AUSTIN, Texas — The agency that oversees juvenile correctional facilities in Texas is defending itself against accusations of civil rights violations.
During a Texas House committee hearing Monday morning, officials with the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) addressed a scathing U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) report that accused the TJJD of routinely exposing children to excessive force and prolonged isolation. The DOJ also accused the TJJD of failing to protect children from sexual abuse and of not providing adequate mental health services.
TJJD officials told state lawmakers Monday that the DOJ conducted its investigation when the department was only 50% staffed at its secure facilities.
"They made their report and their investigation at a time when every single correctional environment in the United States was struggling with the same issues that we were. We were not alone," TJJD Executive Director Shandra Carter said.
TJJD officials also said that last year, the Texas Legislature approved a historic $1 billion budget for the department, so it has already made progress in getting up to full staffing and changing policies to address concerns.