"Touch a Life...Be a Mentor"

Save to Favorites

About Texas Juvenile Justice Department

Location:

1402 N. Hackberry, San Antonio, TX 78208, US

Mission Statement

Transforming young lives and creating safer communities. Core Values •Justice We do the right thing, in all things, with all people. •Safety We commit to a culture that protects youth, employees, and the public. •Integrity We build trust through transparency and ethical behavior. •Partnership We achieve best results through collaboration with counties stakeholders, youth and their families. •Innovation We proactively create opportunities to improve the juvenile justice system.

Description

Often, people think of the juvenile system as a penal system similar to that of adults, but for children. While there are similarities between the two, there are also differences. The adult system focuses on public safety and punishment for criminal conduct. While public safety and holding juveniles accountable for their actions are certainly considerations, the juvenile correctional system places an emphasis on rehabilitation. Even when it is necessary to incarcerate youth, the setting is not punitive but rather is protective and designed to educate youth about discipline, values, and work ethics thus guiding them toward becoming productive citizens.

In most cases, juvenile records are sealed so that youth are given a second chance at life without the stigma of having been in trouble with the law. Some exceptions include youth who have to register as sex offenders and youth who have committed serious enough offenses that require them to complete their sentences in the adult system.