Trauma in the Texas Juvenile Justice System and two Great Therapeutic Programs

Trauma in the Texas Juvenile Justice System

It is widely recognized that children incarcerated in the Texas Juvenile Justice System have often experienced significant trauma before their admission to state schools, halfway houses, and probation systems. The Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) aims to “create an environment where we can help them learn to make decisions, manage their emotions and reactions to stress, and take responsibility for their lives and decisions—in other words, to correct” (Texas Juvenile Justice Department, n.d.). This approach is embodied in the Texas Model.

Many children in the system have faced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), which may include having one or both parents incarcerated, being victims of sexual assault, experiencing aggravated assault, death, and various forms of family violence. Most, if not all, of the children incarcerated have at least four ACEs. ACEs are defined as Adverse Childhood Experiences. According to Module 2 of Professor Rousseau’s course, the following ACEs categories are included:

  • Alcoholism and alcohol abuse
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • Depression
  • Drug use
  • Heart disease
  • Liver disease
  • Risk of partner violence
  • Smoking
  • Suicide
  • Overall decline in quality of life (Rousseau, n.d.)

Statistics from the Texas Juvenile Justice Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that individuals with just one ACE have a 200% to 500% increased chance of attempting suicide. With four ACEs, the risk increases to 2400%, and with seven ACEs, it rises to a staggering 5100% compared to those with no ACEs. In the Texas Juvenile Justice System, “fifty-two percent of our youth in secure facilities have four or more ACEs,” according to a conservative estimate. Breakdown statistics show that about 50% of boys and 87% of girls in the system have four or more ACEs, with 47% of girls having seven or more (Texas Juvenile Justice Department, n.d.).

Given these statistics, it is crucial for the Texas Juvenile Justice Department to focus its correctional and educational efforts on behavioral and mental healing. While it is important to hold these children accountable for their actions, this should be done within a trauma-informed, healing environment. Texas should prioritize rehabilitation through trauma-informed care over punitive measures.

Trauma-informed care in the Texas Juvenile Justice System is essential. Rousseau (n.d.) emphasizes that “Trauma-informed care needs to build on practices, skills, training, and strategies that directly affect the entire juvenile justice continuum of care.” Texas screens incoming child offenders for ACEs to ensure appropriate placement in TJJD facilities.

Here are some examples of trauma therapy programs currently used in TJJD to address behaviors and educate families on coping with past traumatic experiences:

  • Aftercare Management
  • Anger Management/Conflict Resolution
  • Animal/Equine Therapy
  • At-Risk Programs
  • Border Children Justice Project
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy/Treatment
  • Community Service/Restitution
  • Counseling Services
  • Drug Court
  • Early Intervention/First Referral
  • Educational Programs
  • Electronic/GPS Monitoring
  • Experiential Education
  • Extended Day Program/Day Boot Camp
  • Family Preservation
  • Female Offender Programs
  • Gang Prevention/Intervention
  • Home Detention
  • Intensive Case Management
  • Intensive Supervision
  • Life Skills Programs
  • Mental Health Services
  • Mental Health Court
  • Intellectual Disabilities Services
  • Mentoring
  • Parent Training (for parents)
  • Parenting (for juveniles)
  • Runaway/Truancy Programs
  • Sex Offender Treatment
  • Substance Abuse Prevention/Intervention
  • Substance Abuse Treatment
  • Victim Mediation
  • Victim Services
  • Vocational/Employment Programs (Texas Juvenile Justice Department, 2024).

This blog will focus on two programs that require additional funding and have shown success with youthful offenders. I will reference a 2024 TJJD findings report from an investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the District of Texas. Despite numerous issues within TJJD facilities, efforts are being made to address these problems. The Office of the Inspector General has been established to address criminal acts occurring in TJJD facilities. Access points into and out of the facilities have been taken over to control contraband and improve safety. However, staff violations of rules and policies remain a concern.

The TJJD has reintroduced the BARK therapy program, which involves TJJD becoming a foster home for dogs. According to Woodard (2024), the Gainesville State School Superintendent acknowledges that most juvenile offenders come from traumatic environments. He emphasizes that the TJJD system refers to offenders as “adjudicated” rather than “convicts,” recognizing their victimization. The program currently includes sixteen children and six dogs. It teaches offenders to care about something other than themselves and promotes discipline. A quote from a participant reflects the program’s impact: “When I first got him, he was kind of shaken up because of where he came from. And I felt that same way – we had that same connection” (Woodard, 2024). Another participant noted, “They say a dog is a man’s best friend and I agree… If I feel down, he will come around and help me out” (Woodard, 2024). The BARK program is noted for having the fewest incidents on campus, indicating its effectiveness in trauma-informed rehabilitation.

Another notable trauma-informed program is the equestrian program formerly located at Tornado Ranch. Known as Trauma-Focused Equine Assisted Psychotherapy or Trauma-Informed Equine Assisted Learning, this program was discontinued due to financial constraints, resources, and departmental priorities. Like the BARK program, it allowed youths to establish empathy, discipline, and love by caring for rescue horses. The program helped participants resolve personal traumas and improved their understanding of themselves and others. The reintroduction of this program would benefit the TJJD system (TJJD, 2018).

To ensure that these children become productive members of society, it is essential to secure funding for these programs. A just society requires a trauma-informed correctional system that supports all its members.

References

Rousseau, P. (n.d.). Module 2: Adverse Childhood Experiences. [Course material].

Texas Juvenile Justice Department. (n.d.). Program Registry – Public Access. Retrieved from https://www2.tjjd.texas.gov/programregistryexternal/members/searchprograms.aspx

Texas Juvenile Justice Department. (2024). [Report].

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Adverse Childhood Experiences. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/index.html

U.S. Department of Justice. (2024, August 2). Homepage. Retrieved from https://www.justice.gov/

Woodard, T. (2024, May 20). This high-security juvenile detention center in North Texas just became a foster home for dogs. WFAA. https://www.wfaa.com/article/features/originals/high-security-juvenile-detention-center-texas-became-foster-home-for-dogs/287-7eaf7654-3128-4eaf-8a92-f22892a49dde

Texas Juvenile Justice Department. (2018, September 22). Tornado Ranch has ramped up in the past six months. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/TexasJJD/posts/tornado-ranch-has-ramped-up-in-the-past-six-months-and-now-serves-10-youth-who-p/2147383878916782/?locale=hi_IN

 

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