Texas Juvenile Justice Department

10/15/2026

The future of juvenile justice in Texas is underway, and we couldn't be more excited about the expanded opportunities for rehabilitation and success that these new facilities will provide for the youth we serve.

Juvenile justice professionals, whether in the counties, in our facilities, or in the community are tirelessly dedicated to transforming lives and creating a safer Texas. These facilities will help strengthen that mission by providing spaces designed to support growth, treatment, and positive change with a foundation of safety and accountability for youth at TJJD.

We are grateful to everyone who has played a role in reaching this significant milestone, those who will support us through the next steps, and especially the dedicated professionals whose commitment to youth makes this work possible every day.

Together, we are creating change and making a difference.

Follow our progress, learn more about these facilities, and stay connected as we continue building the next chapter of juvenile justice in Texas: https://www.tjjd.texas.gov/about-the-tjjd/new-facilities/

10/08/2026

Yesterday, we celebrated another major milestone for the Texas Juvenile Justice Department: the groundbreaking of our new facility in Ellis County.

This new facility will serve youth with the most complex mental health needs within the juvenile justice system. Project partners, county leaders, TJJD staff, community advocates and other dedicated professionals came together to celebrate the start of a project that will have a meaningful impact on the services we provide to justice-involved youth across Texas.

Expected to be completed in 2029, this facility is an important part of TJJD’s continued efforts to strengthen rehabilitation and provide youth with the support and services they need to move forward — while creating a safe, effective environment for the staff who serve them every day.

Thank you to everyone who joined us over the past week to celebrate these important milestones. It was incredible to see so many passionate professionals from across the juvenile justice community come together to recognize what these facilities will mean for the youth we serve, our staff and the future of juvenile justice in Texas.

This is just the beginning. We’re excited to keep building!

10/08/2026

10/02/2026

Yesterday, we celebrated a major milestone as we broke ground on one of the two new state secure juvenile correctional facilities in Texas. This new facility, located in Brazoria County and right next door to our partners at TDCJ, will serve youth within our violence intervention continuum and be purpose-built to address their risks and needs.

This moment represents years of work to secure funding and support, along with countless hours of planning, design, and collaboration to create facilities that will serve Texas youth and support the dedicated staff who commit their careers to helping youth rehabilitate.

"Today we break ground. The work that follows will take years, but the impact of what we do will be felt for generations," Executive Director, Shandra Carter remarked.

Thank you to our Board Members, Representative Dennis Paul, Representative Cody Vasut, county juvenile probation chiefs, community partners, and TJJD staff who joined us to mark this historic occasion.

At TJJD, we are dedicated to building a new chapter for juvenile justice. A chapter that demands accountability while still believing in redemption. Together, we're building the future of juvenile justice in Texas.

https://www.tjjd.texas.gov/about-the-tjjd/new-facilities/

09/29/2026

More capacity. Stronger partnerships. More opportunities to transform lives.

TJJD’s new facilities will add approximately 200 beds to our capacity, helping address the waitlist and allowing us to better serve youth when they need us. But building for the future means more than adding beds.

It means strengthening partnerships with communities, service providers, schools and local leaders to provide better reentry supports. It means creating environments where staff have the tools and resources to do this important work. And it means bringing passionate people onto our team who believe in the potential of every young person we serve.

Learn more from Chief of Staff, Nathan McDaniel, as he explains how these facilities are building a stronger juvenile justice system for Texas, and check out this link to learn more: https://www.tjjd.texas.gov/about-the-tjjd/new-facilities/

09/28/2026

TJJD relies on the dedicated men and women who show up every day to do the difficult and meaningful work.

These two new purpose-built facilities are being designed with staff in mind, providing modern tools, improved workspaces and environments built for their safety. Each facility will also create approximately 450 new, well-paying jobs, bringing new opportunities to these communities and strengthening our ability to recruit and retain a talented workforce near population-dense areas.

Combined with strong training and leadership, these facilities will help our teams protect youth, support one another and create more opportunities for positive change.

09/24/2026

What becomes possible when we build around the youth we serve?

These new facilities give us the opportunity to answer that question from the ground up.

We’re creating environments intentionally designed to support treatment, education, programming, family engagement, and rehabilitation—while meeting the increasingly complex needs, risks, and behaviors of the youth in our care.

We’re looking forward to providing spaces that create better opportunities for youth to grow and take accountability for mistakes, while equipping our staff with the environments they need to serve them safely and confidently.

Learn more about how the facility design is meeting the needs of these two populations in this video from Dr. Evan Norton.

09/22/2026

Two years of planning, countless hours of collaboration, two new facilities, and an incredibly exciting vision for the future.

TJJD’s new state secure facilities are being purpose-built from the ground up, bringing together thoughtful design, modern technology, security, treatment and programming to better serve youth and support staff for decades to come.

Learn more about the new facilities in this video from Deputy Executive Director of Operations and Finance, Emily Anderson. Learn more about the upcoming groundbreakings: https://www.tjjd.texas.gov/about-the-tjjd/new-facilities/

09/21/2026

Don’t forget to check out our open JCO roles at Ron Jackson State Juvenile Correctional Facility in Brownwood, Texas.

Explore more information about working at TJJD as a Juvenile Correctional Officer here: https://www.tjjd.texas.gov/careers/become-a-tjjd-juvenile-correctional-officer-jco/

Looking for a career that matters?

Ron Jackson State Juvenile Correctional Facility in Brownwood, Texas is hiring Juvenile Correctional Officers (JCOs).

This isn’t an easy job, but that’s what makes it meaningful. As a JCO, you’ll work in a challenging environment where leadership, integrity, teamliness, and accountability matter every day. You’ll help maintain a safe and secure environment, while having the opportunity to mentor, guide, and positively influence youth in our secure facilities.

The work is demanding and important, and for the right person, it can be an incredibly rewarding career. If you’re ready to step up, make a difference, and become part of a team with a purpose, we want to hear from you.

👉 Apply here: https://erphcmprd.cpa.texas.gov/psp/candidateportal/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=1&JobOpeningId=103981&PostingSeq=1

09/21/2026

A new chapter for juvenile justice in Texas is about to begin.

The October 1st and October 7th groundbreakings mark an investment in innovation, safety, rehabilitation and a juvenile justice system designed for the population of today.

We are excited to celebrate the possibilities this significant infrastructure investment brings, and the opportunity it provides to build a system from the ground up that works for the youth we serve and the staff who serve them.

Stay tuned this week to learn more about these new facilities from the rest of our executive team, and check out this link for more information on the groundbreakings: https://www.tjjd.texas.gov/about-the-tjjd/new-facilities/