Trump's Legacy: Texas Jails Cage Kids.

Texas Juvenile Detention Centers Violated Children's Rights, Justice Department Finds

A three-year federal investigation concludes that Texas youth prisons violate the Constitution and federal law, with a pattern of abuse and neglect that has gone on for decades.

The U.S. Department of Justice released a report Thursday detailing widespread and systemic violations of children's constitutional and civil rights at five Texas juvenile detention centers operated by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD). The investigation, which began in 2021, found that the facilities violated youth inmates' Eighth and Fourteenth Amendment rights, as well as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

We are grateful to the Department of Justice for their thorough investigation and detailed findings. The issues their investigation identified are systemic problems that have plagued the Texas Juvenile Justice Department for years. We are hopeful this will be a turning point for youth in these facilities. - Brett Merfish, director of youth justice at Texas Appleseed

A History of Abuse and Neglect

Texas's juvenile justice system has a dark and disturbing history that came to light in the early 2000s thanks to investigative reporting by Texas newspapers. The revelations led to a governor-ordered guardianship and overhaul of the system. However, as the recent federal investigation reveals, the pattern of abuse and violations has continued unabated.

Gov. Greg Abbott ordered Texas Rangers investigations in 2017 and 2021, which resulted in arrests for physical and sexual abuse. Despite these efforts, advocacy groups have long argued that a more comprehensive investigation was needed to address the systemic issues within the TJJD.

Excessive Force, Sexual Abuse, and Discrimination

The Justice Department's report finds that staff at the five facilities used "excessive force and prolonged isolation," failed to protect children from sexual abuse by staff and other inmates, and denied adequate mental health services. Investigators found evidence of discriminatory practices against children with disabilities, who were denied reasonable modifications and equal access to education. The prolonged abuse and neglect have had devastating impacts on the vulnerable population, with lasting consequences and even leading to the conviction of staff for violent crimes.

The use of pepper spray was a particular area of concern, with staff deploying irritating sprays directly into children's faces from close range and for excessive periods. Physical assaults by staff resulted in concussions, lacerations, and loss of consciousness. Solitary confinement was also abused, with children spending days or weeks in isolation, leading to suicidal thoughts.

The report also highlights a culture of sexual abuse and predatory behavior, with staff turning off body-worn cameras and using sexually explicit and threatening language toward inmates. Despite multiple investigations, the TJJD has consistently ignored and disregarded the ongoing abuse, putting vulnerable children at risk.

Failing to Educate and Rehabilitate

The investigation further uncovered a lack of educational resources, particularly for children with disabilities. With a majority of disabled children reading below their grade level, the facilities failed to provide the necessary psychological counseling and speech-language pathology services.

The conditions in the facilities are unacceptable. Tragically, this is not the first investigation into allegations of sexual abuse at TJJD facilities. We hope to provide protections to the vulnerable and help right wrongs that have existed for far too long. - Alamdar S. Hamdani, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas

The findings of the Justice Department's investigation paint a damning picture of a broken system that has failed to protect and rehabilitate Texas's most vulnerable youth. With a history of abuse and a pattern of ignoring wrongdoing, it is past time for systemic change and accountability to ensure the safety and well-being of those in the state's care.

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Original source:

• https://www.justice.gov/d9/2024-07/2024_tjjd_findings_report.pdf
• https://gov.texas.gov/uploads/files/press/O-McCrawSteven202107121088.pdf
• https://www.texastribune.org/2018/02/01/texas-rangers-arrest-four-after-texas-juvenile-justice-department-inve/