the responsibility of conducting reviews and inspections to create accountability in the state and county level juvenile justice system which positively impacts the performance of the juvenile justice facilities and services, and the outcomes of the youth being served.
County Operations
The Texas Family Code (Section 51.12) requires all secure and non-secure county operated facilities to register their facility with the TJJD annually. The Monitoring and Inspections Division is responsible for taking the applications and maintaining the Facility Registry.
The Family Code (Sections 51.12, 51.125, and 51.126) also requires that Texas Juvenile Justice Department inspect all county-level juvenile probation departments that operate secure juvenile pre-adjudication detention facilities, post-adjudication correctional facilities, and non-secure correctional facilities. TJJD’s Monitoring and Inspections Division facilitates these mandated inspections.
In addition to facility inspection/monitoring requirements, Texas Human Resource Code (HRC) (221.002(a)(1), 221.004(a) (3), and 221.004 (b)) identifies monitoring responsibilities specific to juvenile probation departments’ non-residential programs.
Standards Monitored are detailed in the Texas Administrative Code (Title 37, Part 11) which includes these chapters:
- Chapter 343 – Secure Pre-Adjudication Detention and Post-Adjudication Correctional Facilities
- Chapter 344 –Employment, Certification, and Training (JPOs/JSOs)
- Chapter 355 – Non-Secure Correctional Facilities
- Chapter 351 – Short-Term Detention Facilities
- Chapter 342 – Housing Non-Texas Juveniles in Texas Detention and Correctional Facilities
- Chapter 341 – Juvenile Probation Department General Standards
State Operations
The division conducts reviews of state-operated and contracted juvenile correctional facilities and programs to include residential, both secure and non-secure, and parole
to ensure that operations, physical plants, and services comply with policies, procedures, laws and codes. All program areas and/or facilities are subject to focused and/or comprehensive monitoring of any applicable agency policy, policies or procedures.
For state contract facilities and programs, M & I monitors the provider to ensure compliance with the requirements of the contract.
The State Programs M&I Camera Monitoring Program reviews, monitors, and evaluates the use of JCO body worn cameras and video cameras in dorms at state facilities. This includes assessing the performance and placement of equipment to assure compliance with TJJD policies, procedures, and standards. The program also reviews footage to determine compliance with staff-youth interactions and activities and watched for violations of policy such as staff turning off body-worn cameras.
Risk Management
The M & I Division performs and provides oversight for the agency risk management program.
The Risk Management Team develops risk management policies and procedures and conducts inspections, investigations, and training to minimize risk and enhance safety practices. The team serves as the agency liaison with the State Office of Risk Management (SORM) and State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO).
PREA
The PREA Compliance Department within the Monitoring & Inspections Division provides technical assistance, training, PREA-related preparation, investigations, and monitoring of TJJD State Programs and Facilities Division’s secure and halfway house facilities to ensure compliance with the agency’s efforts for compliance with the Juvenile Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Standards (28 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 115, Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), National Standards ) and to prevent sexual abuse and sexual harassment of youth in juvenile facilities.
This department develops, implements, monitors, enforces, and reviews recommendations for related rules, policies, procedures, operating standards and guidelines, and system controls to ensure compliance with PREA regulations and standards.
The PREA Compliance Department Camera Monitoring Program conducts reviews, monitoring, and evaluations of staff interactions to determine compliance with (PREA) Juvenile Facility Standards, and related TJJD policies and procedures. This is key to the agency’s ongoing efforts to prevent sexual abuse and sexual harassment of youth in custody.
