MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT
HARRIS COUNTY CREATES A YOUTH
DIVERSION CENTER
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YOUTH DIVERSION CENTER TO HELP ENHANCE COMMUNITY SAFETY |
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Multiple child-serving agencies in Harris County are working together to create programs that lessen unnecessary exposure to the juvenile justice system while enhancing community safety. On January 31st, Commissioners Court executed an interlocal agreement with the Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD to create a new, juvenile diversion program using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding.
The Youth Diversion Center for Resources for Children and Adults, as it has been aptly named, will serve young people who do not meet the eligibility criteria for secured detention but who cannot return home, housing up to 12 youths ages 13-17 for a short period of time. During the youth’s stay, trained professionals will work to identify needed services and supports so the family can safely reunite. Harris County is currently in the planning stages of this project with a target operational date of May 1st, 2023. The initial cost of the pilot project is $9,038,691.00 and will run through June 30, 2024, with approved funding.
The Diversion Center will operate as a crisis respite facility, and parents must consent to their child’s placement in the facility. The center will provide 24-hour supervision by trained staff, individual and group skills classes, and the implementation of a youth-centered crisis plan. Family-based interventions will endeavor to safely facilitate permanent family unification. Approximately 600 young people a year will be served, with 85 percent of residents identified as youth of color and 83 percent of residents living at or below the poverty line.
In transforming juvenile justice, the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department demonstrates a continued focus on child and family well-being in creating supportive options for families in crisis. Young people who do not meet the criteria for detention should be insulated from its negative impacts which include school disruption, increased mental health issues, and can even lead to future delinquent behavior. Secured detention should be reserved for young people who present an actual danger to themselves or the community. The creation of this exciting pilot project furthers Harris County’s mission of creating an equitable approach to juvenile justice while promoting the public health of the community.
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POLICY BRIEFCASE
News & Information on Policy Work by OJS
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DISPARITIES CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN MAY BY CJCC's RACIAL AND ETHNIC EQUITY COMMITTEE |
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The Racial and Ethnic Equity, REE, Committee is tasked with addressing the racial and ethnic disparities within by our justice system and ensure that all people receive equal justice under the law.
To this end, REE Committee has committed itself to implement a conference, Centering [Racial] Disparity and Highlighting Fairness within the Harris County Criminal Justice System. The conference will be held at the Anderson-Clarke Center on the campus of Rice University on May 18-19, 2023. The aim of the conference is to gather leaders in the field to address racial and ethnic disparities across the Harris County Criminal Justice System by highlighting best practices and solutions for reducing inequalities amongst the most vulnerable populations.
The conference goal is to register 240 Harris County criminal justice stakeholders at no cost, earn TCOLE and CLE credits, and provide feedback on how Harris County can continually support fairness. Please fill out the submission form if you would like to be a presenter at the conference. The MacArthur Foundation supports this inaugural conference through the Safety and Justice Challenge and the Rice University Police Department.
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OJS ATTENDS UT PRISON AND JAIL INNOVATION LAB SYMPOSIUM
On February 4th, OJS Policy Director Lindsey Linder attended the University of Texas LBJ School of Public Policy's Prison and Jail Innovation Lab symposium, "Cruel and Not Unusual: Can America's Prisons and Jails Change and, if so, How?"
This convening offered an opportunity for collective reflection by state and national criminal justice leaders and experts on jail conditions. There were four main sessions: the first focused on “The Depths of Deliberate Indifference,” with case studies of four different corrections agencies (Rikers, Alabama, Arizona, and Texas); the second examined “The Levers of Change,” and asked about the tools available to turn a prison or jail around; the third presented some rare examples of innovations in prisons that seek to change institutional culture; and the fourth asked whether meaningful change is truly possible and whether there is hope for reforming America’s prisons and jails.
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Speakers and audience participants included people with lived experience; journalists; litigators; oversight practitioners; advocates; corrections officials; academics; and more. The conference was chaired by Michele Deitch, Distinguished Senior Lecturer at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs and Director of the University of Texas Prison and Jail Innovation Lab.
OJS is grateful to have been invited and found the symposium to be informative and inspirational.
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OJS HOSTS, A "VALENTINE'S LUNCHEON" FOR PARTNERS FOCUSED ON BUILDING HEALTHY FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES
The OJS team hosted a Valentine’s Luncheon on Tuesday, February 14th, and invited several partners whose focus is on building healthy families and communities. This luncheon was partly to observe Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, and to further advance our work in supporting survivors.
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The OJS team is grateful to members of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Public Health, Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, Houston Police Department, Houston Area Women’s Center, the Children’s Assessment Center, and others for joining us and collaborating with around preventing violence and building safe, healthy, thriving communities within Harris County. |
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WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT CENTER
By: Harris County Sheriff's Office
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The Women's Empowerment Center will hold minimum and medium-security females entrusted to our care. The center is a more holistic environment suitable for women's care, better preparing them for release and supporting positive health.
One of the many ways we aim to reduce recidivism is by giving people a chance to use their time constructively and by investing in them. We want them to be able to get out and get back on their feet.
We want their temporary home to be part of the journey in a positive way. We will offer the residents resources and educational tools. We partner with Houston Community College. And the residents will have the opportunity to take technical courses. Such as GED, ESL, Digital Literacy (Includes Microsoft Suite), Financial Literacy, Apple Suite of Programming, and Certified Logistics Associate. Education plays an important role in reducing recidivism in our society, but more importantly, improves us as people and brings light into our world.
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The correctional environment is modified to enhance supervision and treatment. Policies, practices, and programs promote services and supervision that address substance abuse, trauma, mental health and provide culturally appropriate treatment. The center is invaluable in meeting the needs of those entrusted into our care and reducing recidivism. It's designed to promote self-determination and healthy coping skills to reach personal wellness.
The Women's Empowerment Center will hold an estimated average daily population of roughly 372 women. We are grateful to our community partners and are committed to changing lives by empowering people to reach their full potential. And we would also like to thank our teammates and everyone involved in this new center a possibility.
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THE OFFICE OF HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY CHRISTIAN D. MENEFEE OPENS APPLICATIONS FOR 2023 SUMMER LEGAL ACADEMY
By: Office of County Attorney
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The Harris County Office of County Attorney is pleased to announce the launch of the 2023 application for the Summer Legal Academy with the Harris County Attorney’s office. The Summer Legal Academy (SLA) is a two-week educational readiness program for high school students aspiring to become attorneys. Students will learn the process of applying to law school, what to expect as a law student, the different areas of law, and hear directly from various attorneys. This program will provide students who are interested in a future career in the legal field with pivotal resources and tools for their journey.
The SLA program is a paid summer opportunity for high school students. Students can expect a classroom style program, including lectures and guest speakers. Last year, students from around Harris County heard from more than 30 attorneys, judges, and other law professionals.
In addition to valuable knowledge and experience, students will be compensated and receive a letter of recommendation from Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee.
The Summer Legal Academy is open to all rising Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors in Harris County. We hope that you will share this information with all eligible students and encourage them to apply.
More information and the application to apply for the Summer Legal Academy are available at cao.harriscountytx.gov/students. Applications for the 2023 SLA program is open now will open on through March 24, 2023. Please don’t hesitate to email Communications@harriscountytxgov for more information or if you have any additional questions.
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HARRIS COUNTY LAUNCHES FIRST-EVER CLIMATE CHANGE PLAN (CAP)
By: Office of County Administration
Recently Commissioners Court approved the County’s first-ever Climate Action Plan (CAP)! The goal of the CAP is a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030. The CAP provides numerous benefits beyond protecting the health of Harris County residents by tracking and reducing GHG emissions associated with County operations. It provides economic benefits that allow the County to lower operating expenses and leverage local and federal clean energy funding. It also addresses climate risk and increases adaptive capacity while bolstering the operational resilience of critical County assets. This week, County Administrator Dave Berry recently had the opportunity to with Lisa Lin, Harris County’s Director of Sustainability about the Climate Action Plan and Harris County’s green initiatives. Click the video or click here to view.
More than 15 County departments and elected offices participated and contributed to this plan. Thank you to everyone who worked to make this come to fruition. To learn more about the Climate Action Plan click here.
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Disparities Conference by OJS (REE Committee)
May 18th - 19th at Rice University
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You can view all our videos on our channel
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The blog is up and running
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