The Texas Legislature made wise decisions on juvenile justice in the 2009 session. First, the Texas Youth Commission’s (TYC) funding was cut from $314.9 million in 2008 to $210 million per year for 2010-2011. Community-based alternatives to TYC received $60 million. The result is $44.9 million in net savings to taxpayers.
Part of these savings some from closing unnecessary TYC facilities. The 2010-2011 budget calls for the West Texas and Victory Field TYC units to be closed in 2011. Both are remotely located away from the urban areas from which most youth come.
Not only does this shifting of resources save money, research has indicated that all but the highest-risk youth are less likely to recidivate if they are kept in the community. More than 55 percent of offenders leaving TYC are rearrested within one year. In contrast, Ohio implemented a policy called RECLAIM that redirected youth from state lockups to community-based programs – these youths had a 22 percent recidivism rate.
The further downsizing of TYC continues a trend. The Texas Youth Commission held some 5,646 youth in 2000 and 4,800 youth in 2006. That declined to 3,448 in 2007 and 2,054 in April 2009. These declines are largely attributable to SB 103, passed in 2007, that prohibited misdemeanants from being placed at TYC and reduced the maximum age of TYC residents to 19 from 21. Some counties also reduced their utilization of TYC due to concerns about the abuses.
Another positive development in the 2009 session is the passage of HB 3689, the sunset bill for TYC and the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission (TJPC). One of the most important provisions requires each juvenile probation department to use a risk assessment instrument. This will enable the departments to better determine what treatment approach is most appropriate. Some adult probation departments use the results of the instrument to allocate staff, accounting for the fact that a probation officer with a higher-risk caseload may need more time per offender.
In sum, a smaller TYC and community programs that are better targeted to the individual offender will improve Texas’ juvenile justice system and enhance public safety.
– Marc Levin