This 2011 annual report addresses the magnitude and nature of juvenile criminal activity in Texas, as well as the juvenile probation system's response.
During calendar year 2011, police agencies in Texas processed 98,805 arrests of juveniles between the ages of 10 and 16. Of this number, 45,151 were warned and released, processed in justice and municipal courts, or diverted to informal dispositions; 53,654 were referred to juvenile probation departments. Schools, probation departments, municipal courts, and the State referred another 21,062 cases, for a total of 74,716 referrals to juvenile probation departments during the year. This is a decrease of 11,832 (14 percent) referrals from calendar year 2010. Delinquent offenses decreased 12 percent from 2010. Violation of probation referrals decreased 6 percent, and misdemeanor and contempt offense referrals decreased 27 percent. Texas' 254 counties were served by 165 juvenile probation departments in 2011. These departments were staffed by 7,995 employees, 1,685 of whom carried a supervision caseload. Counties registered and operated 47 pre-adjudication residential facilities, 4 holdover facilities, 31 secure post-adjudication residential facilities, and 11 non-secure correctional facilities in 2011. Private contractors provided services for juveniles in two pre-adjudication facilities and three post-adjudication secure facilities. These facilities have a combined capacity of 2,958 pre-adjudication, 30 holdover, and 2,085 post-adjudication beds. In 2011, 39,849 juveniles were held in secure detention facilities prior to adjudication hearings. Approximately 22 percent of those detained were released in less than 1 day. A total of 9,837 placements were made to residential facilities, generally following the juvenile's disposition. Dispositions were made in 79,130 cases in calendar year 2011. Dispositions most often resulted in probation and deferred prosecution for the juvenile. Two percent of dispositions resulted in commitment to TYC or certification as an adult. Extensive tables and figures and appended State-wide summary and county-specific data