Texas' juvenile justice system is in crisis. In 2008-09, lawmakers evaluated our entire juvenile justice system and determined what changes were needed. Texas Youth Commission underwent by the Sunset Advisory Commission, which yielded continued reforms by the Texas Legislature. Legislation passed in 2009 maintains Texas Youth Commission and Texas Juvenile Probation Commission as two separate agencies, and provides for various reforms to be reviewed by the Sunset Review Commission in 2011.
Abuse and Violence at Teen Jails Across US
Related Links
Texas Youth Commission- Home Page
2009 Legislation Relating to TYC Sunset Review
National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice
Tony Fabelo's 2008 Report- ppt.
Strengthening Juvenile Probation
Texas Juvenile Probation Commission
Texans Care for Children- Juvenile Justice Updates
http://www.texanscareforchildren.org
Other State's Juvenile Justice Models
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Missouri Model:
While most of the country relies on youth training schools (large correctional institutions housing anywhere between 100-1200 youth) to confine juvenile offenders, Missouri has a well-developed system of community-based residential and non-residential programs. In 1983, Missouri closed its only large training school and transitioned from an incarceration model to a rehabilitation model. Youth now go to one of 30 regional, small-scale corrections centers, where they live in dormitories instead of cells, or they go to one of many non-residential programs. By moving away from the monolithic large training school system, youth can be placed in more specialized programs according to their real needs.
http://www.cjcj.org/jjic/reforming.php#msm
Ohio Model
http://www.cleveland.com/teentrouble/wide/index.ssf?/teentrouble/wide/justice0121.html
http://www.vfc-oh.org/cms/news/7f34c96676a728a2/index.html
