The Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) Parole Program is a vital component of its comprehensive correctional treatment and continuum of care. This program is strategically designed to ensure a smoother and more accountable transition for young individuals back into their communities after residential placement. The core objectives of the TJJD Parole Program are multifaceted, aiming to:
- Enhance accountability among youths returning to community settings.
- Integrate meaningful community service engagements.
- Strengthen the network of public, private, state, and local support systems available to these young people and their families.
During their parole period, youths are expected to adhere strictly to personalized success plans. These plans are collaboratively developed while the youth is still in a residential program, setting the stage for a structured and goal-oriented reintegration process.
Initially, most youths entering parole are placed under intensive surveillance. However, those who have demonstrated positive progress and earned parole credit in other TJJD programs may be assigned to moderate or minimum surveillance levels. Regular face-to-face meetings between the youth and their assigned parole officer are crucial. These meetings serve to:
- Track the youth’s overall advancement and well-being.
- Evaluate their adherence to the pre-established success plan.
- Facilitate the youth’s successful community reintegration through active implementation of the parole success plan.
Surveillance, in this context, is a systematic verification process confirming the youth’s whereabouts, daily routines, and scheduled activities. The intensity of surveillance—intensive, moderate, or minimum—is determined by factors such as the youth’s delinquent history and their demonstrated compliance with parole requirements. Maintaining intensive surveillance is often necessary initially to thoroughly assess compliance.
For “General Offenders,” typically those involved in non-violent offenses, the TJJD offers an expedited path known as Fast Track Parole. This process allows eligible youths to potentially achieve discharge from TJJD jurisdiction as early as six months into parole, instead of the standard minimum of nine months. Discharge under Fast Track Parole is contingent upon the youth consistently meeting all stipulated requirements.
As a youth progresses through parole and demonstrates consistent adherence to program objectives, the level of surveillance is gradually reduced. This step-down approach acknowledges positive behavioral changes and increasing responsibility.
Throughout parole, youths are required to attend scheduled office appointments with their parole officer. In addition to these scheduled meetings, parole staff conduct unscheduled visits to various locations in the youth’s life, including schools, workplaces, and homes. To further ensure compliance, random curfew checks are implemented, particularly in larger metropolitan areas, utilizing surveillance and supervision services available to TJJD.
