Texas (TX) — State Brief
Juvenile Justice (2015–2025)
Pipeline Snapshot
- Intake & Screening: 165 county probation depts; risk/needs tools (PACT) and MAYSI for MH; early family needs screening.
- Detention: No statewide mandate; larger counties use risk-based screening; detention hearings within 2 working days.
- Adjudication & Disposition: County juvenile courts; dispositions from diversion to probation to TJJD commitment; Progressive Sanctions framework.
- Commitment & Placement: Commitment to TJJD for felonies or chronic offending; counties must certify no local alternative; 5 state schools + county post-adj.
- Reentry & Aftercare: TJJD parole 6–9 months on average; reentry starts ~90 days pre-release; county probation aftercare for local placements.
- Authority: County-centric until commitment; state TJJD handles secure custody + parole; juvenile boards per county.
- Policies: Texas Family Code Title 3; Progressive Sanctions; HB 2398 (2015); Raise-the-Age proposals.
- Data Handoff: Counties feed TJJD JCMS; disparate systems create patchy statewide stats; abrupt adult handoff at 17.
Notes & Sources
- TJJD Legislative/Annual reports; Texas Family Code; county probation docs.
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