Juvenile Probation Officer Linda Ricketson Brazos County Chief

Juvenile Probation Officer Linda Ricketson, Brazos County Chief Probation Officer

Texas Juvenile Justice System State Government Local Government Juvenile Board TJJD Commissioners Court Oversight Probation Department $$ + Oversight

Functions of a Juvenile Probation Officer Investigator Counselor/Rehabilitator Protector of Society/Community Safety Collector of court ordered monies Broker of community resources

Statutory Purposes Texas Juvenile Justice System § § § Safety & Protection of Public Promote Concept of Punishment Remove Taint of Criminality Treatment, Training, & Rehabilitation Child & Parent Accountability TFC 51. 01

Juvenile Courts Eligible for Designation District Criminal District § If county court is designated, must have an alternate court Domestic Relations County Court at Law Designation may change, but must always have a juvenile court in each county § County court may not hear determinate sentence cases

Delinquent Conduct TFC Section 51. 03 Delinquent Conduct is conduct OTHER THAN A TRAFFIC OFFENSE, that violates a penal law of Texas or the United States punishable by imprisonment or confinement in jail.

Delinquent Conduct Offenses TFC 51. 03 Jailable Misdemeanors and Felonies (Texas and US laws) Contempt of JP or Municipal Court Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol by Minor (DUIM) (3 rd Offense)

CINS Offenses Conduct Indicating a Need for Supervision School Attendance Related Offenses Running Away Paint and Glue Inhalation Fineable Only Offenses School Conduct - Expulsion Contempt of STAR Court Order

Juvenile Status Offenses TFC Section 51. 02(8) • • School Attendance Related Offenses Running Away School Standards of Conduct Violations of Alcoholic Beverage Code (Minors) Curfew Ordinance Violations Fine Only Offenses Fine Only transfers to juvenile court not punishable against adults

Juvenile Probation Length Until Child Reaches Age 18 (2 Year Minimum for Certain Felony Sex Offenses against Child) Probation Conditions Mandatory Community Service Home Placement Relative or Other Fit Person Foster Home Public or Private Agency or Institution, except TJJD TFC 54. 04(d)

Juvenile Probation Officer Qualifications Be at least 21 years of age; Be of good moral character and have no disqualifying criminal history; Bachelor’s degree from accredited college; One year of graduate study or full time experience in related field; Cannot be TCLOSE officer or prosecutor Must complete a minimum of 80 hours of training No disqualifying criminal history (felony in past 10 years, misdemeanor in past 5 years) Competency exam (beginning 9/2011) Must complete 80 hours of training every two years in order to continue certification

Duties of Juvenile Probation Officers (Texas Administrative Code 341. 29) Make dispositional recommendations in court proceedings; Give final approval to written social history reports; Act as primary supervising officer for probation and deferred prosecution cases; Writing and administering case plans If authorized by local juvenile board, conduct intake interviews and make release decisions

Review 1. Functions of a JPO 2. Six primary duties of a JPO 3. Composition of the juvenile justice system