Every youth served by the juvenile justice system deserves a real chance of success. That means accountability for past behaviors, but also skill building, support, and opportunities for a positive future. At the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD), we know that a youth’s transition back into the community after state-level care is one of the most critical stages of their journey. That transition, known as reentry, along with the community supervision and support from our dedicated team of parole officers, is pivotal to reducing recidivism and helping young people build safe, productive lives.
What Is Reentry — and Why Does It Matter?
Reentry refers to the strategic process of helping youth transition from secure residential care back into their communities. The planning and coordination this takes begins early in a youth’s stay in TJJD care and continues through their time on parole. Effective reentry planning addresses the full spectrum of a youth’s needs: education, employment, stable housing, mental health care, family support, and connection to community-based services.
At TJJD, we embed reentry planning into every phase of a youth’s treatment program so that by the time a youth returns home, they are equipped with skills, supports, and a personalized success plan that promotes long-term success.
Parole Supervision
While probation generally refers to court-ordered supervision that occurs before incarceration, parole specifically refers to supervised community reintegration after a youth has spent time in a secure facility. In TJJD’s model, parole teams offer guided support and accountability to help youth succeed after returning to their communities.
Parole officers work closely with youth and families to:
- Monitor progress and compliance with individualized success plans;
- Offer evidence-based interventions and targeted support;
- Help youth navigate school, work, family dynamics, and community service;
- Adjust supervision levels based on risk, need, and demonstrated progress.
Youth begin at an intensive supervision level and may step down to moderate or minimum supervision as they demonstrate responsibility. This process allows us to further individualize the type of service we are providing to youth based on their progress.
How Reentry and Parole Fit Into TJJD’s Continuum of Care
The Reentry System and Parole Operations play a significant role in TJJD’s correctional treatment program and continuum of care. The program is designed to:
- Advance public safety through rehabilitation;
- Build trust with youth on parole and work to intrinsically motivate youth to make positive change;
- Provide after-care and reentry planning that begins early to better ensure successful transition back to the community;
- Provide supports, supervision and resources to youth on parole in the community through contracted and state-operated parole services;
- Deliver individualized supports and services to address the youth’s needs in a community setting;
- Establish and oversee program goals and objectives relating to an innovative, multifaceted and integrated reentry system;
- Coordinate the work of multiple divisions and external organizations involved in reentry functions to ensure seamless and successful transition for youth;
- Become an integrated part of a fully Trauma- Informed System;
- Track and analyze performance measures related to positive youth outcomes.
We believe that youth benefit from The Texas Model’s foundation of trust, self-regulation, and felt safety while in placement. Once on parole, they continue to rely on trusting adults for guidance, which is also a key ingredient in the foundation of The University of Cincinnati’s evidenced-based Effective Practices in Community Supervision © delivered by their parole officer.
In 2019, the Texas Juvenile Justice Department Parole Division implemented Effective Practices in Community Supervision (EPICS) to enhance current parole efforts. The EPICS model ensures that parole officers first build trust, focus on treating the criminogenic needs of youth, and use treatment strategies that match the learning styles and motivations of young people. Additionally, the EPICS model ensures that officers are trained on skills that are designed to increase the therapeutic potential of a correctional program, including modeling, effective reinforcement, effective disapproval, effective use of authority, structured learning, problem solving, cognitive restructuring, and the development of relationship skills.
Most youth initially placed on parole are assigned to the intensive level of community supervision. Youth who have earned parole credit in other programs can be assigned to a moderate or minimum level of community supervision. The parole officer meets face-to-face with the youth to:
- Check in on the youth’s overall progress while on parole;
- Review previous evidenced based interventions and homework;
- Deliver an intervention, role play and model designed to address a criminogenic need;
- Assign homework for practice and to motivate positive behavior change;
- Assist the youth in reintegration into the community through the implementation of the parole success plan.
While on parole, the level of supervision is reduced based on a youth’s risk to reoffend and demonstrated compliance with their individualized case plan. Youth on parole have regularly scheduled office appointments with a parole officer, plus unscheduled visits by parole staff to schools, work sites, and homes.
Parole FAQs
How is Parole notified that a youth has been committed to TJJD and what happens after notification?
Parole is notified that a youth has been committed to TJJD from the Intake Department at Ron Jackson.
Notification from Ron Jackson’s Intake Department. The Parole Supervisor will receive an email from Ron Jackson’s Intake, Orientation and Assessment Department and assign the Parole Officer. The email will include attachments such as the youth’s Interagency Application for Placement (IAP/Common Application), case/social histories, police reports, etc.
After receipt of the information, the Parole Officer (PO) will compose and send out an introductory letter to both the youth and their family within 14 days of receipt of information. Both letters are sent via standard mail. In addition, the youth’s institutional case manager receives an emailed copy of the letter.
In the introductory letter sent to the family, the PO requests that the parent or guardian contacts the PO to schedule a home evaluation. This will mark the first of three attempts in scheduling the home evaluation within 60 days of the youth’s commitment to TJJD.
Once contact is made and the home evaluation is scheduled, conducted, and approved, the approval is entered into the Correctional Care system (CCS). If contact is not made or if the family does not agree to schedule the home evaluation, within the 60-day period, the home evaluation will be entered, into CCS, as a disapproval.
It is important to note that disapproved homes can be temporary or permanent. When a home is disapproved, the PO, family, Case Manager, and Reentry Specialist can consider other alternative placement options, if necessary, to ensure that the youth has a home placement upon release.
How are Release decisions from the Institutions made and does Parole have any input into the decisions?
Ideally, if a youth completes their required treatment and obtains Stage “Yes” by their Minimum Length of Stay (MLOS), that youth is eligible to be released. If the youth has not completed their required treatment, that youth may be reviewed by the Release Review Panel (RRP). RRP conducts case-by-case reviews of youth who have completed their MLOS, but have not completed their treatment requirement(s).
How are Halfway Houses (HWH) utilized and does every youth go to a halfway house?
HWHs are utilized by allowing a youth to “step down.” By stepping down, they have the opportunity to complete treatment, perform community service hours, obtain employment, and work towards other parole conditions that they are required to complete in the community. The more parole requirements that a youth can satisfy while at the HWH, oftentimes, create a greater chance for successful parole completion.
However, not every youth transitions to a HWH. Some youth are considered “straight release.” This happens when the secure facility recommends that the youth be released from the facility straight to their approved placement.
Who notifies the County that a youth is being released on Parole?
The Institutional Placement Coordinator (IPC), at the secure facilities, notifies the county that a youth is being released to parole via 186/ Court Notification. If the youth is being released from the HWH the HWH Case Manager will send the 186/Court Notification.
Are there some juveniles that are released from TJJD who are not supervised by Parole?
Yes. Youth who are released from TJJD and who are not supervised, on parole, can fall into one of the categories below:
- Determinate Sentenced Offenders who transfer to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ)
- Have reached the age of majority
- Administratively discharged because they have derived maximum benefit from their TJJD commitment. The administrative discharge option is extremely rare and requires the approval of the Executive Director.
What is the process for a Parole officer as soon as a youth is released?
According to the Conditions of Parole (COPs), the youth must contact the Parole Officer within 24 hours of release to schedule the Parole Intake and Orientation (PIO). The PIO must be completed within 7 working days of the youth’s release from the residential facility.
When do Directive To Apprehends (DTAs) go out and who decides to send them and cancel them?
When a recommendation is made to issue a DTA, the Parole Officer (PO) will staff the youth’s case with their Parole Supervisor (PS). Some of the reasons that a PO will recommend the issuance of a DTA include the following: youth absconds, fails to report, or has engaged in criminal activity.
After staffing the youth’s case, the Parole Supervisor (PS) will propose a plan of action and approve or disapprove the request. If the issuance of a DTA is approved, the Parole Officer will complete the DTA/Hold Request and submit to the PS for further processing. The PS will then forward the DTA to the Parole Service Assistant (PSA) who then makes the necessary contacts with the Incident Reporting Center (IRC). All DTA’s are teletyped to the Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunications Systems (TLETS) and disseminated both state and nationwide.
Cancellation of a DTA. A DTA can be cancelled at the recommendation of the Parole Officer (PO). The PO will staff the case with the Parole Supervisor (PS) recommending cancellation of the DTA and suggest the issuance of other sanctions.
A DTA can also be cancelled once a youth has been detained. Once the Parole Service Assistant (PSA) is notified that a youth has been detained, the PSA will contact IRC and submit a request to cancel the DTA releasing the hold on the youth or placing a hold, on the youth, for further due process.
Additionally, if a youth has reached the age of majority, a DTA will expire one day before the youth’s 19th birthday. The PO will submit a CCF 190 discharge. On the other hand, if a youth has transferred to Adult Probation and the PO is in possession of the court orders, the PO will also complete a CCF 190 discharge request and submit to the Parole Supervisor (PS) for cancellation of the DTA, Or if a youth is sentenced time to TDCJ or receive six months or more jail time , PO will complete a CCF 190 discharge request.
What is the process for deciding if a youth is released after a DTA or revoked?
When a DTA is released, there are two possible outcomes for the youth:
- Return to parole supervision, or
- Parole revocation
For youth returning to parole supervision, in the community, the Parole Officer and the Parole Supervisor reviews all relevant information (police reports, etc) to determine if additional charges exist. A parolee may have a Level-III sanction hearing to address behaviors.
For youth facing parole revocation, the Parole Officer and Parole Supervisor have determined the existence of additional charges in the community.
Charges involving one of the following requires TJJD to purse a Level-I Due Process Hearing:
- Violent conduct
- Conduct involving a weapon
- Conduct related to gang involvement or gang activity
- Electronic Monitor tampering
Youth facing a Level I- Due Process Hearing will have the DTA cancelled, but TJJD will place a Hold Request to prevent the youth from bonding out of jail, detention or lock-up.
How can Probation assist Parole Officers in the field?
Probation can assist Parole Officers in the field by sharing and exchanging information about the youth, for parole officers located in rural areas providing a small space at the probation department to conduct UA’s, assist with curfew checks, and providing guidance on family dynamics prior to Parole’s contact with the family. This information can assist Parole in the continuity of care and supervision while the youth is on residential or non-residential status.
Reentry Offices/Workspaces
Austin Central Office
1801 N. Congress Ave., Suite 13.1400
Austin, Texas 78701
Southeast Region 6 District Office
3555 Timmons Lane, Suite 1535
Houston, Texas 77027
Phone: (713) 942-4200
Fax: (713) 484-5543
North Region 2 District Office
4500 Mercantile Plaza, Suite 210
Fort Worth, Texas 76137
Phone: (817) 378-2100
Fax: (817) 626-2611
Central Region 1 District Office
85 NE Loop 410, Suite 105
San Antonio, Texas 78216
Phone: (210) 983-0121
Fax: (210) 524-0164
West Region 7 El Paso Workspace
12451 Garment Road
El Paso, Texas 79938
Phone: (915) 857-9435
Fax: (915) 857-0689
South Region 5 Harlingen Workspace
1438 N 77th Sunshine Strip
Harlingen, Texas 78550
Phone: (956) 425-6567
(956) 423-6634
Home Office: San Antonio
Phone: (800) 687-7320
Step-Down (Halfway Houses)
The Texas Juvenile Justice Department operates three halfway houses across the state to provide low to medium security treatment facilities. These facilities provide youth the opportunity to make gradual transitions back into their home communities by offering specialized treatment options, help with job assistance, and educational and vocational programming.
Ayres
Ayres House, founded in 1980, is a community-based residential program for adolescent males located in San Antonio, Texas.
It serves as a step-down program, a system designed for helping youth prepare for returning to their community, with a focus on life skills preparation and has a housing capacity for as many as twenty youths.
Over the last two years, the average stay for a youth at Ayres House was sixty-five days.
Notable Achievements
- Ayres House youth completed approximately 3,600 community service hours in 2018.
- The Volunteer Council for Texas Youth of San Antonio(VCTYSA) non-profit fundraises to provide financial support and resources for the youth to participate in holiday parties and other activities. The council also provides family travel assistance, graduation incentive gift cards, employment uniform assistance, monthly activity funds and recognition gifts. Volunteers for the council completed 4958 hours of service in 2018.
- Every school year several Ayres youth earn their high school diploma while in residence. In FY 2018, 1 youth earned his diploma or high school equivalency certificate.
Specialized Treatment Programs
- Anger Management – Strategies for Anger Management groups are provided by TJJD staff on-site, offering youth the tools to assist in managing their anger in a productive manner.
- Alcohol or Other Drugs – Aftercare services are provided on-site through contract providers to assist youth with addiction issues.
- Mental Health – Mental Health services are received on-site through local contract providers.
- Sexual Behavior Treatment – Aftercare services are provided on-site through local contract providers.
- Independent Living Preparation – Youth are provided opportunities to learn valuable life skills that will assist them in becoming successful, productive citizens.
- Employment – Ayres House works closely with Texas Workforce Solutions and the local TJJD Workforce Development Specialist to assist youth in developing resumes, learning interviewing techniques and seeking employment.
Other Services
- Independent Living Preparation – Youth are provided opportunities to learn valuable life skills that will assist them in becoming successful, productive citizens.
- Employment – Ayres House works closely with Texas Workforce Solutions and the local TJJD Workforce Development Specialist to assist youth in developing resumes, learning interviewing techniques and seeking employment.
- Ayres House partners with various restaurants, including IHOP, Wendy’s, McAllister’s, Mama Margie’s, and Bush’s Chicken, who employ youth and provide on-the-job training.
- Education and Vocation – Ayres House partners with the Judson Independent School District to provide on-site high school educational programming and GED preparation and testing. Youth also have an opportunity to participate in Navarro College on-line college and certification courses as well as attend other local higher education institutions.
- Registered volunteers participate in supportive and encouraging services such as: Mentor visits, Bible study, Book Club, Character Development, tutoring, Fatherhood classes, art instruction, sports coaching, chaplaincy services, internships, networking and resource development.
NOTE: The severity of the committing offense is determined by the felony degree and any aggravating factors present. All 1st degree and certain 2nd degree felonies against a person are considered high severity. All other 2nd and 3rd degree felonies and state jail offenses with aggravating factors are moderate severity, and without aggravating factors they are considered low severity.
Edna Tamayo
The Edna Tamayo Halfway House is a community-based residential program serving adolescent males located in Harlingen, Texas, providing vocational training that includes OSHA Certifications and hands- on building projects. In addition, independent living skills are taught where some youth may obtain employment from local businesses during their stay at Tamayo House. The program, formerly known as Valley House, was established in 1978. It moved to its current location in 1991 and was dedicated in 1999 to Board Member Edna Tamayo. The program is enhanced by the support of volunteers who serve as tutors and mentors. It is currently equipped to house up to 16 youth at a time. All staff are English-Spanish bilingual. Tamayo House also has an on-site Mental Health Professional to help address barriers to learning and provide supports so that all students can transition back into the community successfully. Since January of 2018, the average stay for a youth at the Edna Tamayo House is eighty-six days.
Notable Community Collaborations
- Youth routinely complete community service throughout the community, averaging as a group about 425 service hours per month. They help out at the Ronald McDonald House, Harlingen City Parks, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Harlingen Boys and Girls Club, Maggie’s House, American Red Cross, Loaves and Fishes, and the Annual South Padre Island Beach Clean-Up.
- Edna Tamayo House youth also have participated in the annual Global Youth Service Day and help wrap gifts during the Christmas holidays for the Harlingen Police Department Toy Drive.
- Tamayo youth also are deeply involved with the Harlingen Food Pantry, helping with the annual food drive that serves 17 elementary schools in Harlingen. A recent food drive gathered over 14,000 pound and 9500 cans and nonperishable items – worth more than $5,000 — for the Food Pantry.
- Tamayo youth helped with a Hurricane Harvey relief effort led by the local TV station (Channel 4), which sent a semi-truck with more than 60,000 nonperishable items to greater Houston.
- Tamayo operates a dog training program and a recreational running program for youth.
- In May 2016, the Volunteer Council at the nearby Evins Regional Juvenile Center expanded its purpose to include support of Tamayo House youth. The Council augments community support for outings, such as movies, bowling and skating, by providing Tamayo House with a monthly stipend.
- Staff assist eligible youth in locating employment while at Tamayo House.
Specialized Treatment Programs
- Alcohol or Other Drugs – Moderate and aftercare services are provided on-site by TJJD staff to assist youth with addiction issues.
- Mental Health – Mental health services are provided on-site by TJJD staff.
- Sexual Behavior Treatment – Aftercare services are provided on-site through local contract providers.
- Anger Management – TJJD staff provide Strategies for Anger Management groups for youth.
Other Program Services
- Independent Living Preparation – Youth are provided opportunities to learn valuable life skills that will assist them in becoming successful, productive citizens.
- Employment – Edna Tamayo House partners with Texas Workforce Solutions to assist eligible youth in obtaining employment.
- Education and Vocation – Harlingen ISD provides in-house instructions for youth. Eligible youth are also provided the opportunity to attend a local school campus. Youth also have an opportunity to participate in Navarro College online college and certification courses as well as attend other local higher education institutions.
NOTE: The severity of the committing offense is determined by the felony degree and any aggravating factors present. All 1st degree and certain 2nd degree felonies against a person are considered high severity. All other 2nd and 3rd degree felonies and state jail offenses with aggravating factors are moderate severity, and without aggravating factors they are considered low severity.
Schaeffer
Schaeffer House is a community-based residential program located in El Paso, Texas, for adolescent males serving as a step-down program with a focus on rehabilitation, vocational and life skills. Schaeffer House opened its doors to service the youth of our community in 1978. Since that time, we have seen many youths leave and have a positive impact on our community.
Schaeffer halfway house has the ability to house 24 youth. The smaller numbers allow staff to provide individualized treatment to meet the residents needs. Although we serve all the youth, we service youth who come from hard places, who are homeless and those who do not have family support.
This facility has implemented a staff mentoring program where youth can ask for individualized help beyond the regular duties of a JCO. The youth also provided specialized treatment according to their treatment needs to address issues toward successful rehabilitation.
Schaeffer also has community volunteers’ council who work to provide additional resources for the youth. Volunteers provide tutoring, mentoring, and other services. Many youth will have an opportunity to attend outings at UTEP athletic events, Rhino Semi Professional Hockey, Chihuahua Minor league baseball.
Other resources within the community include the Ft. Bliss Army Base, El Paso Art Museums and the Border Patrol Museum.
Youth who do not have a GED or High School diploma will have an opportunity to attend school in the Socorro Independent School District (Keys Academy). College ready youth can enroll at the El Paso Community College or the University of Texas El Paso. Youth will also be a obtain employment while at the Schaeffer Halfway House if they have their High School equivalency.
Notable Community Collaborations
- Graduate and Undergraduate students from the University of Texas El Paso, Webster University, University of Phoenix, and El Paso Community College participate in the intern program.
- El Paso City Health Department provides education to youth on the prevention of HIV and STIs.
- The Center against Family Violence provides information on domestic violence to the youth.
- El Paso Juvenile Probation provides training and staff development resources.
- Community partnerships include The University of Texas at El Paso, Texas Department of Transportation, Franklin Mountain State Park, Abundant Living Faith Center, El Paso County Village of Vinton, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, El Paso County Parks and Recreation, and Habitat for Humanity.
- Fit for Success Program for Schaeffer youth connecting fitness to success.
- Schaeffer House youth provide prevention presentations to local elementary schools.
- Community volunteers contribute hundreds of hours of service, providing mentoring, religious services, tutoring, internships and community activities.
Notable Achievements
- Since 2016, Schaeffer House youth completed 2,670 hours of community service equaling a cash value of $62,478.
- Since 2016, TJJD volunteers have provided 1,309 hours of service. The overall value of volunteer hours, in-kind donations and cash donations totaled $33,474.
Specialized Treatment Programs
- Alcohol or Other Drugs – Moderate and aftercare services are provided on-site by licensed TJJD staff to assist youth with addiction issues.
- Sexual Behavior Treatment – Aftercare services are provided off-site through local contract providers.
- Anger Management – TJJD staff provide strategies for anger management groups on-site.
- Mental Health – Mental Health services are provided on-site through a TJJD Mental Health Specialist.
- Making Proud Choices – Youth learn how to prevent sexually transmitted diseases.
Other Program Services
- Independent Living Preparation – A certified teacher provides instruction on Independent Living Skills, which includes career technology education material.
- Education and Vocational – Schaeffer House partners with Socorro Independent School District (SISD) to provide on-site GED preparation and testing. Youth also attend the Keys Academy through SISD for high school coursework. Additionally, youth have an opportunity to participate in Navarro College on-line college and certification courses and attend the local community college.
NOTE: The severity of the committing offense is determined by the felony degree and any aggravating factors present. All 1st degree and certain 2nd degree felonies against a person are considered high severity. All other 2nd and 3rd degree felonies and state jail offenses with aggravating factors are moderate severity, and without aggravating factors they are considered low severity.