CHILDREN AT RISK and Community Leaders to Hold Press Conference to Announce Successful Efforts have Reduced Juvenile Crime in Harris County

 – May 20, 10:00 a.m. at the Juvenile Justice Center

HOUSTON (May 19, 2010) – CHILDREN AT RISK, along with several Harris County leaders, announce data that shows crime among our youth is down and less children are being sent to the Texas Youth Commission.  Efforts such as the Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative (JDAI) have proven successful through collaboration and focus on prevention, diversion, and community based services.

Progress made by the Harris County Juvenile Justice (2007-2009):
·         Commitments to the Texas Youth Commission - down by 62%
·         Auto Theft Referrals - down by 44%
·         Juveniles referred for MURDER - down by 41%
·         Felony Drug Referrals - down by 53%
·         Burglary Referrals - down by 18%
·         Overall referrals to Juvenile Probation Department - down by 14%

When:    Thursday, May 20, at 10:00 a.m.
Where:  Juvenile Justice Center, 1200 Congress, Houston, Texas77002             
Who:      Judge Emmett - Harris County Judge
               Tom Brooks - Interim Executive Director Juvenile Probation Department
               Judge John Phillips - 314th Harris County Juvenile Court
               Judge Michael Schneider - 315th Harris County Juvenile Court
               Bill Moore - Chief of Juvenile Division, Harris County District Attorney
               Leslie Smith - CEO, Change Happens!
               Rev. D.Z. Cofield - Senior Pastor, Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church
               Bob Sanborn - President and CEO, CHILDREN AT RISK

The Harris County Juvenile Probation Department administrative offices are now located in the Juvenile Justice Center 1200 Congress, Houston, Texas 77002.

The Juvenile Probation Office on West Dallas was closed on April 10, 2006, and all the staff members were relocated to the new building on Congress. This move did not affect the Community Unit Probation Services (CUPS) supervision offices nor the residential treatment facilities located throughout the County.  

All the State District Juvenile Courts are also located in the new Juvenile Justice Center. 

The juveniles previously housed at the Juvenile Detention Center on West Dallas and the Westside Command Station are now housed at the new Juvenile Justice Center.