Jana Jones Christopher Ellison By TJJD Communications Two TJJD executives have been accepted into the upcoming class of the prestigious Governor’s Executive Development Program, a three-week intensive training for top leaders in Texas agencies and …
By Barbara Kessler, TJJD Communications N.W. was always athletic and fast, and he was fastest when playing football. He played as a boy with his uncle, who coached him on some moves. He played in middle school. He played at his suburban Texas high school, …
By Barbara Kessler, TJJD Communications Coach Thomas at the Gainesville State School gym. Coach Henry L. Thomas, the athletic director at Gainesville State School, has a motto – “We can accomplish great things together as long as no one cares who gets the …
By David N. Krough, TJJD Communications Recreation is more than fun and games for youth at TJJD – it’s a daily chance to stay fit, build new skills and make positive connections, both physically and mentally. Youth and recreation staff recently finished …
By TJJD Communications Texans are urged to make final preparations in advance of the Tropical Storm Beryl likely strengthening to a hurricane and making landfall along the central Texas coast sometime early Monday. Acting Governor Dan Patrick announced …
By David N. Krough, Communications Specialist After overseeing massive changes at TJJD/TYC over 23 years, Jerry Forrest is moving on. Forrest, Inventory and Store Specialist, started at the McLennan County State Juvenile Correctional Facility in May of …
By Barbara Kessler, TJJD Communications In her late teens, Hope C. recalls that she felt like a “lost soul.” She had spent several years at a Texas Youth Commission facility where she’d earned her GED and teachers had praised her academic abilities. Yet …
By David N. Krough, TJJD Communications The mock job fair may have been just a rehearsal, but the lessons for some Gainesville State School students were real-life last Wednesday. The relatively new program, organized with help from Gainesville Chamber of …
By Barbara Kessler, TJJD Communications Honest. Trustworthy. Dependable. Epically patient. These are the qualities Terry Williams’ colleagues call out when they consider why he’s been so successful in his long career at TJJD. “I can always go to him, and I …
By David N. Krough, TJJD Communications It is whispered among those tasked with guarding the security and safety of the public that the biggest successes remain silent, while the smallest of failures can be deafening. While there are so many stories of …
By David Krough, TJJD Communications Juvenile Correctional Officer Brandon Thibodeaux started working at Giddings State School in the Capital Offender dorm in 2015. “I came to Giddings just looking for a job to make ends meet, not knowing that it would …
By David Krough, TJJD Communications Addressing the need to maintain mental health for those who work in corrections is an obvious necessity – but somewhere between employees on the front lines and the population in custody, it seems that the team leaders …
By David N. Krough, TJJD Communications Specialist The Giddings State School Book Club 2.0 is off and reading this spring, poring through stories of challenge and determination – by characters whose lives may have once looked very similar to their own. The …
By David N. Krough, TJJD Communications The American Welding Society declared April as National Welding Month - and students across TJJD campuses are honing their skills in what is an urgently needed trade amid a nationwide shortage. Students in the Vo- …
By Barbara Kessler, TJJD Communications Jason Tweedle found his calling when he signed up to work as a Juvenile Correctional Officer at the McLennan County State Juvenile Correctional Facility 24 years ago, just two months after the campus opened as a …
By Barbara Kessler, TJJD Communications Two new voices have joined the TJJD Regionalization Task Force, bringing a fresh perspective and expanded dimension to the task force’s efforts to strengthen diversion and keep youth as local and shallow in the …
By TJJD Communications Dallas Pets Alive and Texas Juvenile Justice Department have solidified a unique partnership that’s helping dogs in need of temporary fostering care while saving their owners from needless heartache. The fostering partnership enlists …
By Barbara Kessler, TJJD Communications Lone Star High School Southeast completed a months-long community service project to help kids in medical crisis with the delivery on Friday of a small herd of toy rocking horses. Two youth from LSHSSE who’d helped …
Due to the current winter weather event, all non-essential staff at TJJD will be on a delayed start time until 12 pm (noon), tomorrow January 16, 2024. (Please use the CAPPS code EMG-WT, and contact your local HRA for more guidance.) If you are able to …
