Inspections Reveal Security Issues at Youth Facilities
When inspectors paid unannounced visits to the six secure juvenile facilities statewide last month, they found gaps in important security procedures — including monitoring youths' whereabouts and keeping doors locked — that may have contributed to increasing violence among the youths and recent escapes, according to a report The Texas Tribune obtained Monday.
"It showed some strengths, but it showed some areas where we can make improvements," said Jay Kimbrough, interim executive director of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.
Kimbrough sent inspectors to conduct the surprise safety and security reviews on July 24 and 25. He said he wanted to get a ...
Comments (1)
Liz Jackson
The security issues that are being overlooked are related to the security of the staff. Too many defendant's to too few staff as stated. Borrowing staff to go to other facilities is a temporary fix to a long term problem that enhances the negative behavior of the defendants. What defendants are going to perform well with a substitute. Think of how it was when you were in school and had a substitute teacher. I don't want my family punished by having to go to the facilities that are out of control because staff can't be hired to work there. Staff have families, pets and other jobs to take care of. I hope these suprise safety and security reviews will continue but remember what you find is what you put in place. Staff can't fix a system that is terribly broken. The legislature and myself as a tax payer will be watching to see what is done to fix this system because we pay for it. Remember the population you are serving. They are defendant's and need to be treated as such. Less therapy and more consequences. Only those who want therapy will benefit from therapy. It is good to hear that the powers that be are looking for resolution to these ideas.