Thousands fewer kids are landing in state detention centers since a horrific abuse scandal three years ago, and it’s saving Texas millions of dollars. But juvenile-justice advocates worry that budget woes in the 2011 forecast could force painful cuts to programs that are keeping kids out of Texas Youth Commission jails.

“Those cuts are not going to end up saving the state money,” says Ana Yáñez Correa, executive director of the nonprofit Texas Criminal Justice Coalition. “Those cuts are going to end up costing the state millions of dollars they can no longer afford.”

After investigative journalists uncovered ...

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