County’s grand juries chose not to charge abuse at Evins; 6/28/2008
THE MONITOR: Hidalgo County grand juries remain reluctant to believe reports of criminal abuse at the Evins Regional Juvenile Center, two years after investigators uncovered systemic civil rights violations at the facility. The panels have overwhelmingly sided with prison employees, while taking a hard stance when it comes to its young offenders, a Monitor analysis shows. Of the eight cases of alleged staff-on-youth violence they considered in the past year, none have resulted in criminal indictments.
State transportation, youth commissions may be on their way out; 6/21/2008
LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL: The sun may be setting on the Texas Transportation Commission and Texas Youth Commission. The two commissions have been targeted by the Sunset Advisory Commission to possibly be disbanded. The 12-member panel, chaired by Rep. Carl Isett, R-Lubbock, is reviewing 27 agencies, and there is talk that the transportation and youth commissions will be phased out or restructured. Both agencies have been under fire since last year, the former for its money problems and the latter for the sexual and physical abuse of young inmates reported in recent years.
Disparities, lack of safety, alternatives hinder progress; 6/17/2008
TENNESSEAN: Like many others around the nation, Tennessee's juvenile justice system needs reform, or at least improvement. Just how much reform or improvement is needed depends on whom you talk to. The issue came to light last week after the Annie E. Casey Foundation released its annual report on national trends involving the well-being of children nationwide. Along with its 2008 Kids Count Data Book, the foundation also presented what it calls a clear path to reducing the number of children and youth in the nation's justice system.
Better programs exist than increasing incarceration; 6/17/2008
TENNESSEAN: America's juvenile justice systems are poised for a fundamental, urgently needed transformation — and not a moment too soon. Change in juvenile justice is vitally important for two reasons. First, chronic delinquents have some of the worst odds of maturing into successful adults. Second, our failure to respond effectively to delinquency sustains unacceptable levels of crime, fraying the social fabric essential to thriving communities while costing huge amounts for police, prosecution and prisons. This situation need not persist.
ACLU sues TYC, alleges abuse; 6/13/2008
STAR-TELEGRAM: AUSTIN -- The American Civil Liberties Union filed suit Thursday against Texas' correctional system for juveniles, citing the use of solitary confinement, strip searches and other practices at a lockup for girls in Brownwood. Filed in federal court in Austin on behalf of five girls, the suit states that the Texas Youth Commission violates inmates' constitutional rights and international standards protecting children from abuse and cruel treatment. "It's in the interests of both the children and TYC to stop these practices," said Lenora Lapidus, director of the ACLU's women's rights project.
Expansion of juvenile center OK’d; 6/11/2008 THE FACTS: Expansion of the Brazoria County Juvenile Detention Center will begin next week, but commissioners aren’tt happy with the price. Pct. 3 Commissioner Jack Harris and Pct. 4 Commissioner Mary Ruth Rhodenbaugh on Tuesday voted against construction of the 52-bed upgrade which will double the size of the current facility. The expansion is needed, but at a cost of $6.2 million, it was more than Harris was willing to approve. “I thought we had a set amount in the original contract but we didn’t have the communication we needed,” Harris said. “They jacked up the cost another $2 million and I felt like that wasn’t a good deal. Youth injured at Mart's TYC facility; 6/10/2008
WACO TRIBUNE: Texas Youth Commission officials are investigating how an inmate at a local juvenile prison was injured Sunday night after colliding with a glass window or door. An officer from TYC’s Office of Inspector General has been assigned to the case, said commission spokesman Jim Hurley. Part of the investigation will look at whether any staff members are at fault in the incident, he said. The injured inmate was being housed at Unit I of TYC’s Mart campus. It serves as an intake center for all males entering TYC.