Public Policy Center | Key Findings: Strengthen Juvenile Probation and Increase Accountability

Key Findings: Strengthen Juvenile Probation and Increase Accountability

Local courts sent 51,623 youth to probation departments for supervision, including deferred prosecution, in FY 2007.[i]
In FY 2007, TJPC distributed $143 million in state and federal funding to counties, or about 31% of total juvenile probation costs.
Counties contributed an additional $325 million toward juvenile probation services and operation of secure facilities.[ii]
In FY 2008, Harris, Dallas, Bexar, Tarrant, Hidalgo, Jefferson, and Lubbock Counties accounted for 51% of TYC commitments.[iii]
TJPC was created in 1981, replacing the Community Assistance Program administered by TYC. TJPC’s primary mission when created was to ensure access to juvenile probation services throughout the state, which TYC had historically proven unable to provide.[iv]

[i] Texas Sunset Advisory Commission, 6.

[ii] Ibid, 6

[iii] Ibid, 15.

[iv] Texas Juvenile Probation Commission. Texas Juvenile Probation Commission 1981 – 2006: Celebrating 25 Years of Service. (Austin: Texas Juvenile Probation Commission, 2007), 1.