Workforce Development

(PIE) Programs help to create partnerships between private sector employers and juvenile detention facilities in order to help troubled youth receive job training and employment experience that will help them transition back into society. TJJD youth who are employed by the industry will receive the prevailing wage, which they will be required to use for court/victim restitution, child support, as applicable, and for a savings account.

The goal of the PIE program is to better prepare juveniles to re-enter society and to become responsible and self-supportive. It is believed that, with the combination of academic, vocational and employment programs as well as aftercare support, youth will become contributing positive members of society and successfully stay out of the correctional system.

Current PIE Programs

Partnership: Gainesville State School & Gulf Coast Trades Center, Inc.
Youth are employed to produce portable livestock pens, custom specific orders such as picnic tables, barbecue pits, benches, rocking chairs, and swings.

YouthBuild

Partnership: Texas Juvenile Justice Department & Gulf Coast Trades Center, Inc.
Youth are employed to assist in building homes for eligible families in the New Waverly, TX area.

Benefits

• Practical work experience to aid in his/her future job search.
• Learn new trade and improve skills.
• Earn income to be used for continuing education, receive additional training, pay victims compensation and provide family support.
• Receive exposure to positive work relationships.
• Become productive, contributing members of society.

• Cost Effective Operation
• Gets the Product Out the Door
• Ready Made Workforce

• Taxes
• Court Ordered Compensation
• Productive Citizen

Terms and Conditions of Employment

Terms and conditions of employment of youth should parallel the prevailing practices of that industry as closely as possible.

Supervision and Quality Control

Supervision of the work youth performs and quality control of the product must be the responsibility of the cooperating industry. The industry will not be expected to provide any greater supervision than would be provided to its employees in an employment situation away from the TJJD facility. Security remains TJJD's responsibility.

Hosting a PIE Program at a TJJD Facility

The Employment & Training Program Administrator (ETPA) is available to provide presentations explaining how the program works, the process necessary to start a prison industry program and the benefits to all parties involved. To request more information about participating in a PIE program; please call the ETPA at (512) 424-6269.

How to Become an Industries Program

Becoming an Industries Program for TJJD

• Submit work proposal to TJJD's Employment Training Program Administrator. This proposal should include detailed job descriptions and skill level expected of youth to be able to perform duties.
• Employment Training Program Administrator, along with TJJD's legal department, the facility of choice, and the prospective company will meet to discuss probability of the submitted work proposal.
• Provide a business plan to the Employment Training Program Administrator. The Employment Training Program Administrator provides an outline of requirements.
• Once the proposal is determined operable the Employment Training Program Administrator will began gathering information to meet federal guidelines and submit information to the State Oversight Authority to request that the prospective company be designated as a Cost Accounting Center in order to operate the proposed industry project.
• A meeting is held between facility, Employment Training Program Administrator and prospective employer to develop plan of operations.
• Develop and finalize a contract between TJJD and prospective employer.
• Begin operation.
• Private Sector Company will submit monthlly reports to P.I.E. Program Coordinator.
• Employment Training Program Administrator will monitor program to ensure it is meeting all federal guidelines