Parole Program Overview

The Texas Juvenile Justice Department Parole Program plays a significant role in TJJD's correctional treatment program and continuum of care. The program is designed to:

• Increase accountability for youths returned to the community;
• Include community service activities; and to
• Enhance public, private, state, and local services for the young people and their families.

While on parole, the young people are held accountable for following their success plans, which they developed while in a residential program.

Most youth initially placed on parole are assigned to the intensive level of surveillance. Youth who have earned parole credit in other programs can be assigned to a moderate or minimum. The parole officer meets face-to-face with the youth to:

• Monitor the youth's overall progress;
• Determine if the youth is complying with the success plan that was agreed upon prior to being placed on parole; and to
• Assist the youth in reintegration into the community through the implementation of the parole success plan.

Surveillance is a verification of the youth's location, daily schedule, and required activities. It can be intensive, moderate, or minimum. The parolee is to remain on intensive surveillance because of his delinquent history classification, or as long as necessary to determine if he or she is complying with all parole requirements.

For “General Offenders” (most non-violent offenders), a Fast Track Parole process is available. Under Fast Track Parole, it is possible for a youth to be approved for discharge from TJJD jurisdiction at the sixth month on parole, rather than at the minimum ninth month. To be discharged, however, the youth has to demonstrate that all requirements for discharge have been met.

While on parole, the level of surveillance is reduced as the youth demonstrates compliance with the program objectives.

Youth on parole have regularly scheduled office appointments with a parole officer, plus unscheduled visits by parole staff to schools, work sites, and homes. When necessary, random curfew checks are made through surveillance and supervision services available to TJJD in the larger metropolitan counties.