Budget Services

The Budget and Information Technology Division supports the mission of the department by providing professional and technical services in the areas of budget and fiscal management, computer networking, information systems and supportive services. Budget and fiscal management services manage the agency’s revenues and expenditures. Day-to-day activities include developing and monitoring budgets, grants management, purchasing and financial report preparations. Computer networking, information systems and research are the functions of the Technology and Systems Development (TSD) unit.

Supportive Services staff manages inventory, office supplies and equipment, provide mail courier service and operate a print shop. It also provides various other services upon request that support agency operations.

In 2008, the Department’s expenditures were $107,582,397.

Technology and Systems Development

TSD services are developed and delivered in concert with Harris County Justice Information Management System (JIMS) and Information Technology Center protocol. Staff utilizes technology system facilities that track juveniles, their offenses, pre- and post-adjudication services and activities, case docketing and dispositions. The unit supports agency objectives through the development and effective use of technology resources. Its technicians maintain the agency’s computer network and provide user support services such as wide area network management, computer hardware and software maintenance/support. In addition, the unit’s researchers provide data and reports that support agency research, evaluations, planning and resource management. The agency’s wide area network consists of the Juvenile Justice Center and 16 remote sites located throughout the 18 county. Network users have access to JIMS facilities, desktop applications, the Internet and e-fax as well as specialized applications developed by staff programmers. The programmers engage in a diverse set of activities that include application development and maintenance, research, planning and user training. Research staff addresses data requests from various internal and external consumers including federal, state and local agencies, universities, funding sources and the media. Senior technology staff continues to participate in the development of JIMS-2.

 
Grants and Alternative Funding

During 2008, the department acquired over $500,000 from the state and federal governments to assist in providing a variety of basic, emergency and specialized probation services to youth. Included in this total are funds the department received to provide school-based intervention and prevention services, coordination services to youth with mental health needs, specialized services to female offenders, intensive treatment to juvenile sex offenders, and intervention/prevention services for high-risk gang-involved youth. Additionally, the department received over $45,000 to implement core strategies designed to reduce crowding in the JDC and make other improvements in the county’s juvenile justice system. The department also acquired and provided funds to community-based organizations and other agencies to develop and provide innovative programs and services to delinquent youth and their families.