Reentry and Parole

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.

Trust Funds

John C. Wende and Parrie Haynes Trusts are resources to assist former and current Texas Juvenile Justice Department youth pursue their educational goals. The Trusts provide financial assistance for eligible youth to attend and succeed in post-high school educational programs. The programs include trade and vocational schools and university programs.

The Financial assistance provided is done so on a case-by-case basis and covers expenses such as: tuition, textbooks and supplies, room and board, a living allowance, and incorporates critical ancillary supports such as childcare expenses, transportation costs (bus passes), parking fees, etc.

To qualify for the Trusts, a youth must meet the following criteria: 1. Must receive a GED or HS Diploma while in the care of TJJD AND 2. Must meet the qualifications of an “orphan” under the current definition for the Trusts.

Youth may apply at any time during their life.

For more information, please contact, Myra Chandler, Education Trust Fund Coordinator, 512-783-6260, or myra.chandler@tjjd.texas.gov.

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.