General Counsel

The Office of General Counsel (OGC) provides in-house legal services for the agency. In addition, the OGC is responsible for:

  • responding to youth appeals;
  • tracking and coordinating youth grievances;
  • conducting administrative due process hearings for youth and employees;
  • determining whether to release to parole, discharge from TJJD custody, or extend the length of stay for youth who have reached their minimum length of stay;
  • handling youth records and requests for records; and
  • coordinating the development and publication of official agency rules, policies, procedures, and forms.

Public Information Requests

The Public Information Act guarantees the public access to information maintained by a government agency. It is our policy to provide you with the fullest possible access to public information. If you wish to request records under the Texas Public Information Act, please refer to the following requirements and guidelines.

Requests for public information must be made in writing. Your request should include your name, address, and as much description as you can provide regarding the records you are requesting. 

Requests for information may be:

Please Note:

Research and Statistical Project Request – Family Code 58.009

The Texas Family Code allows TJJD to release juvenile justice information maintained by the department for statistical and research or statistical project or for any purpose approved by TJJD. The information consists of juvenile justice information as defined by Section 58.104 of the Texas Family Code and information collected from juvenile boards as required in Section 221.007 of the Texas Human Resources Code.

Information identified in Section 58.104 is considered criminal justice information, the release of which is governed by 28 CFR Part 20 and the FBI CJIS security policy manual. This information and all information subject to Section 58.009 can only be released in the aggregate form and to the below listed individuals or entities:

  1. Criminal justice agencies as defined by Section 411.082, Government Code
  2. The Texas Education Agency, as authorized under Section 37.084, Education Code;
  3. Any agency under the authority of the Health and Human Services Commission;
  4. The Department of Family and Protective Services;
  5. A public or private university; or
  6. An individual or entity working on a research or statistical project.

Procedures

  1. Requests must be submitted in writing using the LS-355 Request for Research and Statistical Data form and may be submitted as follows:
    • Mailed to:
      Texas Juvenile Justice Department
      Attn: Open Records Section
      Central Services Building (CSB)
      1711 San Jacinto Blvd., Austin, TX 78701
    • Delivered to:
      Central Services Building (CSB)
      1711 San Jacinto Blvd., Austin, TX 78701
    • Emailed to open.records@tjjd.texas.gov
  2. After you submit your request, TJJD staff will review the request to determine if it is for statistical or research purpose and decide whether or when TJJD can fulfill the request for the information.
  3. If the request is unclear or if a large amount of information is requested, you may be contacted to discuss options for clarifying or narrowing your request. There may be charges associated with production of the requested information. You may find more information regarding the charges on the Texas Attorney General’s Public Information Act website.
  4. Any information that may reveal the identity of a youth will be redacted.
  5. For individual-level data, please visit the TJJD Legislative Reporting and Statistics webpage for information on how to request data for a research or statistical project.

All requests are subject to the Texas Public Information Act. If you have any questions, please contact the TJJD Open Records Department at (512) 490-8455.

Ethics

Jana Jones, General Counsel, serves as the Chief Ethics Officer for TJJD. Questions or concerns regarding ethical matters can be sent to her at jana.jones@tjjd.texas.gov.

General Principles of Ethical Conduct

  1. Public service is a public trust that requires employees to place loyalty to the Constitution, the laws, and ethical principles above private gain.
  2. Employees shall not hold financial interests that conflict with the conscientious performance of duty.
  3. Employees shall not engage in financial transactions using nonpublic government information or allow the improper use of such information to further any private interest.
  4. An employee shall not, except as permitted by these standards of conduct, solicit or accept any gift or other item of monetary value from any person or entity seeking official action from, doing business with, or conducting activities regulated by the employee’s agency, or whose interests may be substantially affected by the performance or nonperformance of the employee’s duties.
  5. Employees shall put forth honest effort in the performance of their duties.
  6. Employees shall not knowingly make unauthorized commitments or promises of any kind purporting to bind the government.
  7. Employees shall not use public office for private gain.
  8. Employees shall act impartially and not give preferential treatment to any private organization or individual.
  9. Employees shall protect and conserve government property and shall not use it for other than authorized activities.
  10. Employees shall not engage in outside employment or activities, including seeking or negotiating for employment, that conflict with their official government duties and responsibilities.
  11. Employees shall disclose waste, fraud, abuse, and corruption to the appropriate authorities.
  12. Employees shall satisfy in good faith their obligations as citizens, including all just financial obligations, especially those—such as federal, state, or local taxes—that are imposed by law.
  13. Employees shall adhere to all laws and regulations that provide equal opportunity for all Americans regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or handicap.
  14. Employees shall endeavor to avoid any actions creating the appearance that they are violating the law or the ethical standards set forth in this part. Whether particular circumstances create an appearance that the law or these standards have been violated shall be determined from the perspective of a reasonable person with knowledge of the relevant facts.

Resources

Policy and Procedure Manuals

Documents

Release Review Panel

Review Panel Summary
Archive

Texas Juvenile Law

Juvenile Records

Juvenile Records Advisory Committee Supplemental Reports

Minimum Length of Stay Calculation

Policy

Administrative Directives
Executive Memos
Standards
TAC Chapter 341 Juvenile Probation Department General Standards
TAC Chapter 342 Standards for Housing Non-Texas Juveniles in Texas Detention and Correctional Facilities
TAC Chapter 343 Standards for Secure Juvenile Pre-Adjudication Detention and Post-Adjudication Correctional Facilities
TAC Chapter 344 Employment, Certification, and Training for Juvenile Officers
TAC Chapter 345 Juvenile Justice Professional Code of Ethics for Certified Officers
TAC Chapter 347 Title IV-E Federal Foster Care Program
TAC Chapter 348 Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Programs
TAC Chapter 349 General Administrative Standards
TAC Chapter 350 Investigating Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation, Death and Serious Incidents
TAC Chapter 351 Standards for Short-Term Detention Facilities
TAC Chapter 353 Substance Use Disorder Treatment Programs
TAC Chapter 355 Standards for Non-Secure Correctional Facilities
TAC Chapter 358 Identifying, Reporting, and Investigating Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation, Death, and Serious Incidents
TAC Chapter 359 Memorandums of Understanding

These files can be found on the primary TAC website »

Contact Information

Legal Help Desk
TJJD operates a Legal Help Desk to assist juvenile probation officers and other practitioners throughout the state with questions about TJJD standards and juvenile law in Texas. The Legal Help Desk is unable to provide legal advice. The Legal Help Desk is not intended for TJJD employees.
legalhelp@tjjd.texas.gov

Office of the General Counsel
The following email address is for TJJD employees with questions for TJJD’s Office of the General Counsel. TJJD is unable to provide legal advice to non-TJJD employees.
generalcounsel@tjjd.texas.gov

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