Department: Juvenile Probation
Department Head/Elected Official: Henry Gonzales
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Grant
Project ID (if applicable): DETEX_GY24
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable):
MWDBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWDBE Current Participation (if applicable): n/A
Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request by Juvenile Probation for approval to submit an application to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department for grant funds in the amount of $1,222,712.80, with no required match, for the FY 2024 Detention Expansion Project.
end
Background and Discussion:
The Harris County Juvenile Probation Department (HCJPD) has submitted a grant application to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) requesting Discretionary State Aid funding for a Detention Project to expand services to pre-adjudicated youth. It is the goal of HCJPD to reduce the anticipated overcrowding in the Juvenile Justice Center (JJC) brought on by the increased number of youth being referred to the Department for serious felony offenses. Such offenses often require youth to be detained by a Judge's order while pending Court. Additionally, youth that have been committed to TJJD that are currently being housed at JJC will be moved to the Harris County Leadership Academy (HCLA), which will ideally create additional space at JJC to accommodate additional space for pre-adjudicated youth at JJC.
Expected Impact:
The objective of the Detention Project grant is to increase the availability of pre-adjudication services to juvenile probation departments to improve a region's ability to serve youth locally, improve outcomes, and maintain public safety. Priority is to be given to detentions taking youth who have felony referrals; offenses against a person; and been committed to TJJD.
Alternative Options:
Should this grant not be funded, HCJPD will seek othe...
Click here for full text