A bill filed in the Texas House by the young Democrat State Representative James Talarico (D-Round Rock) would seek to dissolve Texas’ five juvenile detention facilities. If passed by the Legislature, it would dissolve the Texas Juvenile Justice Department into the Office of Youth Safety and Rehabilitation and would operate under the Texas Department of Health and Human Services.
According to the bill, if passed, the Office of Youth Safety and Rehabilitation would theoretically promote “trauma-responsive and culturally informed services for children engaging in delinquent conduct, in a manner that supports the child’s successful transition to adulthood; and ensuring children become responsible, thriving, and engaged members of their communities.”
The TJJD has faced scrutiny over the years for allegations of sexual and physical abuse, failure to conduct adequate and safe living, and is detrimentally having a 70% turnover rate in staff. The US Department of Justice has been investigating the Texas Juvenile Justice Department since October 2021