Q: What does being "in the custody" of the Director of the DCJD mean?
A: Juveniles placed on probation in the custody of the Chief Juvenile Probation Officer (Director) are removed from the home for placement in a contract facility.
Q: Are all juvenile offenders in the custody of the Director?
A: No. The most frequently used disposition by the juvenile court is probation at home in the parent's custody. Juveniles are given strict conditions of probation that they must follow until their probation ends. The duration of probation is typically one year but can last until the 18th birthday.
Q: Does DCJD operate the Detention Center?
A: Yes. Detention is a function of county government and in Texas, juvenile detention centers are owned and operated by counties, much like jails are. Some counties may choose to contract with a private entity to operate their detention center, or may contract with another county that operates a detention center to place their clients. Detention centers are holding facilities where suspected juvenile offenders who are considered to be at risk of running away or at a crisis point where they may be a danger to the public or themselves, are detained during and after the court process.
Q: What is the difference between a detention center and a juvenile post-adjudication or long-term facility?
A: Several juvenile post-adjudication or long-term facilities are also operated by DCJD and are facilities to which juvenile offenders are sentenced for their offense and undergo correctional and/or therapeutical programs geared toward changing their behavior.
Q: Does DCJD directly operate all the juvenile correctional facilities in Dallas County?
A: No. Two juvenile secure facilities are operated by a private company under contract with DCJD.
Q: Are there separate DCJD offices all over Dallas County?
A: Yes. We have ten field probation offices that serve their immediate community and are staffed by county employees. These offices supervise juvenile offenders throughout the county, and see that supervision, counseling services, therapy and other needed services are provided for them and/or their families.
Q: How are juvenile offenders handled differently in a juvenile justice system than an adult correctional system?
A: The laws that govern juvenile offenders are in the Texas Family Code (TFC Title 3, Juvenile Justice Code), separate from the criminal code used for adult offenders. Juvenile offenders must be held accountable for their actions, both in terms of being penalized for breaking the law and in making restitution, in some manner, to their victims. The basis for a sound juvenile justice system lies in getting to the root causes of delinquent and law-breaking behavior. Therefore, there is much greater emphasis in the juvenile system on treatment programs, education and preparing juveniles to re-enter the environment from which they came with a greater capacity to be law-abiding citizens.
Some differences between the juvenile and adult legal systems include some offenses which apply to juveniles but not to adults, such as runaway and truancy. Length of time on probation is also different, as a juvenile’s probation cannot extend beyond their 18th birthday, and usually lasts only one year. A juvenile on probation is placed under the custody of a responsible adult, usually the parents or guardians, and is required to attend school, observe a curfew, and in many cases, attend counseling. This is in addition to having to pay court fees and restitution, when appropriate.
Q: How is the agency organized?
A: As shown in the organizational chart which is linked to on this page, the top-down hierarchical organization of the agency is typical of most government agencies. The agency has a Director and Assistant Director, to whom several deputies report. Each deputy director is head of an agency division, including Administration, Probation, Psychology, and Institutions. Staff ultimately report to one of these deputy directors.
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