It is not looking good in the state’s juvenile department. Across the five juvenile detention centers for the state of Texas, all are facing staff wide shortages with a turnover rate of over 70%, continual cuts in funding especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and now for Operation Lonestar. The Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) is facing what is called a “grim” situation according to the Executive Director. After losing millions in state funding and statewide staff shortages, the Executive Director has noted that all five of Texas state facilities will negatively impact the state’s adolescence in these detention facilities.
“The current risk is that the ongoing secure facility staffing issue will lead to an inability to even provide basic supervision for youth locked in their rooms. This could cause a significantly impaired ability to intervene in the increasing suicidal behaviors already occurring by youth struggling with the isolative impact of operational room confinement,” said Interim Executive Director Shandra Carter in a letter to the state’s five detention facilities.
The lack of staff seems to be the primary issue that bleeds into others. According to the Sunset Advisory Commission, “understaffing has heightened youth safety risks, limited their access to rehabilitation, increased their suicidal and aggressive behaviors, and compelled further staff turnover, creating a self-perpetuating and dangerous situation TJJD cannot reverse with existing resources, despite staff ‘s best efforts.”
The Sunset Advisory Commission is the Texas Legislature’s agency that conducts investigations and reviews across state agencies and facilities. They then give recommendations to the Texas legislature on different state agencies and facilities.
It is noted that the lack of staffing is the primary concern for many of the state’s juvenile detention centers that bleed into the issues the agency faces. There are many overworked teachers, guards and other staff that have to make up for the lack of resources and manpower it takes to run a state facility.
There are advocates and policy makers pushing for the state’s juvenile system to be completely dissolved and that Texas should divert resources to county or local juvenile detention centers. Arguments for this are a closer tie to the community, greater chance at rehabilitative services and greater engagement with the state’s youth.
The state’s five juvenile centers will have to undergo various measures to make up for the inadequate staffing compared to the amount of youth they hold. In Brownwood, TX, Ron Jackson will have to move”the female behavioral stabilization unit” and “reduce the female population by 16…to meet the current available staff,” according to Carter.
The state’s juvenile system has lost funding to Operation Lonestar which is Greg Abbott’s border policy that has a mass over 4 billion in funding.
Additionally over 130 adolescents have their transfers on hold because TJJD cannot adequately house the numbers they already have with low staff already working too much overtime.
In response to staffing shortages TJJD has increased the pay for its staff. However, that funding comes from the lack of positions that are not currently being paid for. The pay raise is going to be $36,238 to $41,700.
[Story by Jacob Lehrer]