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UMW Legislative Event

NEW! Catholic Charities of Central Texas launches "Faithful Citizenship" website with extensive Catholic social teaching links and more.

Faithful Citizenship

Denominations, social action boards, and other faith groups often issue "social statements"-- resolutions or other corporate expressions of positions, concerns or theological interpretation. Social Statements

Texas Juvenile Justice at the Crossroads

Upcoming Committee Meetings

Texas' juvenile justice system is in crisis. In 2008-09, lawmakers will evaluate our entire juvenile justice system and determine what changes are needed. Texas Youth Commission will undergo review during the Sunset Commission during this biennium, which will likely yield continued reforms to be considered by the Texas Legislature in 2009.

Texas Sunset Advisory Commission

House Members

Senate Members

2008-2009 Sunset Review Schedule

In the News

Abuse and Violence at Teen Jails Across US

Other State's Juvenile Justice Models

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.