Texas lawmakers are under pressure to address the issue of violence within the state’s juvenile justice system. The Texas Juvenile Justice Department is responsible for overseeing approximately 700 minors, some as young as 10 years old, with about 80% of them being Black or Latino. Recently, a juvenile detention officer in Dallas County was severely injured by a female in custody who had a history of assaulting staff members.
Legislation is now being considered that would allow minors as young as 15 to be transferred to adult facilities if they commit a second felony, such as assaulting staff, or engage in delinquent conduct. Michele Deitch, who leads the LBJ School’s Prison and Jail Innovation Lab at the University of Texas at Austin, expressed concerns about Senate Bill 1727, noting that it could result in more youth being transferred to adult prisons in Texas. She emphasized the potential negative impact on young individuals, stating, “These are young kids. We’re talking 15, 16-year-olds who could end up in adult prison.”
Deitch also highlighted another proposed bill, Senate Bill 2693, which aims to restrict access to juvenile detention facilities for certain groups, including advocacy organizations that have reported abuses within the system. She criticized the bill as retaliatory, stating that it would further isolate and punish at-risk youth, making them more vulnerable to mistreatment. Deitch emphasized the importance of addressing the underlying needs of children in juvenile detention, pointing out that punitive measures may not be effective in supporting their well-being.
In her view, the current legislative direction may exacerbate issues within the juvenile justice system and compromise public safety. Deitch called for policy changes that prioritize the mental health and social service needs of youth in detention, rather than imposing harsh penalties that could have detrimental consequences. She underscored the importance of providing support and advocacy for young individuals in the system to ensure better outcomes and enhance public safety.
