By David Krough, TJJD Communications and Kevelle Wasson, volunteer services coordinator for parole
Deborah Linder – TJJD Parole Officer
By David Krough, TJJD Communications
Deborah Linder started with TJJD in 2016 as a Juvenile Correctional Officer in the security unit at Ron Jackson State Juvenile Correctional Complex and worked in several capacities before settling into her latest role as a parole officer.
“I got started at TJJD because I moved from Alabama, where I worked 9-1-1 dispatch, and wanted something different and decided to give it a try,” she said.
Linder worked her way up to become a JCO in Security and then the Hope dorm before transferring to be a hearing specialist/investigator. She next transferred to the adult parole division with Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
She later moved to the Tyler area and started back at TJJD as a juvenile parole officer, where she has been for the past two years. Her work covers youth in 30 counties, including those that have moved out of state (Interstate Compact juveniles.) Linder said she averages working between 10-18 cases at a time.
“Some specific duties we do include visiting the youth in the community according to their supervision level, setting them up with aftercare services when necessary, helping them find employment, make sure they have everything to enroll in school, and keeping them on the right track,” she said.
Officers conduct parole intakes on the youth released to their homes, assessments for the youth to have an approved home to return to as well as evaluations for Interstate Compact youth and visits with them when they come to Texas.
Linder said she has seen several stories of success from youth who have been with TJJD over the years.
“I had one youth that barely successfully completed parole and joined the Air Force and is (now) doing very well for himself” in Colorado she said. “I had another youth that was outstanding on parole, obtaining employment the first week, worked the entire time, got his driver’s license, purchased himself a vehicle and never missed a beat on parole and is still doing very well now that he completed parole.”
Youthful parolees often just need someone to talk to as they navigate their way back into society.
“Just treat them with respect, let them know you’re there for them,” she said. “I pretty much answer my phone all the time even after hours. And that way they know if they need something, I’m there.”
Another out-of-state youth that Linder supervised completed his parole and went to work in offshore (drilling) and is doing very well, she said.
“(It) makes you feel like you accomplish something when one of them gets off of parole and stays off of parole,” Linder said. “I love my job.”
Efrain Garcia – TJJD Parole Officer
By David Krough, TJJD Communications
Efrain Garcia is a juvenile parole officer in Harlingen and in his 13 years with TJJD he has seen many youth grow into healthy and successful young adults after their time with the agency.
“My youth live in the community spread through several south counties. I cover South Region 5. I work from home and travel to the various counties that I supervise.”
Garcia previously worked for the Cameron County Juvenile Probation Department at the Amador Rodriguez Juvenile Bootcamp.
“I worked the residential program for seven years and wondered how it would be like to help troubled youth at home in the community,” he said.
While on parole, youth are generally expected to complete 40 hours of constructive activity each week, working in a job or vocational training, attending school (if not completed) and any required counseling or community service.
JPOs monitor that activity and also help connect youth with vital services in the community. Aftercare services include drug treatment, anger management, parenting classes and mental health services, Garcia says.
Garcia recalled one youth who was a young parent. (In order to protect his identity, the youth will be referred to by the name Jake.) The child’s mother would not allow Jake to see or spend time with the child because of his past criminal history, Garcia recalled.
“Thinking of spending time with his son motivated him to do well while at Evins, eventually being released home,” Garcia said. “Not being able to see his son (afterward) caused (Jake) to lose motivation while he was on parole.”
Garcia said he worked with Jake to create a re-entry plan that showed how he would be a positive person in his son’s life.
After being referred to the local workforce agency where he was accepted into a youth work experience program, Jake started work at a furniture store. He also attended GED prep classes offered by the agency and later earned his high school diploma.
“I requested re-entry funds to pay for his drivers ed course and after three weeks he got his driver’s license,” Garcia said.
After completing parenting and paternity awareness classes, Jake was eventually able to succeed in his goals.
“After all his hard work, the youth was able to show that he was a different person to his son’s mother and was allowed to be in his son’s life,” Garcia said. “When I look at a youth’s progress on parole, I remind myself (that) progress, no matter how gradual, is still progress. It may take some youth longer than others to be successful.”
Garcia says his work as a parole officer is about offering guidance to succeeding in the real-world struggles of life that everyone must face.
“I’ve found being honest works best. Don’t promise anything you can’t deliver.”
Billy Branch – TJJD Parole Officer
By Kevelle Wasson, volunteer services coordinator for parole
TJJD’s long-serving parole officer Billy Branch was born in the small town of Quantico, Virginia. Because his father was in the Marine Corps he spent his childhood in Virginia, South Carolina, Wisconsin and California. When his father retired from the Marine Corps in 1978, the family moved to Northern Wisconsin.
They thought that this would be the last time the family would ever move. A couple of Wisconsin winters threw a wrench into that plan, he said, and the family relocated to Colorado and eventually to Texas where Branch earned his diploma at Lipan High School. He attended Weatherford Junior College and graduated from Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas.
Being the son of a Marine taught him the values of discipline, resilience, and service. These principles have guided him throughout his life, leading him to several accomplishments, including earning his master’s degree—a milestone he considers one of his greatest achievements.
For the past 25 years, Branch has dedicated his life to serving the Texas Juvenile Justice Department. Of those years, he’s spent 19 as a parole officer, a role in which he has thrived and grown, ultimately becoming a Parole Officer IV. His work takes him across several North Texas counties—Denton, Cooke, Grayson, Fannin, Collin, and Tarrant—where he serves at-risk youth, striving to guide them towards a better path.
One of the aspects Branch said he loves most about his job is the ability to make a real difference in the lives of young people. He finds great satisfaction in helping those who are struggling, providing them with the support and guidance they need to avoid falling into the adult justice system.
The possibility of preventing a youth from entering the adult system keeps him motivated. This mission is what fuels his passion and commitment, even on the tough days.
As one of TJJD’s most veteran parole officers, Branch has encountered countless challenging situations. His experience has taught him valuable lessons, which he shares with newcomers to the field. One piece of advice he gives: “Whether it is dealing with an angry youth, angry parent, angry case manager, angry coworker, angry probation chief or angry anybody, do not take it personally!”
That advice, coupled with the training required for parole work, will help those in the field maintain their professionalism and empathy. It’s crucial to being effective, he said.
Branch’s colleagues describe him as a team player, thoughtful, funny, proactive, and compassionate. These qualities have earned him the respect and admiration of those with whom he works.
“Billy adds to our team in a big way. Anytime I ask for a volunteer or if someone is in need, Billy is the first to step up to the plate. I appreciate his willingness to go above and beyond to help others! He makes a difference,” said Tony Roberts, parole manager for North Region 2 in Fort Worth.
His favorite quote, one that’s apt for his vocation, is by Richard Nixon: “Remember that others may hate you. But they only win when you hate them….and then you destroy yourself.” This quote resonates deeply with him, serving as a reminder to rise above negativity and to remain focused on the positive impact a parole officer can make.
When he reflects on his journey from Quantico to Texas, Billy Branch says he feels a profound sense of fulfillment. His life’s work has been more than a job—it has been a calling, helping others.
Judith Alaniz – Juvenile Probation Officer for El Paso County
By David Krough, TJJD Communications
Judith Alaniz says each workday is a new day, with fresh challenges and rewards, since she became a juvenile probation officer with the EL Paso Juvenile Probation Department five years ago.
“Describing the life of a probation officer is challenging because no two days are the same,” she said. “It’s a fulfilling, unpredictable and impactful role.”
In 2023, the department named Alaniz the Juvenile Probation Officer of the year for El Paso County.
Officer Alaniz won the award for her continued dedication to the department and the families she serves. She supervised 59 cases last year – achieving a 97% success rate. Alaniz is also a certified TJJD trainer for officers in behavioral health screening for juvenile justice programs and facilities.
Her journey with the department began in August 2018 when she was hired as a detention officer.
“My goal had always been to become a juvenile probation officer, but it seemed like a challenging goal to achieve,” she said. “It might sound cliché, but I wanted to be a positive role model for youth. I firmly believe that having even one positive influence in your life can make a significant difference in your future.”
One year later Alaniz started as an intake juvenile probation officer, spending about three years in that department. In November 2022, Alaniz was promoted to deferred prosecution, where she continues to serve.
Alaniz said a typical day involves starting with case management, reviewing client files and maintaining contact with them and their families. Officers continually monitor the youth’s progress to ensure compliance with counseling services, community hours and ultimately recommend program termination (release) based on a youth’s progress.
Alaniz says there are times when families and youth may be anxious or unfamiliar with procedures. Establishing a rapport with families becomes smoother when you approach them with patience, she says.
“(Alaniz) does all of this with no complaints and with an infectious positive attitude . . . readily shows compassion and provides guidance to her youth and families that she serves,” Deputy Chief Linda Garcia and Director Sal Leos wrote in Alaniz’s 2023 nomination letter. She “exhibits teamwork, and she is one of the first JPO’s who willingly cross-trained in detention during . . . (a) severe JSO staff shortage.”
Alaniz recalled one case that was particularly memorable during her time as an intake officer involving a young woman who had been detained at the border with a significant amount of methamphetamine – a situation officers refer to as a “bridge case.”
The girl was a U.S. citizen who had been raised in Mexico. Alaniz supervised the girl’s case while she was in detention.
“Despite the circumstances, this young woman was remarkable,” Alaniz said. “She consistently listened to the detention staff, maintained a positive attitude throughout her stay, and had clear goals for her future.”
Because the girl’s case involved fairly serious charges, it ultimately resulted in a determinate commitment to TJJD.
“(On the) day, she was finally transported . . . it saddened me deeply,” Alaniz said.
Weeks later, the girl’s mother reached out to Alaniz and said she had received her daughter’s belongings from the department, including a notebook the youth had used as a diary during her detention.
“In those pages, the mother discovered that her daughter eagerly anticipated my weekly visits. Speaking with me brought her peace and a positive outlook on life. Hearing this from the mother moved me profoundly – I hadn’t fully realized the impact we could have on these young lives,” Alaniz said.
Alaniz says that a sense of self-awareness for an officer enables one to connect better with the families they work with.
“Interestingly, my weaknesses have transformed into my greatest strengths – they’ve taught me to be more empathetic toward the youth I engage with,” she said. “Meanwhile, my strengths continually drive me to find innovative ways to improve as an officer every day.”
Natasha Johnson – TJJD Parole Officer
By Kevelle Wasson, volunteer services coordinator for parole
As a TJJD parole officer for eight years, Natasha Johnson has experienced the best of the job, helping youths find success when they return to their community.
She tells colleagues: “There are a lot of challenges and rough days that come with the job, but the good always outweighs the bad. Continue to hang in there, because you are definitely making a difference.”
That’s significant advice coming from Johnson, who also once experienced a highly frightening moment on the job.
She had gone to see the family of a youth on her caseload in January 2022. Like most parole offices, she knew to be cautious with home visits and typically stepped just inside to talk with the family. At this house, she stopped inside the living room at the front of the house. The owner made her aware that the family had dogs but assured her they were secured in the garage.
Suddenly, three powerful dogs burst into the living room, from an adjacent room, and advanced toward her. They would not listen to the homeowner who scrambled to restrain them. The dogs attacked Johnson, biting her on the legs. She fell as she tried to get away and the dogs continued attacking and biting. She ran to the front door and got out, closing the door to prevent the dogs from escaping.
Outside, she began to feel the pain, though she could barely look at the wounds. Officer Johnson had to be treated at the hospital and later suffered from an infection in the wounds. She had to return to the hospital for a surgery and remained there for two weeks to recover while fighting possible sepsis. Back home, she needed physical therapy to recover completely.
That horrible experience may have left her with PTSD, she said. But afterward, she sought counseling and decided that she still wanted to continue as a parole officer because she finds fulfillment in helping young people. Today, she advocates for safety on the job and taking every precaution during home visits. She asks more questions before a visit and sometimes she meets a family outside of their house.
Her co-workers say Johnson is strong, helpful, reliable, outspoken and compassionate.
While she’s happy to be continuing on the job, Johnson does often recall that scary day. She also remembers and appreciates all the care she received from colleagues in the Fort Worth Parole Office, including from Parole Supervisor Tony Roberts, who came to the scene of the dog attack to help out. She’s grateful to God, her husband, son and family members and the emergency responders who helped her that day.
Thankfully, Johnson’s experience is an outlier,” Roberts said. “While parole officers may encounter difficult situations from time to time, they are rarely traumatic. Most of our youth are grateful to be on parole and look forward to being discharged from TJJD.”
It bears repeating, “There are challenges and rough days . . . but the good always outweighs the bad.”
Jasmine Dotson – TJJD Parole Officer
By David Krough, TJJD Communications
Jasmine Dotson began her career with the Fort Bend County Juvenile Probation Department just over 10 years ago and according to Division Director Shane Marvin, “She steps up to help others no matter what.”
Dotson earned her degree in sociology from Houston State University and began an internship with the department in 2014. She has worked a variety of positions including special programs, juvenile supervision, intake probation and as a specialized probation officer assigned to the girls’ court.
“I had a job working as a graduate assistant in the sociology department where I got my master’s. So, the dean at the time, the chair of my department … allowed me to come two days a week to drive back and forth to Fort Bend so that I can intern and I did that for about the six months right before I graduated with my masters.”
“After I interned, I got hired to work in the detention center full-time,” she said. “From there I moved to probation. But prior to me taking the lead officer role, I was our core probation officer for human trafficking case flow.”
The human trafficking program is for youth who have either been deemed a victim or are at risk to become a victim of human trafficking. Officers take youth in detention through a screening process, working with a judge, attorneys, probation officers and therapists.
Interstate 10 in Texas is ranked as the top human trafficking corridor in the country and the state of Texas ranks second in the U.S. for the number of cases, according to Fort Bend JPD. The agency says higher instances of human trafficking occur with runaways, kids who have had involvement with Child Protective Services or have been involved in the juvenile justice system.
The agency also has an outreach program for schools and families to help children spot the methods and tricks traffickers use to lure victims into dangerous situations.
Officers also work with a nonprofit agency called Justice Ford that helps families who are in need of things like transportation, food, shelter and whatever else families to be successful while their child is on probation, Dotson said.
“We’re a family, we’re a team,” Dotson said.
Dotson says she sees the youth on probation that she works with several times during a given month. She stays alert to their needs and offers them services or whatever they need to help them become successful, “whether that be therapy … whatever that looks like, that’s what we did.”
Dotson recalled one girl who had come into their program with a lot of trauma.
“She was able to graduate … high school,” she said. “We were able to get her a tour to the U of H campus. So that was a good one for me. She blossomed, that was a blessing. She overcame a lot. So, I think that was … one of my good success stories there. All the work, the time, you know, the late nights, it makes it worth it. It’s like a little reminder that goes off.”
Since taking on the lead role for her department, Dotson’s peers believe she will continue to rise in the ranks at this department.
“(Dotson) has proven herself as a dependable employee who cares about the quality of work that she does,” Marvin said. “Not only is her work top notch, but what specifically stands out about Ms. Dotson is her willingness to help out her coworkers.”
Having spent time in so many roles along the way, Dotson says one constant is that no two days are the same.
“You think you know how you can have your day planned and then you come in here, you’re like, ‘OK, I’ve got to get this done. I’m going to do this, I’ve got to finish this case, I’ve got to go get this’ and then – no, that doesn’t happen. It’s like (a) curveball.”