March 30, 1999, Laura K. Saegert, Appraisal Archivist
Agency contact
This agency contact information was current at the time of the report but may have changed in the interim. Please call (512-463-5455) for current contact information of the agency's records manager or records liaison for these records.
Boyd Onderdonk
Purchaser
4900 N. Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78756
Agency history and structure
The 50th Legislature created the State Training Code Commission
in 1947, Senate Concurrent Resolution 34, to study the state schools
for delinquent children and examine the problem of juvenile delinquency.
They were to determine changes that would improve the administration
of the schools and enable the schools to more nearly accomplish
their broad social objectives. The Commission was composed of
seven members appointed by the Governor. The Commission's report
to the 51st Legislature resulted in the creation of the State
Youth Development Council.
The State Youth Development Council was created in 1949, House
Bill 705, by the 51st Legislature, Regular Session. It was composed
of fourteen members, containing six "influential" citizens
appointed by the Governor with the consent of the Senate, and
eight ex-officio members - Chairman, Board of Control; Executive
Director, Department of Public Welfare; Commissioner of Education;
Executive Director, Board for State Hospitals and Special Schools;
State Health Officer; Director, Department of Pubic Safety; Executive
Secretary, State Parks Board; and Chairman, Texas Employment Commission.
The Governor appointed the chair. The purpose of this council
was to coordinate state efforts to help communities develop and
strengthen all child services. It was also directed to administer
the state's correctional facilities for delinquent children by
providing a program of constructive training aimed at the rehabilitation
and successful reestablishment of these children into society.
The Council undertook control of the correctional schools then
managed by the State Board of Control, the Gatesville State School
for Boys, Gainesville State School for Girls, and the Brady School
for Delinquent Colored Girls.
The agency became the Texas Youth Council in 1957, Senate Bill
303, 55th Legislature, Regular Session. It was composed of three
members appointed by the governor with consent of the Senate,
to six year overlapping terms. They were to be citizens recognized
in their communities for their interest in youth. The members
elected the chair. This Council had the same duties as the State
Youth Development Council with the additional charge to provide
parole supervision for certain delinquent children until their
discharge. The Legislature also directed the Council to operate
certain institutions for dependent and neglected children (Corsicana
State Home, Waco State Home, and the Texas Blind, Deaf and Orphan
School). Care for dependent and neglected children is no longer
a function of the Youth Commission. This function is now largely
handled by the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services.
The commission also initiated a county juvenile probation subsidy
program in the 1970s which was transferred to the Texas Juvenile
Probation Commission upon its creation in 1981. In 1971 a lawsuit
was brought against the agency, its officers, and staff by children
confined in the juvenile corrections facilities, known as the
Morales case. Results of this lawsuit led to significant changes
in the way juvenile correction facilities were operated.
The name of the agency was changed to the Texas Youth Commission
in 1983, Senate Bill 422, 68th Legislature, Regular Session. The
Youth Commission was composed of three members appointed by the
governor with consent of the Senate, to six year overlapping terms.
They were to be citizens recognized in their communities for their
interest in youth. The members elected the chair. The number of
members increased to six in 1975 (Senate Bill 278, 64th Legislature,
Regular Session), with the same qualifications applying to the
new members.
The Youth Commission operates under the Texas Human Resource
Code, Section 61, as the state's juvenile correction agency. The
commission provides for the care, custody, rehabilitation, and
reestablishment into society of those youth convicted of delinquent
conduct under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The commission
operates secure institutional and community-based residential
programs for delinquent youth, and supervises the youth once they
return to the community. It also contracts with private sector
providers to operate residential and non-residential services.
The agency protects the identities and identifying information
(such as home addresses and not allowing photographs without permission
of the child) of children admitted to their facilities as required
by the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
In 1995 the 74th Legislature passed an omnibus juvenile justice
reform package, House Bill 327, which changed the way juvenile
justice was administered in Texas. The bill expanded the offenses
for which a youth can receive a determinate sentence to include
most violent offenses. It also enabled supervision of youth to
continue into the adult criminal justice system, lowered from
15 to 14 the age a juvenile can be tried as an adult, and directed
the most violent juvenile defenders be sent to the Youth Commission
as well as mentally retarded delinquent youth. In light of this
new legislation, the Youth Commission adopted a back-to-basics
philosophy to provide greater structure, strictly enforced discipline,
and increased accountability of the delinquent youth in their
programs. The Commission now receives the most serious offenders
who have longer sentences. There are two categories of offenders
sent to the Youth Commission, committed juveniles and sentenced
offenders. Committed juveniles are sent to the Commission by juvenile
courts after adjudication. The Youth Commission determines the
length of stay and the type of services provided. Sentenced offenders
are given a specific sentence through determinate sentencing status
and cannot be released prior to their sentence termination.
The agency operates thirteen correctional institutions (one more
is scheduled to open in 1999), nine community-based residential
programs, and contracts with private sector providers for a variety
of residential programs. Through these institutions and facilities
the agency provides accredited secondary education, vocational
training, and several specialized programs, including programs
for sex offenders, capital offenders who have committed murder,
chemical dependency, resocialization, independent living preparation,
mentally retarded youth, and seriously emotionally disturbed youth.
The commission also operates a parole system for supervision of
youth released from residential programs.
The Texas Youth Commission also administers the Interstate Compact
on Juveniles for the state of Texas. The Compact (ICJ) provides
for the cooperative supervision of juvenile probationers and parolees
who move from state to state. It also provides for the return
of non-delinquent runaway youth, parole and probation absconders,
and escapees to their home state.
The commission is headed by an executive director and has about
4000 FTE staff. The agency manages about 7000 juvenile offenders.
V.T.C.A., Human Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 61
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Project review
I was assigned to review the records of this agency in November,
1998. I have reviewed the agency history in the Manual of Texas
State Government, 1950; the Guide to Texas State Agencies
(1964, Revised edition; 1970, 3rd edition; 1972, 4th edition;
1990, 6th edition; and 1996, 9th edition); V.T.C.A., Human Resources
Code, Title 3, Chapter 61; V.T.C.A., Family Code, Title 3; Texas
Administrative Code, Part III, Title 37; several reports produced
by the Youth Commission-Annual report for FY 1996, Request for
Legislative Appropriations for FY 1996 and 1997, and the Strategic
plan for 1997-2001; and the Sunset Advisory Commission report
on the agency, 1986. I have reviewed materials posted on their
web page - press releases and various information about the agency
normally found in the annual/biennial reports. I have reviewed
the destruction requests from the Youth Commission, their records
retention schedule, and the records of the Youth Commission already
housed in the State Archives.
On the current schedule of the Commission there are six series
designated as archival ("A" code), and fourteen series
designated for archival review ("R" code). The archival
series are:
Biennial budget requests
Executive orders
Meeting agenda
Meeting minutes
Organization charts
Meetings - Supporting documentation
The archival review series are:
Correspondence - Administrative
Legal opinions and advice
News or press releases
Planning records
Policies and procedures manuals
Publication development files
Reports - Administrative
Reports - Consultants and committees
Reports and Papers - Conference
Reports, Studies, and Surveys - Final
Speeches
Building construction project files
Building plans and specifications (state owned)
Building plans and specifications (leased)
There are also six series of possible archival value that do
not carry any archival codes on the schedule, but which we have
decided to review. These series are:
Board member information
Morales records
Association of Juvenile Compact Administrators
Interstate Compact on Juvenile Admin. Matters
Interstate Compact on Juvenile issues involving states
Interstate Compact on Juvenile issues involving counties
There are two series which should be coded as "A",
as they are already considered to be archival. These are Reports
- Annual and biennial, agency, and Strategic plans.
The series Rules and Regulations carries an archival code
of "R" on the new state retention schedule so it will
be reviewed for archival content.
There are fourteen series we have recently received from the
Youth Commission which are being appraised and are not on the
schedule:
Correspondence and administrative files of the Texas Youth
Council
Executive Director's records as ex-officio member of the Texas
Commission on Services to Children and Youth
State Youth Development Council early history scrapbooks
Youth Commission facilities and programs history and information
notebooks
Youth Commission outreach and informational publications
Juvenile court reports
Photographs
Gatesville field survey notebooks
Legislative files
Ombudsman files
Gatesville Task Force and Contingency planning records
In-house reviews of students rules and consequences
Interstate Compact on Juveniles files
Theses
I prepared a list of questions concerning series on the retention
schedule with archival codes of "R" or "A"
and mailed these along with our letter of introduction to the
Executive Director and the records administrator on November 16,
1998. On December 3, 1998, I met with the agency's records administrator,
Boyd Onderdonk, to ask questions about specific records series
and answer questions about the appraisal process. I went over
the questions I had prepared regarding the "A" and "R"
series, and briefly reviewed some files from an old litigation
case they maintained - the Morales case. We also discussed the
confidentiality of records of juvenile offenders. I was also shown
several boxes of records marked "Permanent - Historical",
which we decided warranted further review. The Assistant Director
of the Archives and Information Services Division and myself reviewed
my notes from the Morales case and determined these files to be
of archival value. I went back to the agency on December 9 to
review the boxes of older records I was shown on the previous
visit and to make arrangements to transfer the records of the
Morales case. Based on my review of the "Permanent - Historical"
records, we decided to transfer most of these older records to
the Library and Archives Commission. These files and the Morales
files were transferred to the Library and Archives Commission
on December 15 and 17, 1998.
I made several follow-up calls to the records administrator after
the initial meeting and met with him once more, on January 13,
1999 to get the information needed to complete the appraisal report.
He did note that several of the series do not contain records;
these will be listed in the Project Outcome as empty series and
can then be removed from the schedule. He also noted that the
three series of records regarding the interstate juvenile compact
are considered to be one series, thus they will be described in
that context.
During the January meeting we also talked about the agency's
databases of juvenile records, email concerns, and two series
of archival records which only exist online at this point. The
juvenile records databases maintain copies of juvenile records
for 25 years. These files are closed by law due to privacy concerns.
We are not reviewing these particular records for archival value.
If a juvenile offender is transferred to the Texas Department
of Criminal Justice, a copy of his record is sent to TDCJ. The
Youth Commission is currently placing these juvenile records on
optical disk. The agency still retains the case files of dependent
and neglected children formerly under their care, even though
that function is now handled by the Department of Protective and
Regulatory Services. Access to those particular files, which may
also include adoption information, is confidential and handled
only through written requests.
We talked briefly about how administrative correspondence sent
as email, primarily internal memoranda, was being handled by the
agency. They do not appear to have a system in place that allows
for the maintenance of most email beyond 90 days. We discussed
the need to keep printed copies of administrative correspondence
that was sent via email - that the correspondence is a record,
regardless of whether it is paper or electronic mail. I referred
him to some articles and suggested he contact his records consultant
for further data on email, but that at this time we do require
hard copy of email if it meets the definition of archival in those
series we have determined to be archival.
We also discussed two record series of the agency that now appear
only online - press releases and the agency's annual report. If
we determine the press releases are an archival series (they are
being reviewed), we will either ask the agency to send us printed
copies on a yearly basis, or print them ourselves from their web
site on acid-free paper. The annual report is no longer published
by the agency. What they have posted now is data that normally
appears in an annual report, but is updated as needed. The agency
is no longer required to produce a narrative annual report, only
an annual financial report. This will be further discussed in
the record series review for that series and the Project Outcome
section of this report.
Archives Holdings - Records of the Youth Commission
Minutes and agenda, Texas Youth Commission, 1966-1998, 2.95
cubic ft.
Minutes of meetings of the Texas Youth Commission and its predecessor,
the Texas Youth Council, dating from 1966-1998. The later years
also contain minutes of board committee meetings. Minutes held
in the Archives for the years 1984-1988 contains a number of attachments,
such as contracts, audit reports, legislative reports, court agreements,
budget materials, planning documents, memoranda, and other similar
materials. Meeting agenda are present for the years 1974-1998.
Minutes, Texas Youth Council, 1949-1965, 0.24 cubic ft.
Minutes of meetings of the Texas Youth Council and its predecessor,
the State Youth Development Council, dating 1949-1965.
Organization chart, 1998, fractional
This is most recent organization chart prepared by the Youth Commission.
Archives Holdings - Related records in the Archives and Information
Services Division
Biennial report, House of Correction and Reformatory, 1890-1892,
fractional
This is a printed biennial report of the Trustees and Superintendent
of the House of Correction and Reformatory at Gatesville, covering
the period November 1890-November 1892. This report discusses
management of the facility, activities undertaken, and lists the
boys housed there during that period. The House of Correction
and Reformatory later became the Gatesville State School for Boys.
Biennial/annual reports, House of Correction and Reformatory;
State Juvenile Training School, 1887-1889, 1908-1920, fractional
These are printed biennial/annual reports of the Trustees and
Superintendent of the House of Correction and Reformatory at Gatesville,
also known as the State Juvenile Training School. These reports
discuss management of the facility, activities undertaken, and
lists the boys housed there during that period. The House of Correction
and Reformatory later became the Gatesville State School for Boys.
These reports are catalogued in the Texana Collection.
Biennial report, Girls Training School, 1917-1918, fractional
This is a printed biennial report of the Trustees and Superintendent
of the Girls Training School at Gainesville, covering the period
1917-1918. This report discusses management of the facility and
activities undertaken. The Girls Training School later became
the Gainesville State School for Girls. This report is catalogued
in the Texana Collection.
Minutes, State Juvenile Training School, Gatesville, 1928-1941,
fractional.
Minutes of the Board of Trustees of the State Juvenile Training
School, dating from 1928-1941. During this period the training
school was operated by the State Board of Control. The State Youth
Development Council took over operation of the facility in 1949.
This facility became the Gatesville State School for Boys.
State Board of Control, Records, 1916-1979 (bulk 1935-1953),
83.05 cubic ft.
These are the administrative records of the agency that managed
the state orphan homes and juvenile correction facilities prior
to the State Youth Development Council, later the Texas Youth
Council/Commission. Dates of these records are 1916-1979 (bulk
1935-1953). Types of records present include minutes, meeting
files, orders of the Board, correspondence, press releases, questionnaires
and survey results, reports, brochures and other printed materials,
handbooks and manuals, photographs, parole statements from state
juvenile schools, building specifications, deeds, and contracts
and leases.
Blueprints and drawings, c. 1902-1967, several cubic ft.
This is a collection of blueprints, drawings, and specifications,
most of state facilities, dating from c. 1902-1967. Within this
collection are original plans and specifications for the Corsicana
State Home, dating 1911-1915; and for the Gatesville State School
for Boys, dating 1907-1912.
Previous Destructions
Several approved destruction requests have been submitted by
the Youth Commission, for years 1986 through 1996. Materials destroyed
include grievance records, student security files, time sheets,
job applications, level I hearing reports, contracts, leases,
interagency agreements, paper copies of client files-after microfilming,
facility repair records, inspection and safety reports, general
correspondence, and fiscal records (including vouchers, bank records,
receipt books, general ledgers, warrants, expenditure reports,
payrolls, purchase orders, and budget materials).
Project outcome
The appraisal of the agency's records is complete. Following
are instructions for changes to series on the retention schedule
of the Texas Youth Commission, primarily changing, adding, or
removing archival codes, to be completed during the next recertification
of the schedule. Archival records whose retention has expired
can now be transferred to the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission at the agency's
earliest convenience. Series containing records eligible for transfer
are noted.
Archival series
The following series remain on the schedule as archival:
· Meeting agenda - Combine with Meeting minutes.
· Meeting minutes - Combine with Meeting agenda,
rename Meeting agenda and minutes, and continue to send
copies to the Archives and Information Services Division regularly
after commission meetings.
· Meetings - Supporting documentation - Change retention
period to 2 years, as requested in the newest state records schedule.
Send documentation through 1996 to the Archives and Information
Services Division and continue to send yearly as it meets its
retention requirements.
· Organization charts - A note needs to be added
to the Remarks section of the schedule - "Copies of the chart
appear in the strategic plans of the agency. Archival requirement
is fulfilled by sending copies of the strategic plans to the Publications
Depository Program." As long as this is published in the
strategic plan or biennial budget request and sent to the Publications
Depository its archival mandate is fulfilled. If it ceases to
be published in either of these publications, then send copies
of the chart to the Archives and Information Services Division
as it is updated.
Three other archival series have their archival requirement
met by sending copies of these publications to the Publications
Depository. These are:
· Biennial budget requests
· Strategic plans - Add an archival code of A to
the retention schedule
· Reports - annual and biennial - These are no longer
produced. The agency desires a permanent copy, so add an archival
code of E to the schedule with the following note in the Remarks
Section - "Archival review code removed subsequent to appraisal
by the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library
and Archives Commission, March 30, 1999." If the agency begins
producing this report again, the archival code will be changed
back to A and copies will need to be sent to the Publications
Depository.
We have also determined that seven of the archival review series
have archival value. These series need to have their archival
code changed to A on the retention schedule. Further instructions
are provided for each series.
· Correspondence - Administrative - Transfer correspondence
to the Archives and Information Services Division through 1995
now and yearly thereafter as it fulfills it retention period.
We also recommend filing routine correspondence such as letters
of appreciation, etc. in the general correspondence series already
listed on the retention schedule.
· News or press releases - Because the Library and
Archives Commission does not accept archival records in electronic
format at this time, the agency needs to send a printed copy of
the releases yearly to the Archives and Information Services Division
of the Commission.
· Policies and procedures manuals - Transfer superseded
manuals to the Archives and Information Services Division.
· Reports and studies - final - Send copies of reports
at the agency to the Archives and Information Services Division
as they are produced.
· Speeches - Transfer the speeches from c. 1991-1996
to the Archives and Information Services now and yearly thereafter
as they fulfill their retention period.
· Building construction project files - Transfer
records to the Archives and Information Services Division when
the records have fulfilled their retention period.
· Building plans and specifications (state owned)
- The materials will remain at the agency as long as the agency
uses the buildings. If the agency ceases use of the buildings
in the future, these materials should be transferred to the Library
and Archives Commission.
Two series not initially designated for archival review were
reviewed and have been determined to have archival value. Further
instructions follow.
· Association of Juvenile Compact Administrators
- Add an archival code of A. Change the retention period to AV.
Transfers these records to the Archives and Information Services
Division when these cease to have administrative use to the agency
or their use becomes fairly infrequent.
· Morales records - These have been transferred
to the Archives and Information Services Division and can be removed
from the retention schedule of the Youth Commission.
Thirteen series were transferred to the Archives and Information
Services Division by the Youth Commission and have been appraised
to be archival. No further action needs to be taken by the agency
since they are not on the current retention schedule. These series
are:
· Correspondence and administrative files of the Texas
Youth Council
· Executive Director's records as ex-officio member
of the Texas Commission on Services
to Children and Youth
· State Youth Development Council early history scrapbooks
· Youth Commission facilities and programs history and
information notebooks
· Youth Commission outreach and informational publications
· Juvenile court reports
· Photographs
· Gatesville field survey notebooks
· Ombudsman files
· Gatesville Task Force and Contingency planning records
· In-house reviews of students rules and consequences
· Interstate Compact on Juveniles files
· Theses
Non-archival series
The remaining four R series should be considered as non-archival
and the R code can be removed from the retention schedule and
replaced with the archival code of E. A note needs to be added
to the Remarks column for these series - "Archival review
code removed subsequent to appraisal by the Archives and Information
Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission, March
30, 1999." These series are:
· Legal opinions and advice - If significant litigation
develops which ultimately affects or changes the way the agency
operates, such as the Morales case, we will want to review any
records from such a case that may be retained as part of this
series. Add a note to the Remarks section of the schedule "
Materials relating to cases that set legal precedent or exhibit
historical value will be evaluated by the Archives and Information
Services Division of the Library and Archives Commission."
A similar note already exists in the remarks column for the series
Litigation files.
· Planning records
· Reports - administrative
· Building plans and specifications (leased)
The following five series did not contain archival codes but
were reviewed for archival content. They have been determined
to be non-archival and no further action needs to be taken in
regards to the retention schedule for these series.
· Board member information
· Interstate Compact on Juvenile Admin. Matters
· Interstate Compact on Juvenile issues involving states
· Interstate Compact on Juvenile issues involving counties
The following obsolete series was transferred for archival review
to the Archives and Information Services Division and determined
to be non-archival. It does not appear on the retention schedule.
It will be returned to the agency for final disposition.
· Legislative files
Empty series
Five series were found to be empty during the appraisal review
process. These series can be removed from the records retention
schedule. They are:
· Executive orders
· Publication development files
· Reports - Consultants and committees
· Reports and papers - conference
· Rules and regulations
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Record Series Reviews
Record Series Review
Series Title: Biennial budget requests
Agency: Texas Youth Commission
Obsolete record series? No
Replaced by:
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: fractional
Agency holdings:
Retained by the agency for six years after completion, according
to the retention schedule. Actual holdings of the agency are 1976-[ongoing],
comprising about 1 cubic ft.
Description:
These records are legislative appropriation requests of the Texas
Youth Commission submitted to the Legislative Budget Board and
others. The records date from 1969/70-[ongoing]. The requests
generally contain narrative statements of agency functions or
programs. Program objectives are listed, along with a description
of each objective, discussions of performance measures, statistics,
program need indicators, and expenses--expended, current, and
projected, at different funding levels. The budget requests from
1969/70 - 1992/93 also contain organization charts of the agency.
Purpose:
The purpose of these records is to request specific appropriations
from the legislature and to provide justification for the amounts
requested.
Agency program:
The State Youth Development Council was created in 1949, House
Bill 705, 51st Legislature, Regular Session. The purpose of this
council was to coordinate state efforts to help communities develop
and strengthen all child services. It was also directed to administer
the state's correctional facilities for delinquent children by
providing a program of constructive training aimed at the rehabilitation
and successful reestablishment of these children into society.
The agency became the Texas Youth Council in 1957, Senate Bill
303, 55th Legislature, Regular Session. It was composed of three
members appointed by the governor with consent of the Senate,
to six year overlapping terms. They were to be citizens recognized
in their communities for their interest in youth. The members
elected the chair. This Council had the same duties as the State
Youth Development Council with the additional charge to provide
parole supervision for certain delinquent children until their
discharge. The Legislature also directed the Council to operate
certain institutions for dependent and neglected children (Corsicana
State Home, Waco State Home, and the Texas Blind, Deaf and Orphan
School). Care for dependent and neglected children is no longer
a function of the Youth Commission. This function is now largely
handled by the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services.
The commission also initiated a county juvenile probation subsidy
program in the 1970s which was transferred to the Texas Juvenile
Probation Commission upon its creation in 1981. In 1971 a lawsuit
was brought against the agency, its officers, and staff by children
confined in the juvenile corrections facilities, known as the
Morales case. Results of this lawsuit led to significant changes
in the way juvenile correction facilities were operated.
The name of the agency was changed to the Texas Youth Commission
in 1983, Senate Bill 422, 68th Legislature, Regular Session. The
Youth Commission was composed of three members appointed by the
governor with consent of the Senate, to six year overlapping terms.
They were to be citizens recognized in their communities for their
interest in youth. The members elected the chair. The number of
members increased to six in 1975 (Senate Bill 278, 64th Legislature,
Regular Session), with the same qualifications applying to the
new members.
The Youth Commission operates under the Texas Human Resource
Code, Section 61, as the state's juvenile correction agency. The
commission provides for the care, custody, rehabilitation, and
reestablishment into society of those youth convicted of delinquent
conduct under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The commission
operates secure institutional and community-based residential
programs for delinquent youth, and supervises the youth once they
return to the community. It also contracts with private sector
providers to operate residential and non-residential services.
Through these institutions and facilities the agency provides
accredited secondary education, vocational training, and several
specialized programs, including programs for sex offenders, capital
offenders who have committed murder, chemical dependency, resocialization,
independent living preparation, mentally retarded youth, and seriously
emotionally disturbed youth. The commission also operates a parole
system for supervision of youth released from residential programs.
The agency protects the identities and identifying information
(such as home addresses and not allowing photographs without permission
of the child) of children admitted to their facilities as required
by the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
The Texas Youth Commission also administers the Interstate Compact
on Juveniles for the state of Texas. The Compact (ICJ) provides
for the cooperative supervision of juvenile probationers and parolees
who move from state to state. It also provides for the return
of non-delinquent runaway youth, parole and probation absconders,
and escapees to their home state.
V.T.C.A., Human Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 61
Arrangement: Chronological
Access constraints: None
Use constraints: None
Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? No
Gaps: None present at the agency prior to 1976.
Problems: None
Known related records in other agencies: None
Previous destructions:
Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for
the Texas Youth Commission and none were found for this series
or for equivalent or related series.
Publications based on records:
Legislative Budget Board, Legislative Budget Estimates have been
published since fiscal years 1954 and 1955. This publication,
a compilation of data for all state agencies, summarizes the fiscal
information found in agency-submitted budgets or appropriation
requests, but omits most of the narrative.
Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Biennial budget requests
Series item number: 1.1.004
Agency item number: 1.1.004
Archival code: A
Retention: AC+6
Texas Documents Collection holdings:
Archival requirement for this series is fulfilled by sending copies
to the Publication Depository Program. The required number of
copies must be sent to the Publications Depository (13 Texas Administrative
Code, Section 3.4 (1) (A)). The Documents Collection holds 1969/70-2000/2001.
Archival holdings:
None in the holdings of the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission.
Appraisal decision:
Legislative appropriation requests prepared by state agency commissions
provide evidence of an agency's fiscal performance and needs.
The Youth Commission's schedule is correct and sufficient. The
archival requirement for these records is fulfilled by sending
copies of the requests to the Publications Depository Program
of the Library and Archives Commission.
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Records Series Review
Series Title: Meeting agenda
Agency: Texas Youth Commission
Obsolete record series? No
Replaced by:
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: fractional
Agency holdings:
Retained by the agency permanently according to the retention
schedule. Current holdings are from 1980-[ongoing], fractional
cubic feet.
Description:
These are meeting agenda of the Texas Youth Commission, dating
from 1974-[ongoing]. The agenda list the items to be covered at
the commission meetings and list the speakers and guests.
For minutes of the meetings of the Youth Commission see the series
Meeting minutes. For supporting documentation presented
at the meetings see the series Meetings - supporting documentation.
Purpose:
The agenda inform the public and commission members of items to
be discussed at upcoming commission meetings.
Agency program:
The State Youth Development Council was created in 1949, House
Bill 705, 51st Legislature, Regular Session. It was composed of
fourteen members, containing six "influential" citizens
appointed by the Governor with the consent of the Senate, and
eight ex-officio members - Chairman, Board of Control; Executive
Director, Department of Public Welfare; Commissioner of Education;
Executive Director, Board for State Hospitals and Special Schools;
State Health Officer; Director, Department of Pubic Safety; Executive
Secretary, State Parks Board; and Chairman, Texas Employment Commission.
The Governor appointed the chair. The purpose of this council
was to coordinate state efforts to help communities develop and
strengthen all child services. It was also directed to administer
the state's correctional facilities for delinquent children by
providing a program of constructive training aimed at the rehabilitation
and successful reestablishment of these children into society.
The agency became the Texas Youth Council in 1957, Senate Bill
303, 55th Legislature, Regular Session. It was composed of three
members appointed by the governor with consent of the Senate,
to six year overlapping terms. They were to be citizens recognized
in their communities for their interest in youth. The members
elected the chair. This Council had the same duties as the State
Youth Development Council with the additional charge to provide
parole supervision for certain delinquent children until their
discharge. The Legislature also directed the Council to operate
certain institutions for dependent and neglected children (Corsicana
State Home, Waco State Home, and the Texas Blind, Deaf and Orphan
School). Care for dependent and neglected children is no longer
a function of the Youth Commission. This function is now largely
handled by the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services.
The commission also initiated a county juvenile probation subsidy
program in the 1970s which was transferred to the Texas Juvenile
Probation Commission upon its creation in 1981. In 1971 a lawsuit
was brought against the agency, its officers, and staff by children
confined in the juvenile corrections facilities, known as the
Morales case. Results of this lawsuit led to significant changes
in the way juvenile correction facilities were operated.
The name of the agency was changed to the Texas Youth Commission
in 1983, Senate Bill 422, 68th Legislature, Regular Session. The
Youth Commission was composed of three members appointed by the
governor with consent of the Senate, to six year overlapping terms.
They were to be citizens recognized in their communities for their
interest in youth. The members elected the chair. The number of
members increased to six in 1975 (Senate Bill 278, 64th Legislature,
Regular Session), with the same qualifications applying to the
new members.
The Youth Commission operates under the Texas Human Resource
Code, Section 61, as the state's juvenile correction agency. The
commission provides for the care, custody, rehabilitation, and
reestablishment into society of those youth convicted of delinquent
conduct under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The commission
operates secure institutional and community-based residential
programs for delinquent youth, and supervises the youth once they
return to the community. It also contracts with private sector
providers to operate residential and non-residential services.
Through these institutions and facilities the agency provides
accredited secondary education, vocational training, and several
specialized programs, including programs for sex offenders, capital
offenders who have committed murder, chemical dependency, resocialization,
independent living preparation, mentally retarded youth, and seriously
emotionally disturbed youth. The commission also operates a parole
system for supervision of youth released from residential programs.
The agency protects the identities and identifying information
(such as home addresses and not allowing photographs without permission
of the child) of children admitted to their facilities as required
by the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
The Texas Youth Commission also administers the Interstate Compact
on Juveniles for the state of Texas. The Compact (ICJ) provides
for the cooperative supervision of juvenile probationers and parolees
who move from state to state. It also provides for the return
of non-delinquent runaway youth, parole and probation absconders,
and escapees to their home state.
V.T.C.A., Human Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 61
Arrangement: Chronological
Access constraints: None
Use constraints: None
Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? No
Gaps: None present at the agency prior to 1980; the earliest
agenda present at the Archives is 1974.
Problems: None
Known related records in other agencies: None
Publications based on records: None
Previous destructions:
Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for
the Texas Youth Commission and none were found for this series
or for equivalent or related series.
Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Meeting agenda
Series item number: 1.1.016
Agency item number: 1.1.016
Archival code: A
Retention: PM
Archival holdings:
Meeting agenda, 1974-1998, fractional
Meeting agenda are filed with the minutes of the meetings for
the years 1974-1998.
Appraisal decision:
Meeting agenda of state boards and commissions are already considered
to be an archival record as they provide documentation of items
the board/commission is to cover in their meetings. The state
records retention schedule suggests listing the meeting minutes
and agenda together on the retention schedule. I recommend combining
this series with the series Meeting minutes on the next
recertification of the schedule, listing it as Meeting agenda
and minutes.
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Records Series Review
Series Title: Meeting minutes
Agency: Texas Youth Commission
Obsolete record series? No
Replaced by:
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: fractional
Agency holdings:
Minutes are retained permanently by the agency. Current holdings
of the agency are from 1949-[ongoing], about 3 cubic feet.
Description:
These are the minutes from meetings of the State Youth Development
Council, the Texas Youth Council, and the Texas Youth Commission.
Dates covered are 1949-[ongoing]. Information found in the minutes
includes policy and procedural changes, approval of contracts,
reports on construction projects, reports on internships, reports
on new programs or program changes, budget and expenditures, long-range
planning goals, problems and/or issues of concern to the agency
or at specific institutions, investigation results, resolutions,
and a statement by the executive director. The minutes of meetings
held in the later years also contain minutes of commission committee
meetings. The minutes covering most of 1984-1988 also contain
a number of attachments, including contracts, audit reports, legislative
reports, court agreements, budget materials, planning documents,
memoranda, etc. Meeting agenda are filed with the meetings from
1974-[ongoing].
For meeting documentation presented at the meetings, see the
series Meetings - supporting documentation. Meeting agenda
are also listed in the series Meeting agenda.
For meeting files of the agency which formerly administered youth
facilities during the period 1920-1949, see the records of the
State Board of Control, housed at the Archives and Information
Services Division - State Board of Control, Records, Minutes
and meeting files. Another series within these records contains
orders of the board, 1946-1949, see the series Actions of the
Board.
Purpose:
The minutes are created to document the actions taken by the Youth
Commission at their meetings.
Agency program:
The 50th Legislature created the State Training Code Commission
in 1947, Senate Concurrent Resolution 34, to study the state schools
for delinquent children and examine the problem of juvenile delinquency.
They were to determine changes that would improve the administration
of the schools and enable the schools to more nearly accomplish
their broad social objectives. The Commission was composed of
seven members appointed by the Governor. The Commission's report
to the 51st Legislature resulted in the creation of the State
Youth Development Council.
The State Youth Development Council was created in 1949, House
Bill 705, 51st Legislature, Regular Session. It was composed of
fourteen members, containing six "influential" citizens
appointed by the Governor with the consent of the Senate, and
eight ex-officio members - Chairman, Board of Control; Executive
Director, Department of Public Welfare; Commissioner of Education;
Executive Director, Board for State Hospitals and Special Schools;
State Health Officer; Director, Department of Pubic Safety; Executive
Secretary, State Parks Board; and Chairman, Texas Employment Commission.
The Governor appointed the chair. The purpose of this council
was to coordinate state efforts to help communities develop and
strengthen all child services. It was also directed to administer
the state's correctional facilities for delinquent children by
providing a program of constructive training aimed at the rehabilitation
and successful reestablishment of these children into society.
The agency became the Texas Youth Council in 1957, Senate Bill
303, 55th Legislature, Regular Session. It was composed of three
members appointed by the governor with consent of the Senate,
to six year overlapping terms. They were to be citizens recognized
in their communities for their interest in youth. The members
elected the chair. This Council had the same duties as the State
Youth Development Council with the additional charge to provide
parole supervision for certain delinquent children until their
discharge. The Legislature also directed the Council to operate
certain institutions for dependent and neglected children (Corsicana
State Home, Waco State Home, and the Texas Blind, Deaf and Orphan
School). Care for dependent and neglected children is no longer
a function of the Youth Commission. This function is now largely
handled by the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services.
The commission also initiated a county juvenile probation subsidy
program in the 1970s which was transferred to the Texas Juvenile
Probation Commission upon its creation in 1981. In 1971 a lawsuit
was brought against the agency, its officers, and staff by children
confined in the juvenile corrections facilities, known as the
Morales case. Results of this lawsuit led to significant changes
in the way juvenile correction facilities were operated.
The name of the agency was changed to the Texas Youth Commission
in 1983, Senate Bill 422, 68th Legislature, Regular Session. The
Youth Commission was composed of three members appointed by the
governor with consent of the Senate, to six year overlapping terms.
They were to be citizens recognized in their communities for their
interest in youth. The members elected the chair. The number of
members increased to six in 1975 (Senate Bill 278, 64th Legislature,
Regular Session), with the same qualifications applying to the
new members.
The Youth Commission operates under the Texas Human Resource
Code, Section 61, as the state's juvenile correction agency. The
commission provides for the care, custody, rehabilitation, and
reestablishment into society of those youth convicted of delinquent
conduct under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The commission
operates secure institutional and community-based residential
programs for delinquent youth, and supervises the youth once they
return to the community. It also contracts with private sector
providers to operate residential and non-residential services.
Through these institutions and facilities the agency provides
accredited secondary education, vocational training, and several
specialized programs, including programs for sex offenders, capital
offenders who have committed murder, chemical dependency, resocialization,
independent living preparation, mentally retarded youth, and seriously
emotionally disturbed youth. The commission also operates a parole
system for supervision of youth released from residential programs.
The agency protects the identities and identifying information
(such as home addresses and not allowing photographs without permission
of the child) of children admitted to their facilities as required
by the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
The Texas Youth Commission also administers the Interstate Compact
on Juveniles for the state of Texas. The Compact (ICJ) provides
for the cooperative supervision of juvenile probationers and parolees
who move from state to state. It also provides for the return
of non-delinquent runaway youth, parole and probation absconders,
and escapees to their home state.
V.T.C.A., Human Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 61
Arrangement: Chronological
Access constraints:
Normally none, but if specific cases are discussed which mention
the names of juvenile offenders in the agency's juvenile delinquent
system, those names are confidential, Texas Family Code, Section
58.005.
Use constraints:
None following redaction and/or restriction of materials listed
under "Access constraints".
Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? No
Gaps: None
Problems:
Minutes will need to be reviewed to determine if children's names
are present, if so, that information will need to be redacted
prior to use.
Known related records in other agencies: None
Publications based on records: None
Previous destructions:
Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for
the Texas Youth Commission and none were found for this series
or for equivalent or related series.
Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Meeting minutes
Series item number: 1.1.017
Agency item number: 1.1.017
Archival code: A
Retention: PM
Archival holdings:
Minutes, State Juvenile Training School, Gatesville, 1928-1941,
fractional.
Minutes of the Board of Trustees of the State Juvenile Training
School, dating from 1928-1941.
During this period the training school was operated by the State
Board of Control. The State Youth Development Council took over
operation of the facility in 1949. This facility became the Gatesville
State School for Boys.
Minutes, Texas Youth Council, 1949-1965, 0.24 cubic ft.
Minutes of meetings of the Texas Youth Council, and its predecessor,
the State Youth Development Council, dating 1949-1965.
Minutes, Texas Youth Commission, 1966-1998, 2.95 cubic ft.
Minutes of meetings of the Texas Youth Commission and its predecessor,
the Texas Youth Council, dating from 1966-1998. The later years
also contain minutes of board committee meetings. Meeting agenda
are present for the years 1974-[ongoing]. The minutes for the
years 1984-1988 contains a number of attachments, such as contracts,
audit reports, legislative reports, court agreements, budget materials,
planning documents, memoranda, and other similar materials.
Appraisal decision:
Meeting minutes of agency boards and commissions provide the highest
level documentation of the actions of the agencies they govern.
These are already considered to be archival. The Youth Commission
already sends copies of the minutes to the Library and Archives
Commission. The state records retention schedule suggests listing
the meeting minutes and agenda together on the retention schedule.
I recommend combining this series with the series Meeting agenda
on the next recertification of the schedule, listing it as Meeting
agenda and minutes.
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Records Series Review
Series Title: Meetings - Supporting documentation
Agency: Texas Youth Commission
Obsolete record series? No
Replaced by:
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: fractional
Agency holdings:
Retained by the agency until purpose served, according to the
retention schedule. Current holdings of the agency are 1995-[ongoing],
about 1 cubic feet.
Description:
This series contains materials prepared for meetings of the Texas
Youth Commission, dating 1995-[ongoing]. Types of materials present
include transcripts of meetings, memos, reports, charts, sub-committee
meeting agenda, guest registration, etc. Some of the reports presented
may contain information pertaining to specific youth. If so, that
information cannot be released to the public.
For agenda of commission meetings, see the series Meeting
agenda. For minutes of commission meetings, see the series
Meeting minutes. Meeting files held in the Archives for
the years 1984-1988 contains a number of attachments, such as
contracts, audit reports, legislative reports, court agreements,
budget materials, planning documents, memoranda, and other similar
materials which are often found in meeting supporting documentation
series.
For meeting files of the agency which formerly administered youth
facilities during the period 1920-1949, see the records of the
State Board of Control, housed at the Archives and Information
Services Division - State Board of Control, Records, Minutes
and meeting files. Another series within these records contains
orders of the board, 1946-1949, see the series Actions of the
Board.
Purpose:
Meeting supporting documentation provides background materials
used by agency boards and commissions to conduct their meetings.
Agency program:
The State Youth Development Council was created in 1949, House
Bill 705, 51st Legislature, Regular Session. It was composed of
fourteen members, containing six "influential" citizens
appointed by the Governor with the consent of the Senate, and
eight ex-officio members - Chairman, Board of Control; Executive
Director, Department of Public Welfare; Commissioner of Education;
Executive Director, Board for State Hospitals and Special Schools;
State Health Officer; Director, Department of Pubic Safety; Executive
Secretary, State Parks Board; and Chairman, Texas Employment Commission.
The Governor appointed the chair. The purpose of this council
was to coordinate state efforts to help communities develop and
strengthen all child services. It was also directed to administer
the state's correctional facilities for delinquent children by
providing a program of constructive training aimed at the rehabilitation
and successful reestablishment of these children into society.
The agency became the Texas Youth Council in 1957, Senate Bill
303, 55th Legislature, Regular Session. It was composed of three
members appointed by the governor with consent of the Senate,
to six year overlapping terms. They were to be citizens recognized
in their communities for their interest in youth. The members
elected the chair. This Council had the same duties as the State
Youth Development Council with the additional charge to provide
parole supervision for certain delinquent children until their
discharge. The Legislature also directed the Council to operate
certain institutions for dependent and neglected children (Corsicana
State Home, Waco State Home, and the Texas Blind, Deaf and Orphan
School). Care for dependent and neglected children is no longer
a function of the Youth Commission. This function is now largely
handled by the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services.
The commission also initiated a county juvenile probation subsidy
program in the 1970s which was transferred to the Texas Juvenile
Probation Commission upon its creation in 1981. In 1971 a lawsuit
was brought against the agency, its officers, and staff by children
confined in the juvenile corrections facilities, known as the
Morales case. Results of this lawsuit led to significant changes
in the way juvenile correction facilities were operated.
The name of the agency was changed to the Texas Youth Commission
in 1983, Senate Bill 422, 68th Legislature, Regular Session. The
Youth Commission was composed of three members appointed by the
governor with consent of the Senate, to six year overlapping terms.
They were to be citizens recognized in their communities for their
interest in youth. The members elected the chair. The number of
members increased to six in 1975 (Senate Bill 278, 64th Legislature,
Regular Session), with the same qualifications applying to the
new members.
The Youth Commission operates under the Texas Human Resource
Code, Section 61, as the state's juvenile correction agency. The
commission provides for the care, custody, rehabilitation, and
reestablishment into society of those youth convicted of delinquent
conduct under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The commission
operates secure institutional and community-based residential
programs for delinquent youth, and supervises the youth once they
return to the community. It also contracts with private sector
providers to operate residential and non-residential services.
Through these institutions and facilities the agency provides
accredited secondary education, vocational training, and several
specialized programs, including programs for sex offenders, capital
offenders who have committed murder, chemical dependency, resocialization,
independent living preparation, mentally retarded youth, and seriously
emotionally disturbed youth. The commission also operates a parole
system for supervision of youth released from residential programs.
The agency protects the identities and identifying information
(such as home addresses and not allowing photographs without permission
of the child) of children admitted to their facilities as required
by the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
The Texas Youth Commission also administers the Interstate Compact
on Juveniles for the state of Texas. The Compact (ICJ) provides
for the cooperative supervision of juvenile probationers and parolees
who move from state to state. It also provides for the return
of non-delinquent runaway youth, parole and probation absconders,
and escapees to their home state.
V.T.C.A., Human Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 61
Arrangement: Chronological
Access constraints:
Some of the reports presented may have information pertaining
to specific youth. Children's names and other identifying information
is confidential, Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
Use constraints:
None following redaction and/or restriction of materials listed
under "Access constraints".
Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? No
Gaps: None present prior to 1995
Problems:
Reports will need to be reviewed to determine if children's names
are present, if so, that information will need to be redacted
prior to use.
Previous destructions:
Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for
the Texas Youth Commission and none were found for this series
or for equivalent or related series.
Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Meetings - supporting documentation
Series item number: 1.1.052
Agency item number: 1.1.052
Archival code: A
Retention: PS
Archival holdings:
None in the holdings of the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission.
Appraisal decision:
Meeting supporting documentation of agency boards and commissions
provides background materials used by agency boards and commissions
to conduct their meetings. Together with the minutes, these provide
the highest level documentation of the actions of the agencies
they govern. These are already considered to be archival. The
retention period on the records schedule should be changed to
2 years, which is the recommended retention period found on the
state records retention schedule for this series. The Youth Commission
needs to send the meeting supporting documentation prepared for
their commission meetings from 1995-1996 to the Library and Archives
Commission and yearly thereafter.
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Records Series Review
Series Title: Organization charts
Agency: Texas Youth Commission
Obsolete record series? No
Replaced by:
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: fractional
Agency holdings:
According to their retention schedule, these charts are to be
retained until their purpose is served. They do not retain copies
of the charts any more, but do publish them in their strategic
plans. The current chart is also mounted on the agency's intranet
site, dated 1998, fractional cubic feet.
Description:
Organization charts illustrate graphically the administrative
structure of the different functional units within an agency.
Dates of charts are 1969-[ongoing]. Copies of the organization
charts have been published in the agency's strategic plans, dating
1992, 1994, 1996, and 1998. They were formerly published in the
agency's biennial budget requests, from 1969/70 - 1992/93. The
latest chart is also mounted on the agency's intranet web server,
and will likely be added to their internet web page in the future.
Purpose:
These charts illustrate graphically the administrative structure
of the different functional units within an agency.
Agency program:
The State Youth Development Council was created in 1949, House
Bill 705, 51st Legislature, Regular Session. The purpose of this
council was to coordinate state efforts to help communities develop
and strengthen all child services. It was also directed to administer
the state's correctional facilities for delinquent children by
providing a program of constructive training aimed at the rehabilitation
and successful reestablishment of these children into society.
The agency became the Texas Youth Council in 1957, Senate Bill
303, 55th Legislature, Regular Session, with the additional charge
to provide parole supervision for certain delinquent children
until their discharge. The Legislature also directed the Council
to operate certain institutions for dependent and neglected children
(Corsicana State Home, Waco State Home, and the Texas Blind, Deaf
and Orphan School). Care for dependent and neglected children
is no longer a function of the Youth Commission. This function
is now largely handled by the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services. The commission also initiated a county juvenile probation
subsidy program in the 1970s which was transferred to the Texas
Juvenile Probation Commission upon its creation in 1981. In 1971
a lawsuit was brought against the agency, its officers, and staff
by children confined in the juvenile corrections facilities, known
as the Morales case. Results of this lawsuit led to significant
changes in the way juvenile correction facilities were operated.
The Youth Commission operates under the Texas Human Resource
Code, Section 61, as the state's juvenile correction agency. The
commission provides for the care, custody, rehabilitation, and
reestablishment into society of those youth convicted of delinquent
conduct under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The commission
operates secure institutional and community-based residential
programs for delinquent youth, and supervises the youth once they
return to the community. It also contracts with private sector
providers to operate residential and non-residential services.
Through these institutions and facilities the agency provides
accredited secondary education, vocational training, and several
specialized programs, including programs for sex offenders, capital
offenders who have committed murder, chemical dependency, resocialization,
independent living preparation, mentally retarded youth, and seriously
emotionally disturbed youth. The commission also operates a parole
system for supervision of youth released from residential programs.
The agency protects the identities and identifying information
(such as home addresses and not allowing photographs without permission
of the child) of children admitted to their facilities as required
by the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
The Texas Youth Commission also administers the Interstate Compact
on Juveniles for the state of Texas. The Compact (ICJ) provides
for the cooperative supervision of juvenile probationers and parolees
who move from state to state. It also provides for the return
of non-delinquent runaway youth, parole and probation absconders,
and escapees to their home state.
V.T.C.A., Human Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 61
Arrangement: Chronological
Access constraints: None
Use constraints: None
Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? No
Gaps:
These have been published in agency biennial budget requests or
the strategic plans since 1969. Copies of older charts may be
available in other agency publications - that is unknown at this
time.
Problems: None
Known related records in other agencies: None
Publications based on records:
These have been published in agency biennial budget requests or
the strategic plans since 1969.
Previous destructions:
Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for
the Texas Youth Commission and none were found for this series
or for equivalent or related series.
Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Organization charts
Series item number: 1.1.023
Agency item number: 1.1.023
Archival code: A
Retention: US
Archival holdings:
Organization charts, 1998, fractional
Texas Documents Collection holdings:
Organization charts appear in the biennial budget requests for
the agency from 1969/70-1992/93; and in the strategic plans prepared
for the years 1992-1998, 1995-1998, 1997-2001, and 1999-2003.
Appraisal decision:
Organization charts provide a graphic description of the administrative
structure of the different functional units of the agency. These
have been appraised to be an archival record. This series needs
to remain on the schedule with the archival code of A. A note
needs to be added to the Remarks section of the schedule - "Copies
of the chart appear in the strategic plans of the agency. Archival
requirement is fulfilled by sending copies of the strategic plans
to the Publications Depository Program." As long as this
is published in the strategic plan or biennial budget request
and sent to the Publications Depository its archival mandate is
fulfilled. If it ceases to be published in either of these publications,
then send copies of the chart to the Archives and Information
Services Division as it is updated.
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Records Series Review
Series Title: Correspondence - administrative
Agency: Texas Youth Commission
Obsolete record series? No
Replaced by:
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: fractional
Agency holdings:
Retained by the agency for 3 years according to the retention
schedule. Actual holdings of the agency are 1995-[ongoing], about
2 cubic feet.
Description:
This series contains correspondence and memoranda between the
executive director, agency staff, the general public, and other
state agencies. Dates covered are September 1995-[ongoing]. Topics
covered include various issues relating to the management of the
Youth Commission's programs, requests from employees for program
evaluations, letters of alleged mistreatment, letters of appreciation,
requests for film rights, and letters of awards. General correspondence
with commission members can be found in the series Board member
information.
Some older correspondence of the Texas Youth Council can be found
in the series Correspondence and administrative files of the
Texas Youth Council, described later in this report. Correspondence
concerning the operation of the state schools and orphanages formerly
under the State Board of Control can be found the records of the
State Board of Control, housed in the Archives and Information
Services Division, see the State Board of Control, Records,
Board member files.
Purpose:
The administrative correspondence is created during the normal
course of agency business and maintained to document the handling
of agency functions by the executive officers and other staff
of the Youth Commission.
Agency program:
The State Youth Development Council was created in 1949, House
Bill 705, 51st Legislature, Regular Session. The purpose of this
council was to coordinate state efforts to help communities develop
and strengthen all child services. It was also directed to administer
the state's correctional facilities for delinquent children by
providing a program of constructive training aimed at the rehabilitation
and successful reestablishment of these children into society.
The agency became the Texas Youth Council in 1957, Senate Bill
303, 55th Legislature, Regular Session, with the additional charge
to provide parole supervision for certain delinquent children
until their discharge. The Legislature also directed the Council
to operate certain institutions for dependent and neglected children
(Corsicana State Home, Waco State Home, and the Texas Blind, Deaf
and Orphan School). Care for dependent and neglected children
is no longer a function of the Youth Commission. This function
is now largely handled by the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services. The commission also initiated a county juvenile probation
subsidy program in the 1970s which was transferred to the Texas
Juvenile Probation Commission upon its creation in 1981. In 1971
a lawsuit was brought against the agency, its officers, and staff
by children confined in the juvenile corrections facilities, known
as the Morales case. Results of this lawsuit led to significant
changes in the way juvenile correction facilities were operated.
The Youth Commission operates under the Texas Human Resource
Code, Section 61, as the state's juvenile correction agency. The
commission provides for the care, custody, rehabilitation, and
reestablishment into society of those youth convicted of delinquent
conduct under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The commission
operates secure institutional and community-based residential
programs for delinquent youth, and supervises the youth once they
return to the community. It also contracts with private sector
providers to operate residential and non-residential services.
Through these institutions and facilities the agency provides
accredited secondary education, vocational training, and several
specialized programs, including programs for sex offenders, capital
offenders who have committed murder, chemical dependency, resocialization,
independent living preparation, mentally retarded youth, and seriously
emotionally disturbed youth. The commission also operates a parole
system for supervision of youth released from residential programs.
The agency protects the identities and identifying information
(such as home addresses and not allowing photographs without permission
of the child) of children admitted to their facilities as required
by the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
The Texas Youth Commission also administers the Interstate Compact
on Juveniles for the state of Texas. The Compact (ICJ) provides
for the cooperative supervision of juvenile probationers and parolees
who move from state to state. It also provides for the return
of non-delinquent runaway youth, parole and probation absconders,
and escapees to their home state.
V.T.C.A., Human Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 61
Arrangement: Chronological
Access constraints:
Some of the materials may have information pertaining to specific
youth. Children's names and other identifying information is confidential,
Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
Use constraints:
None following redaction and/or restriction of materials listed
under "Access constraints".
Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? No
Gaps:
None present prior to September 1995. Some scattered correspondence
exists from the 1970s in the Archives and Information Services
Division, and will be evaluated separately.
Problems:
Correspondence will need to be reviewed for confidential information,
which will then need to be redacted or restricted by the agency
before the materials can be used.
Known related records in other agencies: None known.
Publications based on records: None
Previous destructions:
Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for
the Texas Youth Commission and none were found for this series
or for equivalent or related series.
Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Correspondence - Administrative
Series item number: 1.1.007
Agency item number: 1.1.007
Archival code: R
Retention: 3
Archival holdings:
None in the holdings of the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission.
Appraisal decision:
This series contains administrative correspondence of the executive
director and higher officials of the agency, according to staff.
There appears to be substantive correspondence on juvenile correction
issues and management of youth programs as well as routine materials
such as letters of appreciation. We have retained similar administrative
correspondence and subject files from the Board of Control which
concerned the management of youth facilities in the past and will
retain older administrative correspondence and administrative
files of the Youth Council which is described separately in this
report. Because of the evidential value of this correspondence
and the potential value for use in continuing to document the
management of juvenile correction facilities, this series has
been appraised to be archival. Change the archival code to A on
the retention schedule. Transfer correspondence to the Archives
and Information Services Division through 1995 now and yearly
thereafter as it fulfills its retention period. We also recommend
filing routine correspondence such as letters of appreciation,
etc. in the general correspondence series already listed on the
retention schedule.
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Records Series Review
Series Title: Legal opinions and advice
Agency: Texas Youth Commission
Obsolete record series? No
Replaced by:
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: fractional
Agency holdings:
Retained by the agency until purpose served, according to the
retention schedule. Current holdings are from 1984-[ongoing],
about 0.5 cubic ft.
Description:
This series contains informal internal correspondence, email,
and memoranda from various departments in the agency with the
staff attorneys of the Youth Commission requesting their legal
advice. Dates covered are 1984-[ongoing]. Topics covered include
employee issues, issues involving specific children in the youth
facilities, grievances, requests for advice on contract issues,
and program issues. Most of the materials concern specific children
in the youth facilities or employee issues. These are generally
minor incidents; any serious incidents would involve the Attorney
General.
Purpose:
This correspondence provides legal advice to the staff of the
Youth Commission.
Agency program:
The State Youth Development Council was created in 1949, House
Bill 705, 51st Legislature, Regular Session. The purpose of this
council was to coordinate state efforts to help communities develop
and strengthen all child services. It was also directed to administer
the state's correctional facilities for delinquent children by
providing a program of constructive training aimed at the rehabilitation
and successful reestablishment of these children into society.
The agency became the Texas Youth Council in 1957, Senate Bill
303, 55th Legislature, Regular Session, with the additional charge
to provide parole supervision for certain delinquent children
until their discharge. The Legislature also directed the Council
to operate certain institutions for dependent and neglected children
(Corsicana State Home, Waco State Home, and the Texas Blind, Deaf
and Orphan School). Care for dependent and neglected children
is no longer a function of the Youth Commission. This function
is now largely handled by the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services. The commission also initiated a county juvenile probation
subsidy program in the 1970s which was transferred to the Texas
Juvenile Probation Commission upon its creation in 1981. In 1971
a lawsuit was brought against the agency, its officers, and staff
by children confined in the juvenile corrections facilities, known
as the Morales case. Results of this lawsuit led to significant
changes in the way juvenile correction facilities were operated.
The Youth Commission operates under the Texas Human Resource
Code, Section 61, as the state's juvenile correction agency. The
commission provides for the care, custody, rehabilitation, and
reestablishment into society of those youth convicted of delinquent
conduct under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The commission
operates secure institutional and community-based residential
programs for delinquent youth, and supervises the youth once they
return to the community. It also contracts with private sector
providers to operate residential and non-residential services.
Through these institutions and facilities the agency provides
accredited secondary education, vocational training, and several
specialized programs, including programs for sex offenders, capital
offenders who have committed murder, chemical dependency, resocialization,
independent living preparation, mentally retarded youth, and seriously
emotionally disturbed youth. The commission also operates a parole
system for supervision of youth released from residential programs.
The agency protects the identities and identifying information
(such as home addresses and not allowing photographs without permission
of the child) of children admitted to their facilities as required
by the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
The Texas Youth Commission also administers the Interstate Compact
on Juveniles for the state of Texas. The Compact (ICJ) provides
for the cooperative supervision of juvenile probationers and parolees
who move from state to state. It also provides for the return
of non-delinquent runaway youth, parole and probation absconders,
and escapees to their home state.
V.T.C.A., Human Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 61
Arrangement: Topical
Access constraints:
Some letters discuss individual children. Children's names and
other identifying information is confidential, Texas Family Code,
Section 58.005. Also, if the social security numbers of employees
or their home addresses and phone numbers are mentioned that is
confidential as well (unless waived by the employee),Texas Government
Code, Section 552.117.
Use constraints:
None following redaction and/or restriction of materials listed
under "Access constraints".
Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? No
Gaps: None present prior to 1984.
Problems:
Materials listed in "Access constraints" will need to
be redacted or restricted by the agency before the materials can
be used.
Known related records in other agencies: None
Publications based on records: None
Previous destructions:
Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for
the Texas Youth Commission and none were found for this series
or for equivalent or related series.
Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Legal opinions and advice
Series item number: 1.1.015
Agency item number: 1.1.015
Archival code: R
Retention: PS
Archival holdings:
None in the holdings of the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission.
Appraisal decision:
This series serves to provide legal advice on generally internal
matters, which do not appear to directly impact the functions
of the agency. The advice provided largely concerns employees,
complaints, or issues involving specific children in their facilities,
which would be confidential. According to agency staff a small
amount material has concerned some program issues, but any significant
cases or problems would involve the Attorney General's Office
and should also be documented in the minutes of the commission.
The series has been appraised to be non-archival. Remove the archival
code of R from the retention schedule and replaced with the archival
code of E. Add a note to the Remarks column - "Archival code
removed subsequent to appraisal by Archives and Information Services
Division, Library and Archives Commission, March 30, 1999."
If significant litigation develops which ultimately affects or
changes the way the agency operates, such as the Morales case,
we will want to review any records from such a case that may be
retained as part of this series. Add a note to the Remarks section
of the schedule " Materials relating to cases that set legal
precedent or exhibit historical value will be evaluated by the
Archives and Information Services Division of the Library and
Archives Commission." A similar note already exists in the
remarks column for the series Litigation files.
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Records Series Review
Series Title: News or press releases
Agency: Texas Youth Commission
Obsolete record series? No
Replaced by:
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: fractional
Agency holdings:
Retained by the agency for two years according to the retention
schedule. Current holdings of the agency are 1997-[ongoing], fractional.
The agency does not retain paper copies of these releases after
1997, beginning in 1998 the news releases exist only on their
web page.
Description:
These releases provide information about activities of the Youth
Commission and its facilities. Dates covered are 1979, 1983-1985,
1997-[ongoing]. Topics covered include settlement of the Morales
lawsuit, organization of a committee to oversee TYC operations
re: Morales settlement, issues to be discussed at upcoming TYC
meetings, legislation affecting TYC facilities or juveniles, escapes
from youth facilities, expansion of facilities, construction of
new facilities, naming of new executive staff or superintendents,
and results of studies undertaken by the TYC, such as ice hockey
violence or reducing recidivism rates for youth. Releases also
include notices of awards presented to the agency or individuals
in the agency, such as the executive director receiving a criminal
justice award. The releases for 1998 are available only on the
agency's web site.
Press releases about activities at some of the youth facilities
from the 1940s can be found in the records of the State Board
of Control, housed in the Archives and Information Services Division,
see State Board of Control, Records, Press releases for
releases from 1946-1949. Earlier releases from the 1940s are scattered
throughout the series Board member files.
Purpose:
News releases provide information about activities of the agency
that the agency considers to be of public interest.
Agency program:
The State Youth Development Council was created in 1949, House
Bill 705, 51st Legislature, Regular Session. The purpose of this
council was to coordinate state efforts to help communities develop
and strengthen all child services. It was also directed to administer
the state's correctional facilities for delinquent children by
providing a program of constructive training aimed at the rehabilitation
and successful reestablishment of these children into society.
The agency became the Texas Youth Council in 1957, Senate Bill
303, 55th Legislature, Regular Session, with the additional charge
to provide parole supervision for certain delinquent children
until their discharge. The Legislature also directed the Council
to operate certain institutions for dependent and neglected children
(Corsicana State Home, Waco State Home, and the Texas Blind, Deaf
and Orphan School). Care for dependent and neglected children
is no longer a function of the Youth Commission. This function
is now largely handled by the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services. The commission also initiated a county juvenile probation
subsidy program in the 1970s which was transferred to the Texas
Juvenile Probation Commission upon its creation in 1981. In 1971
a lawsuit was brought against the agency, its officers, and staff
by children confined in the juvenile corrections facilities, known
as the Morales case. Results of this lawsuit led to significant
changes in the way juvenile correction facilities were operated.
The Youth Commission operates under the Texas Human Resource
Code, Section 61, as the state's juvenile correction agency. The
commission provides for the care, custody, rehabilitation, and
reestablishment into society of those youth convicted of delinquent
conduct under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The commission
operates secure institutional and community-based residential
programs for delinquent youth, and supervises the youth once they
return to the community. It also contracts with private sector
providers to operate residential and non-residential services.
Through these institutions and facilities the agency provides
accredited secondary education, vocational training, and several
specialized programs, including programs for sex offenders, capital
offenders who have committed murder, chemical dependency, resocialization,
independent living preparation, mentally retarded youth, and seriously
emotionally disturbed youth. The commission also operates a parole
system for supervision of youth released from residential programs.
The agency protects the identities and identifying information
(such as home addresses and not allowing photographs without permission
of the child) of children admitted to their facilities as required
by the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
The Texas Youth Commission also administers the Interstate Compact
on Juveniles for the state of Texas. The Compact (ICJ) provides
for the cooperative supervision of juvenile probationers and parolees
who move from state to state. It also provides for the return
of non-delinquent runaway youth, parole and probation absconders,
and escapees to their home state.
V.T.C.A., Human Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 61
Arrangement: Chronological
Access constraints: None
Use constraints:
The agency's copy of the releases are available only on their
web page; printed copies are available at the Archives and Information
Services Division after they are transferred.
Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? No
Gaps:
None present at the agency prior to September 1997. Gaps for releases
in the records of the Youth Commission at the Archives are 1949-1978,
1980-1982, and 1986-1996.
Problems:
The agency does not retain paper copies of these releases beginning
in 1998. They place the releases on their web page.
Known related records in other agencies: None
Publications based on records: None
Previous destructions:
Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for
the Texas Youth Commission and none were found for this series
or for equivalent or related series.
Series data from agency schedule:
Title: News or press releases
Series item number: 1.1.019
Agency item number: 1.1.019
Archival code: R
Retention: 2
Archival holdings:
Press releases, 1979, 1983-1985, fractional
These releases provide information about activities of the Youth
Council and the Youth Commission. Dates covered are 1979, 1983-1985.
Topics covered include settlement of the Morales lawsuit, organization
of a committee to oversee TYC operations re: Morales settlement,
issues to be discussed at upcoming TYC meetings, legislation affecting
TYC facilities or juveniles, opening of a new facility, and awards
given to a halfway house.
Appraisal decision:
These news releases provide information about a variety of activities
of the Youth Commission. Some releases consist of routine appointments
and notices, but most discuss important issues and events of the
agency, especially the older releases. Because of the informational
value of these releases in documenting actions of the agency,
this series has been appraised to be archival. Change the archival
code to A on the retention schedule. A problem with this series
is that the agency does not retain paper copies of these releases
beginning in 1998. They place the releases on their web page.
Because the Library and Archives Commission does not accept archival
records in electronic format at this time, the agency needs to
send a printed copy of the releases yearly to the Archives and
Information Services Division of the Commission.
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Records Series Review
Series Title: Planning records
Agency: Texas Youth Commission
Obsolete record series? No
Replaced by:
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: fractional
Agency holdings:
Retained by the agency for annual review, according to the retention
schedule. Actual holdings of the agency are 1997-1998, fractional.
Description:
This series contains business plans developed by each department
that outline any short term or long term projects, providing goals
and objectives for all the projects. Dates of these plans are
1997-1998. This is a recently required function by the agency
of all departments. The plans are designed to contain projects
to be completed by the end of the fiscal year. This information
is not found in the agency's biennial budget requests or their
strategic plans in this format. The business plans contain more
details of tasks or projects than is found in either of the two
aforementioned reports.
Purpose:
These records are created as planning tools for the agency.
Agency program:
The State Youth Development Council was created in 1949, House
Bill 705, 51st Legislature, Regular Session. The purpose of this
council was to coordinate state efforts to help communities develop
and strengthen all child services. It was also directed to administer
the state's correctional facilities for delinquent children by
providing a program of constructive training aimed at the rehabilitation
and successful reestablishment of these children into society.
The agency became the Texas Youth Council in 1957, Senate Bill
303, 55th Legislature, Regular Session, with the additional charge
to provide parole supervision for certain delinquent children
until their discharge. The Legislature also directed the Council
to operate certain institutions for dependent and neglected children
(Corsicana State Home, Waco State Home, and the Texas Blind, Deaf
and Orphan School). Care for dependent and neglected children
is no longer a function of the Youth Commission. This function
is now largely handled by the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services. The commission also initiated a county juvenile probation
subsidy program in the 1970s which was transferred to the Texas
Juvenile Probation Commission upon its creation in 1981. In 1971
a lawsuit was brought against the agency, its officers, and staff
by children confined in the juvenile corrections facilities, known
as the Morales case. Results of this lawsuit led to significant
changes in the way juvenile correction facilities were operated.
The Youth Commission operates under the Texas Human Resource
Code, Section 61, as the state's juvenile correction agency. The
commission provides for the care, custody, rehabilitation, and
reestablishment into society of those youth convicted of delinquent
conduct under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The commission
operates secure institutional and community-based residential
programs for delinquent youth, and supervises the youth once they
return to the community. It also contracts with private sector
providers to operate residential and non-residential services.
Through these institutions and facilities the agency provides
accredited secondary education, vocational training, and several
specialized programs, including programs for sex offenders, capital
offenders who have committed murder, chemical dependency, resocialization,
independent living preparation, mentally retarded youth, and seriously
emotionally disturbed youth. The commission also operates a parole
system for supervision of youth released from residential programs.
The agency protects the identities and identifying information
(such as home addresses and not allowing photographs without permission
of the child) of children admitted to their facilities as required
by the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
The Texas Youth Commission also administers the Interstate Compact
on Juveniles for the state of Texas. The Compact (ICJ) provides
for the cooperative supervision of juvenile probationers and parolees
who move from state to state. It also provides for the return
of non-delinquent runaway youth, parole and probation absconders,
and escapees to their home state.
V.T.C.A., Human Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 61
Arrangement: By department
Access constraints: None
Use constraints: None
Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? No
Gaps: No records present prior to 1997.
Problems: None
Known related records in other agencies: None
Publications based on records: None
Previous destructions:
Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for
the Texas Youth Commission and none were found for this series
or for equivalent or related series.
Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Planning records
Series item number: 1.1.024
Agency item number: 1.1.024
Archival code: R
Retention: AR
Archival holdings:
None in the holdings of the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission.
Appraisal decision:
These business plans provide a more detailed listing of what the
various divisions are attempting to accomplish over the fiscal
year than either the Legislative Appropriation Requests or the
Strategic plans. However, the discussions of goals and objectives
for the agency found in the agency wide reports - (LAR's and the
strategic plans) is sufficient documentation of how the agency
intends to fulfill their goals and objectives. We do not need
a further breakdown within divisions to document the planning
process of the agency. This series has been appraised to be non-archival.
Remove the archival code of R from the retention schedule and
replaced with the archival code of E. Add a note to the Remarks
column - "Archival code removed subsequent to appraisal by
Archives and Information Services Division, Library and Archives
Commission, March 30, 1999."
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Records Series Review
Series Title: Policies and procedures manuals
Agency: Texas Youth Commission
Obsolete record series? No
Replaced by:
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: fractional
Agency holdings:
Retained by the agency for 15 years after being superseded according
to the retention schedule. Actual holdings of the agency are 1978-[ongoing],
1 cubic ft.
Description:
This series consists of policy manuals for the Youth Commission,
dating 1953-[ongoing]. The more recent manuals held by the agency
cover overall agency policies and those developed for specific
programs. The recent overall manuals include the General Administrative
Manual, General Operations Manual, Personnel Policy Manual; manuals
for specific functions cover areas such as Institutions, Community
Services, Education, Accounting, Nutrition and Food Services,
Risk Management, Child Care Forms, Volunteer, Health Services,
Fire and Safety, Construction, Halfway Houses, Support, Group
Homes, and Residential Contracts. The older manuals, recently
transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division,
contain manuals for the agency, for specific programs, and for
specific institutions. Some of the older manuals present are Manual
of Casework Services, Cottage Life Manual - Giddings State School,
Group Manual - Brownwood State Home and School, TYC - Parole Division,
Administrative Organization of the Texas Youth Council, Volunteer
Handbook, Manual on Preparation of Children for Admission to the
State Training Schools, and Texas Youth Council's Skilled Based
Treatment Program.
Older manuals and handbooks from some of the orphan homes and
state schools can be found in the records of the State Board of
Control, housed in the Archives and Information Services Division,
see State Board of Control, Records, Reports.
Older outreach publications by the agency which discuss treatment
programs and/or services available at specific facilities operated
by the agency can be found in the series Youth Commission outreach
and informational publications.
Purpose:
Policies and procedures provide information and instruction to
staff on performing agency functions and tasks.
Agency program:
The State Youth Development Council was created in 1949, House
Bill 705, 51st Legislature, Regular Session. The purpose of this
council was to coordinate state efforts to help communities develop
and strengthen all child services. It was also directed to administer
the state's correctional facilities for delinquent children by
providing a program of constructive training aimed at the rehabilitation
and successful reestablishment of these children into society.
The agency became the Texas Youth Council in 1957, Senate Bill
303, 55th Legislature, Regular Session, with the additional charge
to provide parole supervision for certain delinquent children
until their discharge. The Legislature also directed the Council
to operate certain institutions for dependent and neglected children
(Corsicana State Home, Waco State Home, and the Texas Blind, Deaf
and Orphan School). Care for dependent and neglected children
is no longer a function of the Youth Commission. This function
is now largely handled by the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services. The commission also initiated a county juvenile probation
subsidy program in the 1970s which was transferred to the Texas
Juvenile Probation Commission upon its creation in 1981. In 1971
a lawsuit was brought against the agency, its officers, and staff
by children confined in the juvenile corrections facilities, known
as the Morales case. Results of this lawsuit led to significant
changes in the way juvenile correction facilities were operated.
The Youth Commission operates under the Texas Human Resource
Code, Section 61, as the state's juvenile correction agency. The
commission provides for the care, custody, rehabilitation, and
reestablishment into society of those youth convicted of delinquent
conduct under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The commission
operates secure institutional and community-based residential
programs for delinquent youth, and supervises the youth once they
return to the community. It also contracts with private sector
providers to operate residential and non-residential services.
Through these institutions and facilities the agency provides
accredited secondary education, vocational training, and several
specialized programs, including programs for sex offenders, capital
offenders who have committed murder, chemical dependency, resocialization,
independent living preparation, mentally retarded youth, and seriously
emotionally disturbed youth. The commission also operates a parole
system for supervision of youth released from residential programs.
The agency protects the identities and identifying information
(such as home addresses and not allowing photographs without permission
of the child) of children admitted to their facilities as required
by the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
The Texas Youth Commission also administers the Interstate Compact
on Juveniles for the state of Texas. The Compact (ICJ) provides
for the cooperative supervision of juvenile probationers and parolees
who move from state to state. It also provides for the return
of non-delinquent runaway youth, parole and probation absconders,
and escapees to their home state.
V.T.C.A., Human Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 61
Arrangement:
At the agency these are arranged chronologically by department,
then by title/function and date of transmittal (a group of policies
that replace outdated versions). In the Archives they are arranged
chronologically.
Access constraints: None
Use constraints: None
Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? No
Gaps:
None present at the agency prior to 1978, the agency transferred
its older manuals to the Library and Archives Commission. Manuals
at the Archives date from 1953-1985. It is unknown what gaps are
present in this series as we do not have a list of all the manuals
published.
Problems: None
Known related records in other agencies: None
Publications based on records: Some of these are published.
Previous destructions:
Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for
the Texas Youth Commission and none were found for this series
or for equivalent or related series.
Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Policies and procedures manuals
Series item number: 1.1.025
Agency item number: 1.1.025
Archival code: R
Retention: US+15
Texas Documents Collection holdings:
A few handbooks and manuals have been printed and deposited in
the Documents Collection. Some titles present are TYC Personnel
Manual, Total Quality Management Handbook, 1994; Physical
Assessment Manual, 1976; and English as a Second Language
- Policies and Procedures, 1982.
Archival holdings:
Handbooks and manuals, 1953-1985, 2 cubic ft.
This series contains manuals for agency-wide functions, for specific
programs, and for specific institutions. Dates covered are 1953-1985.
Some of the manuals present are Manual of Casework Services, Cottage
Life Manual - Giddings State School, Group Manual - Brownwood
State Home and School, TYC - Parole Division, Administrative Organization
of the Texas Youth Council, Volunteer Handbook, Manual on Preparation
of Children for Admission to the State Training Schools, Corsicana
State Home Residential Treatment Center, Administrative Division
Operations and Procedures, and Texas Youth Council's Skilled Based
Treatment Program.
Older manuals and handbooks from some of the orphan homes and
state schools can be found in the records of the State Board of
Control, in the series Reports.
Older outreach publications by the agency which discuss treatment
programs and/or services available at specific facilities operated
by the agency can be found in the series Youth Commission outreach
and informational publications.
Appraisal decision:
These handbooks and manuals provide significant information about
how the Texas Youth Commission and its predecessor agencies have
carried out the various functions of the agency. These have evidential
value and are an excellent source of information about the agency
- how it functions, how the operations and focus of the agency
have changed in some situations, and how it continues to operate.
Additionally, these handbooks and manuals are a continuation of
similar publications created by the State Board of Control when
that agency operated the juvenile institutions and adoption homes,
found in the State Board of Control records, in the series Reports.
The handbooks and manuals found in both of these record groups
serve to document how these agencies managed juvenile and orphan
institutions in the state of Texas. The manuals being created
now seem to serve this same function but now these are geared
towards topics instead of individual facilities. Because of the
informational value of these records this series has been appraised
to be archival. Change the archival code from R to A. Transfer
superseded manuals to the Archives and Information Services Division.
return to top
Records Series Review
Series Title: Reports - administrative
Agency: Texas Youth Commission
Obsolete record series? No
Replaced by:
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: fractional
Agency holdings:
Retained by the agency for three years according to the retention
schedule. Actual holdings of the agency are 1997-[ongoing], one
cubic ft.
Description:
This series contains several reports produced by the agency, most
concerning personnel activities. Dates covered are 1997-[ongoing].
Reports present in this series include personnel reports - human
resources productivity report (how many jobs posted and how many
filled), turnover reports, overtime reports, discipline reports;
Education Department - attendance reports, GED pass/fail reports.
Purpose:
These reports are created to document the progress of department
heads and executive staff.
Agency program:
The State Youth Development Council was created in 1949, House
Bill 705, 51st Legislature, Regular Session. The purpose of this
council was to coordinate state efforts to help communities develop
and strengthen all child services. It was also directed to administer
the state's correctional facilities for delinquent children by
providing a program of constructive training aimed at the rehabilitation
and successful reestablishment of these children into society.
The agency became the Texas Youth Council in 1957, Senate Bill
303, 55th Legislature, Regular Session, with the additional charge
to provide parole supervision for certain delinquent children
until their discharge. The Legislature also directed the Council
to operate certain institutions for dependent and neglected children
(Corsicana State Home, Waco State Home, and the Texas Blind, Deaf
and Orphan School). Care for dependent and neglected children
is no longer a function of the Youth Commission. This function
is now largely handled by the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services. The commission also initiated a county juvenile probation
subsidy program in the 1970s which was transferred to the Texas
Juvenile Probation Commission upon its creation in 1981. In 1971
a lawsuit was brought against the agency, its officers, and staff
by children confined in the juvenile corrections facilities, known
as the Morales case. Results of this lawsuit led to significant
changes in the way juvenile correction facilities were operated.
The Youth Commission operates under the Texas Human Resource
Code, Section 61, as the state's juvenile correction agency. The
commission provides for the care, custody, rehabilitation, and
reestablishment into society of those youth convicted of delinquent
conduct under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The commission
operates secure institutional and community-based residential
programs for delinquent youth, and supervises the youth once they
return to the community. It also contracts with private sector
providers to operate residential and non-residential services.
Through these institutions and facilities the agency provides
accredited secondary education, vocational training, and several
specialized programs, including programs for sex offenders, capital
offenders who have committed murder, chemical dependency, resocialization,
independent living preparation, mentally retarded youth, and seriously
emotionally disturbed youth. The commission also operates a parole
system for supervision of youth released from residential programs.
The agency protects the identities and identifying information
(such as home addresses and not allowing photographs without permission
of the child) of children admitted to their facilities as required
by the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
The Texas Youth Commission also administers the Interstate Compact
on Juveniles for the state of Texas. The Compact (ICJ) provides
for the cooperative supervision of juvenile probationers and parolees
who move from state to state. It also provides for the return
of non-delinquent runaway youth, parole and probation absconders,
and escapees to their home state.
V.T.C.A., Human Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 61
Arrangement: Topical
Access constraints:
Possibly, depending on the reports. If they mention the names
of children, that information s confidential, Texas Family Code,
Section 58.005. If they contain the social security numbers, homes
addresses, or phone numbers of employees, that information is
confidential (unless waived by the employee), Texas Government
Code, Section 552.117.
Use constraints:
None following redaction and/or restriction of materials listed
under "Access constraints".
Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? No
Gaps: None present prior to 1997.
Problems:
Materials listed in "Access constraints" will need to
be redacted or restricted by the agency before the materials can
be used.
Known related records in other agencies: None
Publications based on records: Unknown
Previous destructions:
Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for
the Texas Youth Commission and none were found for this series
or for equivalent or related series.
Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Reports - administrative
Series item number: 1.1.031
Agency item number: 1.1.031
Archival code: R
Retention: 3
Texas Documents Collection holdings: None located.
Archival holdings:
None in the holdings of the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission.
Appraisal decision:
Reports such as these document largely personnel or other routine
agency functions and do not have archival value. The information
in the education reports has been summarized in annual reports
and/or also discussed in minutes of the commission. This series
has been appraised to be non-archival. Remove the archival code
of R from the retention schedule and replaced with the archival
code of E. Add a note to the Remarks column - "Archival code
removed subsequent to appraisal by Archives and Information Services
Division, Library and Archives Commission, March 30, 1999."
However, if additional series of reports are added to this series
in the future which concern broader agency functions not concerning
personnel or other regular agency duties, this series should be
reappraised.
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Records Series Review
Series Title: Reports, studies, and surveys - final
Agency: Texas Youth Commission
Obsolete record series? No
Replaced by:
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: fractional
Agency holdings:
Retained by the agency until purpose served. Current holdings
of the agency are 1998-[ongoing], less than one cubic ft.
Description:
This series contains reports and studies primarily done by the
agency, most done by the Research Division (or its predecessors),
dating 1963, 1969, 1972-1977, 1989, 1992-1994, 1998-[ongoing].
Topics covered include evaluations of programs, studies on specific
classes or gender of offenders, research on delinquency, plans
for programs, etc. Reports present in this series held at the
agency include Review of Agency Treatment Effectiveness, A
Report of TYC Treatment Programs; Information Needs Assessment;
a study done to see what type of information is needed for staff
to complete their duties; data requests; and reports submitted
by counties of commitments. According to agency staff, these and
other similar reports produced today are not usually sent to the
Publications Depository. In the past, reports have been regularly
sent to the Publications Depository. The Depository holds several
research studies and reports likely part of this series from the
1970s-1990s, most in the 1990s. Titles of some of these catalogued
reports are Summary of the Results of the National Recidivism
Methods Study Conducted by the Texas Youth Commission, 1998;
Research Report Regarding 1:8 Caseworker to Youth Ratio in
the Texas Youth Commission, 1994; The Relationship Between
GED Attainment and Recidivism - TYC - Executive Summary, 1994;
Recommendations for a Substance Abuse Treatment Evaluation
Design, 1993; Outcome Evaluation of TYC Chemical Dependency
Treatment Programs, 1992; Female Offenders in the Texas
Youth Commission, 1992; and A System for Juvenile Data
Analysis and Youth, 1972. This series also includes research
type reports by consultants for the agency, as the series Reports
- Consultants and Committees is an empty series. One such
report found in the Publications Depository is A Proposed Model
for an Outcome Evaluation of the Chemical Dependency Treatment
Program, 1989.
The agency recently transferred some older reports and studies
to the Archives and Information Services Division that can be
considered to be part of this series. Some titles present are
Special Study, Corsicana State Home, 1963; Review of
Research on Delinquency in Texas, 1975; TYC Foster Care
and Adoption Services - Minimum Standards for Child Placing Agencies,
Certification Study, 1977; Texas Master Plan for Youth
Development Services, 1975; and Texas Youth Commission
- Historical Statistical Data Summary of Operations, 1962-1989.
One other publication present in this group of older records is
a legislative committee report - Services to Youth in Texas
- A Preliminary Report of the Senate Youth Affairs Committee,
1969.
Other reports concerning some of the youth facilities from the
1920s-1940s can be found in the records of the State Board of
Control, housed in the Archives and Information Services Division,
see State Board of Control, Records, Reports.
Purpose:
These records report on results of research and surveys performed
by or for the agency, largely by the Research Division.
Agency program:
The State Youth Development Council was created in 1949, House
Bill 705, 51st Legislature, Regular Session. The purpose of this
council was to coordinate state efforts to help communities develop
and strengthen all child services. It was also directed to administer
the state's correctional facilities for delinquent children by
providing a program of constructive training aimed at the rehabilitation
and successful reestablishment of these children into society.
The agency became the Texas Youth Council in 1957, Senate Bill
303, 55th Legislature, Regular Session, with the additional charge
to provide parole supervision for certain delinquent children
until their discharge. The Legislature also directed the Council
to operate certain institutions for dependent and neglected children
(Corsicana State Home, Waco State Home, and the Texas Blind, Deaf
and Orphan School). Care for dependent and neglected children
is no longer a function of the Youth Commission. This function
is now largely handled by the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services. The commission also initiated a county juvenile probation
subsidy program in the 1970s which was transferred to the Texas
Juvenile Probation Commission upon its creation in 1981. In 1971
a lawsuit was brought against the agency, its officers, and staff
by children confined in the juvenile corrections facilities, known
as the Morales case. Results of this lawsuit led to significant
changes in the way juvenile correction facilities were operated.
The Youth Commission operates under the Texas Human Resource
Code, Section 61, as the state's juvenile correction agency. The
commission provides for the care, custody, rehabilitation, and
reestablishment into society of those youth convicted of delinquent
conduct under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The commission
operates secure institutional and community-based residential
programs for delinquent youth, and supervises the youth once they
return to the community. It also contracts with private sector
providers to operate residential and non-residential services.
Through these institutions and facilities the agency provides
accredited secondary education, vocational training, and several
specialized programs, including programs for sex offenders, capital
offenders who have committed murder, chemical dependency, resocialization,
independent living preparation, mentally retarded youth, and seriously
emotionally disturbed youth. The commission also operates a parole
system for supervision of youth released from residential programs.
The agency protects the identities and identifying information
(such as home addresses and not allowing photographs without permission
of the child) of children admitted to their facilities as required
by the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
The Texas Youth Commission also administers the Interstate Compact
on Juveniles for the state of Texas. The Compact (ICJ) provides
for the cooperative supervision of juvenile probationers and parolees
who move from state to state. It also provides for the return
of non-delinquent runaway youth, parole and probation absconders,
and escapees to their home state.
V.T.C.A., Human Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 61
Arrangement: Topical
Access constraints: None
Use constraints: None
Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? No
Gaps:
Reports are not present at the agency prior to 1998 and reports
in the Publications Depository are scattered, dating between 1972-1989,
1992-1994, 1998. Earlier reports found in the Archives and Information
Services Division date in the 1960s-1980s. It is unknown what
reports may have been created in the past but are no longer available
anywhere.
Problems: None
Known related records in other agencies: None
Publications based on records:
Some of these reports are published.
Previous destructions:
Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for
the Texas Youth Commission and none were found for this series
or for equivalent or related series.
Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Reports, studies, and surveys - final
Series item number: 1.1.038
Agency item number: 1.1.038
Archival code: R
Retention: PS
Texas Documents Collection holdings:
A number of reports are catalogued in the Documents Collection.
Some of the titles are: Summary of the Results of the National
Recidivism Methods Study Conducted by the Texas Youth Commission,
1998; Research Report Regarding 1:8 Caseworker to Youth Ratio
in the Texas Youth Commission, 1994; The Relationship Between
GED Attainment and Recidivism - TYC - Executive Summary, 1994;
Recommendations for a Substance Abuse Treatment Evaluation
Design, 1993; Outcome Evaluation of TYC Chemical Dependency
Treatment Programs, 1992; Female Offenders in the Texas
Youth Commission, 1992; A Proposed Model for an Outcome
Evaluation of the Chemical Dependency Treatment Program, 1989;
Texas Master Plan for Youth Development Services, 1975;
and A System for Juvenile Data Analysis and Youth, 1972.
Archival holdings:
Reports and studies, 1963, 1975-1977, 1989, one cubic ft.
This series contains reports and studies done by the agency, primarily
by the Research and Planning Division, or the Division of Evaluation
and Research dating 1963, 1975-1977, 1989. These were recently
transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division
and are similar to more recent reports and studies found in the
Documents Collection and reports being produced today. Titles
of some of these reports are Special Study, Corsicana State
Home, 1963; Review of Research on Delinquency in Texas,
1975; TYC Foster Care and Adoption Services - Minimum Standards
for Child Placing Agencies, Certification Study, 1977; Texas
Master Plan for Youth Development Services, 1975; and Texas
Youth Commission - Historical Statistical Data Summary of Operations,
1962-1989. One other publication present in this group of older
records is a legislative committee report - Services to Youth
in Texas - A Preliminary Report of the Senate Youth Affairs Committee,
1969.
Other reports concerning some of the youth facilities from the
1920s-1940s can be found in the records of the State Board of
Control, see the series Reports.
Appraisal decision:
The reports and studies in this series show areas the agency felt
needed further research as regarding the problems of juvenile
delinquency and management of youth corrections facilities. They
provide a great deal of information about treatment programs,
program evaluations, and other areas the agency felt it needed
to explore and either improve upon or else institute a change
in direction to provide better juvenile services. Although the
agency does not seemingly produce as many reports as it has in
the past, the research and evaluation reporting function is still
being carried out. Because of the informational value in these
reports and studies this series has been appraised to be archival.
Change the archival code to A on the retention schedule and send
copies of reports at the agency to the Archives and Information
Services Division as they are produced.
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Records Series Review
Series Title: Speeches
Agency: Texas Youth Commission
Obsolete record series? No
Replaced by:
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: fractional
Agency holdings:
Retained by the agency for two years according to the records
retention schedule. Current holdings of the agency are c. 1991-[ongoing],
about 0.5 cubic ft.
Description:
This series contains speeches, notes, and outlines of speeches
given by the administrators - primarily the executive director,
deputy directors, and directors of institutions run by the agency,
to community groups, local government officials, and other such
groups. The speeches date from c. 1991-[ongoing] and cover topics
such as juvenile corrections, overall functions and concerns of
the agency, specific programs in operation by the agency, and
talks about specific institutions.
Purpose:
These speeches by the administrators of the agency are made to
educate and inform the public on various policies, programs, and
concerns of the agency.
Agency program:
The State Youth Development Council was created in 1949, House
Bill 705, 51st Legislature, Regular Session. The purpose of this
council was to coordinate state efforts to help communities develop
and strengthen all child services. It was also directed to administer
the state's correctional facilities for delinquent children by
providing a program of constructive training aimed at the rehabilitation
and successful reestablishment of these children into society.
The agency became the Texas Youth Council in 1957, Senate Bill
303, 55th Legislature, Regular Session, with the additional charge
to provide parole supervision for certain delinquent children
until their discharge. The Legislature also directed the Council
to operate certain institutions for dependent and neglected children
(Corsicana State Home, Waco State Home, and the Texas Blind, Deaf
and Orphan School). Care for dependent and neglected children
is no longer a function of the Youth Commission. This function
is now largely handled by the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services. The commission also initiated a county juvenile probation
subsidy program in the 1970s which was transferred to the Texas
Juvenile Probation Commission upon its creation in 1981. In 1971
a lawsuit was brought against the agency, its officers, and staff
by children confined in the juvenile corrections facilities, known
as the Morales case. Results of this lawsuit led to significant
changes in the way juvenile correction facilities were operated.
The Youth Commission operates under the Texas Human Resource
Code, Section 61, as the state's juvenile correction agency. The
commission provides for the care, custody, rehabilitation, and
reestablishment into society of those youth convicted of delinquent
conduct under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The commission
operates secure institutional and community-based residential
programs for delinquent youth, and supervises the youth once they
return to the community. It also contracts with private sector
providers to operate residential and non-residential services.
Through these institutions and facilities the agency provides
accredited secondary education, vocational training, and several
specialized programs, including programs for sex offenders, capital
offenders who have committed murder, chemical dependency, resocialization,
independent living preparation, mentally retarded youth, and seriously
emotionally disturbed youth. The commission also operates a parole
system for supervision of youth released from residential programs.
The agency protects the identities and identifying information
(such as home addresses and not allowing photographs without permission
of the child) of children admitted to their facilities as required
by the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
The Texas Youth Commission also administers the Interstate Compact
on Juveniles for the state of Texas. The Compact (ICJ) provides
for the cooperative supervision of juvenile probationers and parolees
who move from state to state. It also provides for the return
of non-delinquent runaway youth, parole and probation absconders,
and escapees to their home state.
V.T.C.A., Human Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 61
Arrangement: Unarranged
Access constraints: None
Use constraints: None
Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? No
Gaps: None present prior to about 1991.
Problems: None
Known related records in other agencies: None
Publications based on records: None
Previous destructions:
Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for
the Texas Youth Commission and none were found for this series
or for equivalent or related series.
Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Speeches
Series item number: 1.1.040
Agency item number: 1.1.040
Archival code: R
Retention: 2
Archival holdings:
None in the holdings of the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission.
Appraisal decision:
The speeches document outreach activities of the agency to local
officials and the general public. Most of the items are notes
and outlines of speeches, but these incomplete files could give
a synopsis of what the agency felt it needed to present to the
public, whether it was justifying a new facility or new program
in a school, or talking about what the agency was attempting to
accomplish in the areas of juvenile corrections. There is a strong
research interest in corrections materials, both of youth and
adults, and the speeches do have some informational value as outreach
instruments of the agency. This series has been appraised to be
archival. Change the archival code to A on the retention schedule
and transfer the speeches from c. 1991-1996 to the Archives and
Information Services now and yearly thereafter as they fulfill
their retention period.
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Records Series Review
Series Title: Building construction project files
Agency: Texas Youth Commission
Obsolete record series? No
Replaced by:
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: fractional
Agency holdings:
Retained by the agency for 10 years after completion of the project
according to the retention schedule. Current holdings at the agency
are 1994-[ongoing], 2 cubic ft; the agency also has several cubic
feet in storage at the State Records Center, dating 1989-1993.
Description:
This series contains correspondence, contracts, and related documentation
associated with renovations, additions, site improvements, and
architectural modifications to state-owned Youth Commission facilities.
Dates covered are 1989-[ongoing]. Correspondence and other documents
are between the agency and architects and contractors carrying
out the work.
The series Building plans and specifications (state-owned)
contains plans and specifications for all state-owned youth facilities
operated by the Youth Commission.
Contracts relating to additions or improvements to some of the
youth facilities in the 1920s can be found in the records of the
State Board of Control housed in the Archives and Information
Services Division, see State Board of Control, Records, Contracts.
Purpose:
These records document all aspects of construction projects undertaken
at state-owned facilities of the Youth Commission.
Agency program:
The State Youth Development Council was created in 1949, House
Bill 705, 51st Legislature, Regular Session. The purpose of this
council was to coordinate state efforts to help communities develop
and strengthen all child services. It was also directed to administer
the state's correctional facilities for delinquent children by
providing a program of constructive training aimed at the rehabilitation
and successful reestablishment of these children into society.
The agency became the Texas Youth Council in 1957, Senate Bill
303, 55th Legislature, Regular Session, with the additional charge
to provide parole supervision for certain delinquent children
until their discharge. The Legislature also directed the Council
to operate certain institutions for dependent and neglected children
(Corsicana State Home, Waco State Home, and the Texas Blind, Deaf
and Orphan School). Care for dependent and neglected children
is no longer a function of the Youth Commission. This function
is now largely handled by the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services. The commission also initiated a county juvenile probation
subsidy program in the 1970s which was transferred to the Texas
Juvenile Probation Commission upon its creation in 1981. In 1971
a lawsuit was brought against the agency, its officers, and staff
by children confined in the juvenile corrections facilities, known
as the Morales case. Results of this lawsuit led to significant
changes in the way juvenile correction facilities were operated.
The Youth Commission operates under the Texas Human Resource
Code, Section 61, as the state's juvenile correction agency. The
commission provides for the care, custody, rehabilitation, and
reestablishment into society of those youth convicted of delinquent
conduct under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The commission
operates secure institutional and community-based residential
programs for delinquent youth, and supervises the youth once they
return to the community. It also contracts with private sector
providers to operate residential and non-residential services.
Through these institutions and facilities the agency provides
accredited secondary education, vocational training, and several
specialized programs, including programs for sex offenders, capital
offenders who have committed murder, chemical dependency, resocialization,
independent living preparation, mentally retarded youth, and seriously
emotionally disturbed youth. The commission also operates a parole
system for supervision of youth released from residential programs.
The agency protects the identities and identifying information
(such as home addresses and not allowing photographs without permission
of the child) of children admitted to their facilities as required
by the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
The Texas Youth Commission also administers the Interstate Compact
on Juveniles for the state of Texas. The Compact (ICJ) provides
for the cooperative supervision of juvenile probationers and parolees
who move from state to state. It also provides for the return
of non-delinquent runaway youth, parole and probation absconders,
and escapees to their home state.
V.T.C.A., Human Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 61
Arrangement: Topical by project.
Access constraints: None
Use constraints: None
Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? No
Gaps: No records present prior to 1989.
Problems: None
Known related records in other agencies: None known
Publications based on records: None
Previous destructions:
Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for
the Texas Youth Commission and none were found for this series
or for equivalent or related series.
Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Building construction project files
Series item number: 5.2.002
Agency item number: 5.2.002
Archival code: R
Retention: AC+10
Archival holdings:
None in the holdings of the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission.
Appraisal decision:
These records document improvements or changes to state-owned
youth facilities. These records tie in with the next series, Building
plans and specifications (state-owned), to provide comprehensive
documentation on changes made to the sites and facilities owned
by the state and operated by the Youth Commission. Because of
the historic nature of some of the older facilities, and continued
state use of others, this series has been appraised to be archival.
Change the archival code to A. Transfer records to the Archives
and Information Services Division when the records have fulfilled
their retention period. If any of these facilities are sold by
the state in the future, we will reappraise any records held for
such facilities.
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Records Series Review
Series Title: Building plans and specifications (state owned)
Agency: Texas Youth Commission
Obsolete record series? No
Replaced by:
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: fractional
Agency holdings:
Retained by the agency for the life of the asset according to
the retention schedule. Current holdings of the agency date from
1969-[ongoing], size unknown.
Description:
This series contains blueprints and specifications to the state-owned
schools and youth facilities operated by the Youth Commission.
Dates covered are 1969-[ongoing].
The series Building construction project files contains
correspondence, contracts and related materials which concern
changes to the facilities.
Original plans and specifications for the Corsicana State Home
and the Gatesville State School can be found in a collections
of blueprints housed in the Archives and Information Services
Division, see the series Blueprints and drawings.
Purpose:
These records are created for the administration and maintenance
of state-owned facilities operated by the Youth Commission and
to record changes made to the buildings.
Agency program:
The State Youth Development Council was created in 1949, House
Bill 705, 51st Legislature, Regular Session. The purpose of this
council was to coordinate state efforts to help communities develop
and strengthen all child services. It was also directed to administer
the state's correctional facilities for delinquent children by
providing a program of constructive training aimed at the rehabilitation
and successful reestablishment of these children into society.
The agency became the Texas Youth Council in 1957, Senate Bill
303, 55th Legislature, Regular Session, with the additional charge
to provide parole supervision for certain delinquent children
until their discharge. The Legislature also directed the Council
to operate certain institutions for dependent and neglected children
(Corsicana State Home, Waco State Home, and the Texas Blind, Deaf
and Orphan School). Care for dependent and neglected children
is no longer a function of the Youth Commission. This function
is now largely handled by the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services. The commission also initiated a county juvenile probation
subsidy program in the 1970s which was transferred to the Texas
Juvenile Probation Commission upon its creation in 1981. In 1971
a lawsuit was brought against the agency, its officers, and staff
by children confined in the juvenile corrections facilities, known
as the Morales case. Results of this lawsuit led to significant
changes in the way juvenile correction facilities were operated.
The Youth Commission operates under the Texas Human Resource
Code, Section 61, as the state's juvenile correction agency. The
commission provides for the care, custody, rehabilitation, and
reestablishment into society of those youth convicted of delinquent
conduct under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The commission
operates secure institutional and community-based residential
programs for delinquent youth, and supervises the youth once they
return to the community. It also contracts with private sector
providers to operate residential and non-residential services.
Through these institutions and facilities the agency provides
accredited secondary education, vocational training, and several
specialized programs, including programs for sex offenders, capital
offenders who have committed murder, chemical dependency, resocialization,
independent living preparation, mentally retarded youth, and seriously
emotionally disturbed youth. The commission also operates a parole
system for supervision of youth released from residential programs.
The agency protects the identities and identifying information
(such as home addresses and not allowing photographs without permission
of the child) of children admitted to their facilities as required
by the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
The Texas Youth Commission also administers the Interstate Compact
on Juveniles for the state of Texas. The Compact (ICJ) provides
for the cooperative supervision of juvenile probationers and parolees
who move from state to state. It also provides for the return
of non-delinquent runaway youth, parole and probation absconders,
and escapees to their home state.
V.T.C.A., Human Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 61
Arrangement: By location
Access constraints: None
Use constraints: None
Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? No
Gaps: None present prior to 1969.
Problems:
The earliest dated records, according to the agency, are from
1969. Some of these facilities have been in operation since the
early part of this century, so the original plans and specifications
for all facilities are not likely present.
Known related records in other agencies: None known
Publications based on records: None
Previous destructions:
Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for
the Texas Youth Commission and none were found for this series
or for equivalent or related series.
Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Building plans and specifications (state owned)
Series item number: 5.2.003
Agency item number: 5.2.003A
Archival code: R
Retention: LA
Archival holdings:
Blueprints and drawings, c. 1902-1967, several cubic ft.
This is a collection of blueprints, drawings, and specifications,
most of state facilities, dating from c. 1902-1967. Within this
collection are original plans and specifications for the Corsicana
State Home, dating 1911-1915; and for the Gatesville State School
for Boys, dating 1907-1912.
Appraisal decision:
This series contains building plans and drawings of state-owned
youth facilities and documents changes made to them, some of which
have been in operation since early this century. Because of the
historic nature of some of the older facilities, and continued
state use of others, this series has been appraised to be archival.
The archival code needs to be changed to A. The materials will
remain at the agency as long as the agency uses the buildings.
If the agency ceases use of the buildings in the future these
materials will be transferred to the Library and Archives Commission.
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Records Series Review
Series Title: Building plans and specifications (leased)
Agency: Texas Youth Commission
Obsolete record series? No
Replaced by:
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: fractional
Agency holdings:
Retained by the agency for two years after completion of the project
according to the retention schedule. Current holdings of the agency
are 1981-[ongoing], 3 cubic ft.
Description:
This series contains building plans, specifications, contracts,
lease agreements, and correspondence with the lessor and the General
Services Commission. Dates covered are 1981-[ongoing]. These materials
concern leased district office buildings and halfway houses located
throughout Texas.
Purpose:
These records are created for the administration and maintenance
of leased facilities operated by the Youth Commission and record
changes made to the buildings.
Agency program:
The State Youth Development Council was created in 1949, House
Bill 705, 51st Legislature, Regular Session. The purpose of this
council was to coordinate state efforts to help communities develop
and strengthen all child services. It was also directed to administer
the state's correctional facilities for delinquent children by
providing a program of constructive training aimed at the rehabilitation
and successful reestablishment of these children into society.
The agency became the Texas Youth Council in 1957, Senate Bill
303, 55th Legislature, Regular Session, with the additional charge
to provide parole supervision for certain delinquent children
until their discharge. The Legislature also directed the Council
to operate certain institutions for dependent and neglected children
(Corsicana State Home, Waco State Home, and the Texas Blind, Deaf
and Orphan School). Care for dependent and neglected children
is no longer a function of the Youth Commission. This function
is now largely handled by the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services. The commission also initiated a county juvenile probation
subsidy program in the 1970s which was transferred to the Texas
Juvenile Probation Commission upon its creation in 1981. In 1971
a lawsuit was brought against the agency, its officers, and staff
by children confined in the juvenile corrections facilities, known
as the Morales case. Results of this lawsuit led to significant
changes in the way juvenile correction facilities were operated.
The Youth Commission operates under the Texas Human Resource
Code, Section 61, as the state's juvenile correction agency. The
commission provides for the care, custody, rehabilitation, and
reestablishment into society of those youth convicted of delinquent
conduct under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The commission
operates secure institutional and community-based residential
programs for delinquent youth, and supervises the youth once they
return to the community. It also contracts with private sector
providers to operate residential and non-residential services.
Through these institutions and facilities the agency provides
accredited secondary education, vocational training, and several
specialized programs, including programs for sex offenders, capital
offenders who have committed murder, chemical dependency, resocialization,
independent living preparation, mentally retarded youth, and seriously
emotionally disturbed youth. The commission also operates a parole
system for supervision of youth released from residential programs.
The agency protects the identities and identifying information
(such as home addresses and not allowing photographs without permission
of the child) of children admitted to their facilities as required
by the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
The Texas Youth Commission also administers the Interstate Compact
on Juveniles for the state of Texas. The Compact (ICJ) provides
for the cooperative supervision of juvenile probationers and parolees
who move from state to state. It also provides for the return
of non-delinquent runaway youth, parole and probation absconders,
and escapees to their home state.
V.T.C.A., Human Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 61
Arrangement: Unknown
Access constraints: None
Use constraints: None
Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? No
Gaps: No records present prior to 1981.
Problems: None
Known related records in other agencies:
Related records are present at the General Services Commission.
Publications based on records: None
Previous destructions:
Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for
the Texas Youth Commission and none were found for this series
or for equivalent or related series.
Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Building plans and specifications (leased)
Series item number: 5.2.003
Agency item number: 5.2.003B
Archival code: R
Retention: AC+2
Archival holdings:
None in the holdings of the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission.
Appraisal decision:
This series documents the maintenance of and changes made to leased
facilities of the Youth Commission, both district offices and
halfway houses. Permanent documentation of these facilities is
not necessary as these are not owned by the state. This series
has been appraised to be non-archival. Remove the archival code
of R from the retention schedule and replaced with the archival
code of E. Add a note to the Remarks column - "Archival code
removed subsequent to appraisal by Archives and Information Services
Division, Library and Archives Commission, March 30, 1999."
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Records Series Review
Series Title: Board member information
Agency: Texas Youth Commission
Obsolete record series? No
Replaced by:
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: fractional
Agency holdings:
Retained by the agency for 10 years according to the retention
schedule. Current holdings of the agency are 1983-[ongoing], less
than one cubic ft.
Description:
This series contains correspondence between members of the Youth
Commission, the executive director, the governor, legislators,
and the general public. Dates covered are 1983-[ongoing]. The
correspondence is fairly routine according to agency staff, consisting
of letters of appointment or nomination, notices of meetings,
and passing on requests from constituents. Any significant actions
taken by the commission are discussed in their meetings.
Administrative correspondence of the agency can be found in the
series Correspondence - Administrative.
Purpose:
This series documents routine interaction between the executive
director, commission members, the legislature, and others.
Agency program:
The State Youth Development Council was created in 1949, House
Bill 705, 51st Legislature, Regular Session. The purpose of this
council was to coordinate state efforts to help communities develop
and strengthen all child services. It was also directed to administer
the state's correctional facilities for delinquent children by
providing a program of constructive training aimed at the rehabilitation
and successful reestablishment of these children into society.
The agency became the Texas Youth Council in 1957, Senate Bill
303, 55th Legislature, Regular Session, with the additional charge
to provide parole supervision for certain delinquent children
until their discharge. The Legislature also directed the Council
to operate certain institutions for dependent and neglected children
(Corsicana State Home, Waco State Home, and the Texas Blind, Deaf
and Orphan School). Care for dependent and neglected children
is no longer a function of the Youth Commission. This function
is now largely handled by the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services. The commission also initiated a county juvenile probation
subsidy program in the 1970s which was transferred to the Texas
Juvenile Probation Commission upon its creation in 1981. In 1971
a lawsuit was brought against the agency, its officers, and staff
by children confined in the juvenile corrections facilities, known
as the Morales case. Results of this lawsuit led to significant
changes in the way juvenile correction facilities were operated.
The Youth Commission operates under the Texas Human Resource
Code, Section 61, as the state's juvenile correction agency. The
commission provides for the care, custody, rehabilitation, and
reestablishment into society of those youth convicted of delinquent
conduct under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The commission
operates secure institutional and community-based residential
programs for delinquent youth, and supervises the youth once they
return to the community. It also contracts with private sector
providers to operate residential and non-residential services.
Through these institutions and facilities the agency provides
accredited secondary education, vocational training, and several
specialized programs, including programs for sex offenders, capital
offenders who have committed murder, chemical dependency, resocialization,
independent living preparation, mentally retarded youth, and seriously
emotionally disturbed youth. The commission also operates a parole
system for supervision of youth released from residential programs.
The agency protects the identities and identifying information
(such as home addresses and not allowing photographs without permission
of the child) of children admitted to their facilities as required
by the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
The Texas Youth Commission also administers the Interstate Compact
on Juveniles for the state of Texas. The Compact (ICJ) provides
for the cooperative supervision of juvenile probationers and parolees
who move from state to state. It also provides for the return
of non-delinquent runaway youth, parole and probation absconders,
and escapees to their home state.
V.T.C.A., Human Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 61
Arrangement: Topical by commission member.
Access constraints:
Some of the materials may contain student names. Children's names
and other identifying information is confidential, Texas Family
Code, Section 58.005.
Use constraints:
None following redaction and/or restriction of materials listed
under "Access constraints".
Gaps: None present prior to 1983.
Problems:
Materials as listed in "Access constraints" will need
to be redacted or restricted by the agency before the materials
can be used.
Known related records in other agencies: None
Publications based on records: None
Previous destructions:
Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for
the Texas Youth Commission and none were found for this series
or for equivalent or related series.
Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Board member information
Series item number: 1.00.05
Agency item number: 1.
Archival code: none
Retention: AC+10
Archival holdings:
None in the holdings of the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission.
Appraisal decision:
This series contains what the agency has described as routine
correspondence with board members, consisting primarily of meeting
notices, appointment letters, and requests from constituents.
This is general correspondence and does not require permanent
retention by the Archives. Therefore this series has been appraised
to be non-archival. As it did not have an archival code on the
schedule, no changes need to be made on the schedule for this
series.
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Records Series Review
Series Title: Association of Juvenile Compact Administrators
Agency: Texas Youth Commission
Obsolete record series? No
Replaced by:
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: fractional
Agency holdings:
Retained by the agency for 35 years after the end of the fiscal
year, according to the retention schedule. The agency will be
changing this retention to permanent during the next recertification
of the schedule. Current holdings of the agency are 1955-[ongoing],
about 6-8 cubic ft.
Description:
This series consists of minutes from the annual meetings of the
Association of Juvenile Compact Administrators and from their
annual mid-winter workshops. Dates covered are 1955-[ongoing].
Also present is some correspondence between the compact administrators
of each state, and notes taken at meetings. The minutes and workshops
cover issues concerning multi-state problems involving runaway
juveniles. Topics discussed may include proposed legislation,
court decisions, return of juveniles to their home state, supervision
of juveniles in another state, expenses involved, ages of juveniles,
agreements, etc. Other materials present in the minutes may include
committee reports, resolutions, reports of the treasurer and secretary,
and the report of the National Council on Crime and Delinquency.
Cases handled through the Texas Interstate Compact on Juveniles
can be found in the series Interstate Compact on Juveniles.
An older handbook of procedures on handling Interstate Compact
cases can be found in the series Interstate Compact on Juveniles
files, described later in this report. Another related item
is a thesis done about the Interstate compacts, which is filed
in the series Youth Commission facilities and programs history
and information notebooks, titled An Historical Analysis
of the Interstate Compact on Juveniles, by Roger H. Voltz,
1982, done for Sam Houston State University.
Purpose:
These minutes record the discussions and activities undertaken
at the meetings of the Association of Juvenile Compact Administrators.
They also serve as a reference source on the activities of the
Association by the staff of the Youth Commission.
Agency program:
The State Youth Development Council was created in 1949, House
Bill 705, 51st Legislature, Regular Session. The purpose of this
council was to coordinate state efforts to help communities develop
and strengthen all child services. It was also directed to administer
the state's correctional facilities for delinquent children by
providing a program of constructive training aimed at the rehabilitation
and successful reestablishment of these children into society.
The agency became the Texas Youth Council in 1957, Senate Bill
303, 55th Legislature, Regular Session, with the additional charge
to provide parole supervision for certain delinquent children
until their discharge. The Legislature also directed the Council
to operate certain institutions for dependent and neglected children
(Corsicana State Home, Waco State Home, and the Texas Blind, Deaf
and Orphan School). Care for dependent and neglected children
is no longer a function of the Youth Commission. This function
is now largely handled by the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services. The commission also initiated a county juvenile probation
subsidy program in the 1970s which was transferred to the Texas
Juvenile Probation Commission upon its creation in 1981. In 1971
a lawsuit was brought against the agency, its officers, and staff
by children confined in the juvenile corrections facilities, known
as the Morales case. Results of this lawsuit led to significant
changes in the way juvenile correction facilities were operated.
The Youth Commission operates under the Texas Human Resource
Code, Section 61, as the state's juvenile correction agency. The
commission provides for the care, custody, rehabilitation, and
reestablishment into society of those youth convicted of delinquent
conduct under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The commission
operates secure institutional and community-based residential
programs for delinquent youth, and supervises the youth once they
return to the community. It also contracts with private sector
providers to operate residential and non-residential services.
Through these institutions and facilities the agency provides
accredited secondary education, vocational training, and several
specialized programs, including programs for sex offenders, capital
offenders who have committed murder, chemical dependency, resocialization,
independent living preparation, mentally retarded youth, and seriously
emotionally disturbed youth. The commission also operates a parole
system for supervision of youth released from residential programs.
The agency protects the identities and identifying information
(such as home addresses and not allowing photographs without permission
of the child) of children admitted to their facilities as required
by the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
The Texas Youth Commission also administers the Interstate Compact
on Juveniles for the state of Texas. The Council of State Governments
drafted a compact agreement in 1955 to address the need for interstate
agreements to cover multi-state problems involving runaway juveniles.
The need was evident for procedures to permit the return of non-delinquent
juveniles who ran away from home to other states, and for a system
under which juvenile offenders could be supervised in other states.
The first organizational meeting of the Compact was held in 1956.
In 1965 the 59th Legislature of Texas enacted House Bill 531 -
The Uniform Interstate Compact on Juveniles by adding a new section
to the Texas Youth Council Act, thus Texas joined the compact
in 1965. The executive director of the Youth Commission is the
compact administrator for Texas. The Compact (ICJ) provides for
the cooperative supervision of juvenile probationers and parolees
who move from state to state. It also provides for the return
of non-delinquent runaway youth, parole and probation absconders,
and escapees to their home state. The administrators of each state
compact are members of the Association of Juvenile Compact Administrators
and they meet yearly to discuss issues pertinent to their endeavors.
V.T.C.A., Human Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 61
Arrangement: Chronological by date of meeting.
Access constraints: None
Use constraints: None
Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? No
Gaps: None
Problems: None
Known related records in other agencies:
Each state maintains it's own files from the Association meetings.
Publications based on records: None
Previous destructions:
Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for
the Texas Youth Commission and none were found for this series
or for equivalent or related series.
Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Association of Juvenile Compact Administrators
Series item number: none
Agency item number: 7.00.01
Archival code: none
Retention: FE+35
Archival holdings:
Association of Juvenile Compact Administrators, minutes, 1962,
1965, 1966, 1968, fractional
These are minutes from several of the annual meetings of the Association
of Juvenile Compact Administrators, dating 1962, 1965, 1966, and
1968.
Appraisal decision:
These records help to document how the agency handles multi-state
problems involving runaway juveniles. There is some value in these
minutes as they summarize discussions and actions taken by the
Association of Juvenile Compact Administrators, of which Texas
is a member. This association does not have a national office,
each state maintains its own records. Some of the materials presented
will concern one state, some several states, some all states.
Some materials may initially affect one state, and ultimately
change practices in several or all the states. For example, the
member from Utah may present legislation they are proposing to
introduce to their legislature to explain how they intend to handle
a particular situation. Another state, say Texas, may feel similar
legislation could be beneficial in their state and will then draft
a bill for their state legislature. The agency maintains these
records as a reference source, but they can also be used to document
the variety of ways states handle the problem of runaway juveniles.
We do not know what the other states are maintaining as far as
records. The records the commission keeps in a related series,
Interstate Compact on Juveniles, would be a good source
of information on Texas' practices, but that series concerns individual
cases, which are confidential. Because of the informational value
in these records they have been appraised to be archival. Add
an archival code of A to the retention schedule. The agency has
stated it intends to change the retention period to PM. I recommend
changing the retention period to AV, so the agency can maintain
the records at their offices as long as they have administrative
or research value. When such use becomes very infrequent, they
can then transfer the older records to the Archives and Information
Services Division.
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Records Series Review
Series Title: Interstate Compact on Juveniles
Agency: Texas Youth Commission
Obsolete record series? No
Replaced by:
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: fractional
Agency holdings:
This series review describes three series of Interstate Compact
records, which currently have three different retention periods,
FE+3, FE+5, and FE+10. The agency intends to combine all the series
into one series on the next retention schedule with a retention
period of FE+10. Current holdings of the agency are 1991-[ongoing],
less than one cubic ft.
Description:
This series contains correspondence between the Youth Commission
and counties and states involving interstate juvenile issues and
problems, concerning the transfer of individual juveniles between
states. Dates covered are 1991-[ongoing]. Because these records
concern individual juveniles and discuss cases, they are confidential.
According to the agency, there is very little if any material
present concerning the administration of the program.
A older handbook of procedures on handling Interstate Compact
cases can be found in the series Interstate Compact on Juveniles
files, described later in this report. Minutes from meetings
of the Association of Juvenile Compact Administrators can be found
in the series Association of Juvenile Compact Administrators.
Another related item is a thesis done about the Interstate compacts,
which is filed in the series Youth Commission facilities and
programs history and information notebooks, titled An Historical
Analysis of the Interstate Compact on Juveniles, by Roger
H. Voltz, 1982, done for Sam Houston State University.
Purpose:
These records are created to document the state of Texas' handling
of runaway juveniles through the Interstate Compact on Juveniles.
Agency program:
The State Youth Development Council was created in 1949, House
Bill 705, 51st Legislature, Regular Session. The purpose of this
council was to coordinate state efforts to help communities develop
and strengthen all child services. It was also directed to administer
the state's correctional facilities for delinquent children by
providing a program of constructive training aimed at the rehabilitation
and successful reestablishment of these children into society.
The agency became the Texas Youth Council in 1957, Senate Bill
303, 55th Legislature, Regular Session, with the additional charge
to provide parole supervision for certain delinquent children
until their discharge. The Legislature also directed the Council
to operate certain institutions for dependent and neglected children
(Corsicana State Home, Waco State Home, and the Texas Blind, Deaf
and Orphan School). Care for dependent and neglected children
is no longer a function of the Youth Commission. This function
is now largely handled by the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services. The commission also initiated a county juvenile probation
subsidy program in the 1970s which was transferred to the Texas
Juvenile Probation Commission upon its creation in 1981. In 1971
a lawsuit was brought against the agency, its officers, and staff
by children confined in the juvenile corrections facilities, known
as the Morales case. Results of this lawsuit led to significant
changes in the way juvenile correction facilities were operated.
The Youth Commission operates under the Texas Human Resource
Code, Section 61, as the state's juvenile correction agency. The
commission provides for the care, custody, rehabilitation, and
reestablishment into society of those youth convicted of delinquent
conduct under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The commission
operates secure institutional and community-based residential
programs for delinquent youth, and supervises the youth once they
return to the community. It also contracts with private sector
providers to operate residential and non-residential services.
Through these institutions and facilities the agency provides
accredited secondary education, vocational training, and several
specialized programs, including programs for sex offenders, capital
offenders who have committed murder, chemical dependency, resocialization,
independent living preparation, mentally retarded youth, and seriously
emotionally disturbed youth. The commission also operates a parole
system for supervision of youth released from residential programs.
The agency protects the identities and identifying information
(such as home addresses and not allowing photographs without permission
of the child) of children admitted to their facilities as required
by the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
The Texas Youth Commission also administers the Interstate Compact
on Juveniles for the state of Texas. The Council of State Governments
drafted a compact agreement in 1955 to address the need for interstate
agreements to cover multi-state problems involving runaway juveniles.
The need was evident for procedures to permit the return of non-delinquent
juveniles who ran away from home to other states, and for a system
under which juvenile offenders could be supervised in other states.
The first organizational meeting of the Compact was held in 1956.
In 1965 the 59th Legislature of Texas enacted House Bill 531 -
The Uniform Interstate Compact on Juveniles by adding a new section
to the Texas Youth Council Act, thus Texas joined the compact
in 1965. The executive director of the Youth Commission is the
compact administrator for Texas. The Compact (ICJ) provides for
the cooperative supervision of juvenile probationers and parolees
who move from state to state. It also provides for the return
of non-delinquent runaway youth, parole and probation absconders,
and escapees to their home state.
V.T.C.A., Human Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 61
Arrangement: Alphabetical
Access constraints:
Yes, names of the juveniles are confidential, Texas Family Code,
Section 58.005.
Use constraints:
None following redaction and/or restriction of materials listed
under "Access constraints".
Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? No
Gaps: None present prior to 1991.
Problems:
Materials as listed in "Access constraints" will need
to be redacted or restricted by the agency before the materials
can be used.
Known related records in other agencies:
Correspondence should also be present in similar agencies in other
states.
Publications based on records: None
Previous destructions:
Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for
the Texas Youth Commission and none were found for this series
or for equivalent or related series.
Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Interstate Compact on Juvenile Admin. Matters
Series item number: 7.00.05
Agency item number: none
Archival code: none
Retention: FE+5
Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Interstate Compact on Juvenile issues involving states
Series item number: 7.00.08
Agency item number: none
Archival code: none
Retention: FE+10
Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Interstate Compact on Juvenile issues involving counties
Series item number: 7.00.09
Agency item number: none
Archival code: none
Retention: FE+3
Archival holdings:
None in the holdings of the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission.
Appraisal decision:
The records in this series are the result of communication over
cases of individual juveniles and transfers of such children between
states, carried out through agreement with other states as part
of the Interstate Compact. According to the agency, there are
few if any files present which discuss the administrative nature
of this function, which is the type of material we would be interested
in reviewing. A manual developed when Texas joined the compact
in 1965 is present in the older records recently transferred to
the Archives and Information Services Division, which does provide
some descriptive information about carrying out the functions
of the compact. Because the records held in the three series described
in this series concern individual cases and not the administration
of this function, we have appraised these series to be non-archival.
As these series did not have an archival code on the schedule,
no changes need to be made on the schedule for them. However,
if the agency does begin in the future to maintain administrative
records of how this function is carried out (in addition to the
1965 manual we hold), we will be interested in reviewing those
records.
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Records Series Review
Series Title: Reports - annual and biennial, agency
Agency: Texas Youth Commission
Obsolete record series? Yes
Replaced by: none
Ongoing record series? No
Annual accumulation:
Agency holdings:
Retained permanently by the agency according to the retention
schedule. Current holdings are 1958-1959, 1967, 1969-1983, and
1995-1996, about 0.5 cubic ft.
Description:
These are annual reports of the Youth Commission and its predecessor
agencies, dating 1949-1983, 1994-1996. These reports provide narrative
summaries of program activities, statistical data, information
on and location of all facilities operated by the agency, funding
and expenditures, listings of board members and executive administration,
etc. According to agency staff, the agency no longer produces
an annual report of the agency such as is described here. Their
statutes now require only an annual financial report to the Governor,
which can be found in the Texas Documents Collection, dating 1991-[ongoing].
What the agency now does is provide much of the same information
they formerly printed in their annual reports on their web page,
accessible on the Internet. This is not in the same printed format,
and there is additional data, especially statistical charts and
tables available.
As a related record, early biennial and/or annual reports of
the two original reformatory schools can be found in the Texana
collection of the Archives and Information Services Division -
the Girls Training School, which became the Gainesville State
School for Girls, 1917-1918; and the House of Correction and Reformatory,
also known as the State Juvenile Training School, and which later
became the Gatesville State School for Boys, 1887-1898, 1908-1920.
These two institutions were initially independently operated by
Boards of Trustees until their administration was taken over by
the State Board of Control in 1920.
Purpose:
Annual reports are created to provide summary documentation of
the activities of the agency over a fiscal year.
Agency program:
The State Youth Development Council was created in 1949, House
Bill 705, 51st Legislature, Regular Session. The purpose of this
council was to coordinate state efforts to help communities develop
and strengthen all child services. It was also directed to administer
the state's correctional facilities for delinquent children by
providing a program of constructive training aimed at the rehabilitation
and successful reestablishment of these children into society.
The agency became the Texas Youth Council in 1957, Senate Bill
303, 55th Legislature, Regular Session, with the additional charge
to provide parole supervision for certain delinquent children
until their discharge. The Legislature also directed the Council
to operate certain institutions for dependent and neglected children
(Corsicana State Home, Waco State Home, and the Texas Blind, Deaf
and Orphan School). Care for dependent and neglected children
is no longer a function of the Youth Commission. This function
is now largely handled by the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services. The commission also initiated a county juvenile probation
subsidy program in the 1970s which was transferred to the Texas
Juvenile Probation Commission upon its creation in 1981. In 1971
a lawsuit was brought against the agency, its officers, and staff
by children confined in the juvenile corrections facilities, known
as the Morales case. Results of this lawsuit led to significant
changes in the way juvenile correction facilities were operated.
The Youth Commission operates under the Texas Human Resource
Code, Section 61, as the state's juvenile correction agency. The
commission provides for the care, custody, rehabilitation, and
reestablishment into society of those youth convicted of delinquent
conduct under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The commission
operates secure institutional and community-based residential
programs for delinquent youth, and supervises the youth once they
return to the community. It also contracts with private sector
providers to operate residential and non-residential services.
The agency protects the identities and identifying information
(such as home addresses and not allowing photographs without permission
of the child) of children admitted to their facilities as required
by the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
The agency operates thirteen correctional institutions (one more
is scheduled to open in 1999), nine community-based residential
programs, and contracts with private sector providers for a variety
of residential programs. Through these institutions and facilities
the agency provides accredited secondary education, vocational
training, and several specialized programs, including programs
for sex offenders, capital offenders who have committed murder,
chemical dependency, resocialization, independent living preparation,
mentally retarded youth, and for seriously emotionally disturbed
youth. The commission also operates a parole system for supervision
of youth released from residential programs.
The Texas Youth Commission also administers the Interstate Compact
on Juveniles for the state of Texas. The Compact (ICJ) provides
for the cooperative supervision of juvenile probationers and parolees
who move from state to state. It also provides for the return
of non-delinquent runaway youth, parole and probation absconders,
and escapees to their home state.
V.T.C.A., Human Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 61
Arrangement: Chronological
Access constraints: None
Use constraints: None
Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? No
Gaps:
1984-1993 in the Documents Collection, the agency is missing 1949-1957,
1960-1966, 1968, 1984-1994. Reports are no longer produced.
Problems: None
Known related records in other agencies: None
Publications based on records: None
Previous destructions:
Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for
the Texas Youth Commission and none were found for this series
or for equivalent or related series.
Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Reports - annual and biennial, agency
Series item number: 1.1.032
Agency item number: 1.1.032
Archival code: none
Retention: PM
Texas Documents Collection holdings:
State Youth Development Council, annual reports, 1949-1957
Texas Youth Council, annual reports, 1958-1982
Texas Youth Commission, annual reports, 1983, 1994-1996
Archival holdings:
The Archives and Information Services Division holds the following
reports in its Texana collection:
State Youth Development Council, annual reports, 1949-1957
Texas Youth Council, annual reports, 1958-1960
Girls Training School, which became the Gainesville State School
for Girls, 1917-1918
House of Correction and Reformatory, also known as the State
Juvenile Training School,
which later became the Gatesville State School for Boys, 1887-1898,
1908-1920.
Appraisal decision:
These reports summarize the activities of the Commission over
a fiscal year and are already considered archival. Their archival
mandate has been fulfilled by the agency sending copies of the
reports to the Publications Depository. The Documents Collection
has a more complete set than can be found at the agency and does
not require any copies of reports from the agency. This series
needs to remain on the schedule since the agency is maintaining
the printed reports permanently. Add an archival code of E to
the schedule with the following note in the Remarks Section -
"Archival review code removed subsequent to appraisal by
the Archives and Information Services Division of the Library
and Archives Commission, March 30, 1999." If the agency begins
producing this report again, the archival code will be changed
back to A and copies will need to be sent to the Publications
Depository.
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Records Series Review
Series Title: Strategic plans
Agency: Texas Youth Commission
Obsolete record series? No
Replaced by:
Ongoing record series? Yes
Annual accumulation: fractional
Agency holdings:
Retained permanently by the agency according to the retention
schedule. The agency has copies of all four plans, covering the
time frames of 1992-1998, 1995-1999, 1997-2001, and 1999-2003,
fractional cubic ft.
Description:
Strategic plans are long-range planning tools prepared by the
agency in which the goals and objectives of the agency are presented
along with performance measures for each. Plans contain a mission
statement, a statement of philosophy, and external/internal assessment
of the agency, and the goals of the agency. Each goal contains
objectives, strategies, and output measures for measuring and
achieving the goals. Also present is an organization chart of
the agency. The Youth Commission has prepared four plans, in 1992,
1994, 1996, 1998 with the planning time frames 1992-1998, 1995-1999,
1997-2001, and 1999-2003 respectively.
Purpose:
Strategic plans are long-range planning tools prepared by the
agency to set forth goals and objectives of the agency over a
multi-year period.
Agency program:
The State Youth Development Council was created in 1949, House
Bill 705, 51st Legislature, Regular Session. The purpose of this
council was to coordinate state efforts to help communities develop
and strengthen all child services. It was also directed to administer
the state's correctional facilities for delinquent children by
providing a program of constructive training aimed at the rehabilitation
and successful reestablishment of these children into society.
The agency became the Texas Youth Council in 1957, Senate Bill
303, 55th Legislature, Regular Session, with the additional charge
to provide parole supervision for certain delinquent children
until their discharge. The Legislature also directed the Council
to operate certain institutions for dependent and neglected children
(Corsicana State Home, Waco State Home, and the Texas Blind, Deaf
and Orphan School). Care for dependent and neglected children
is no longer a function of the Youth Commission. This function
is now largely handled by the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services. The commission also initiated a county juvenile probation
subsidy program in the 1970s which was transferred to the Texas
Juvenile Probation Commission upon its creation in 1981. In 1971
a lawsuit was brought against the agency, its officers, and staff
by children confined in the juvenile corrections facilities, known
as the Morales case. Results of this lawsuit led to significant
changes in the way juvenile correction facilities were operated.
The Youth Commission operates under the Texas Human Resource
Code, Section 61, as the state's juvenile correction agency. The
commission provides for the care, custody, rehabilitation, and
reestablishment into society of those youth convicted of delinquent
conduct under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The commission
operates secure institutional and community-based residential
programs for delinquent youth, and supervises the youth once they
return to the community. It also contracts with private sector
providers to operate residential and non-residential services.
Through these institutions and facilities the agency provides
accredited secondary education, vocational training, and several
specialized programs, including programs for sex offenders, capital
offenders who have committed murder, chemical dependency, resocialization,
independent living preparation, mentally retarded youth, and seriously
emotionally disturbed youth. The commission also operates a parole
system for supervision of youth released from residential programs.
The agency protects the identities and identifying information
(such as home addresses and not allowing photographs without permission
of the child) of children admitted to their facilities as required
by the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
The Texas Youth Commission also administers the Interstate Compact
on Juveniles for the state of Texas. The Compact (ICJ) provides
for the cooperative supervision of juvenile probationers and parolees
who move from state to state. It also provides for the return
of non-delinquent runaway youth, parole and probation absconders,
and escapees to their home state.
V.T.C.A., Human Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 61
Arrangement: Chronological
Access constraints: None
Use constraints: None
Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? No
Gaps: None
Problems: None
Known related records in other agencies: None
Publications based on records: None
Previous destructions:
Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for
the Texas Youth Commission and none were found for this series
or for equivalent or related series.
Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Strategic plans
Series item number: 1.1.055
Agency item number: 1.1.055
Archival code: none
Retention: PM
Texas Documents Collection holdings:
The archival requirement for this series is fulfilled by sending
the required number of copies to the Publications Depository Programs,
Library and Archives Commission (12 Texas Administrative Code,
Section 3.4(1) (C)). The Publications Depository holds the plans
for 1992, 1994, 1996, and 1998.
Archival holdings:
None in the holdings of the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission.
Appraisal decision:
The strategic plans document the long-range planning activities
of the Commission and are already considered archival. Their archival
mandate is fulfilled by the agency sending copies of the reports
to the Publications Depository. An archival code of A needs to
be added to the records retention schedule.
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Records Series Review
Series Title: Morales records
Agency: Texas Youth Commission
Obsolete record series? Yes
Replaced by: none
Ongoing record series? No
Annual accumulation:
Agency holdings:
The records were recently transferred to the Archives and Information
Services Division.
Description:
This series contains correspondence, memoranda, legal materials,
court documents, reports, trial proceedings, testimony, depositions,
charts, drafts, publications, administrative records, photocopies,
clippings, manuals, field notes, and a photograph. The records
range in date from 1949-1990 (bulk 1969-1989). These materials
document a lawsuit involving the Texas Youth Council, known as
the Morales case, from the beginning of the case to the filing
of the last report.
The Morales litigation began on February 12, 1971, with the filing
of a class action suit on behalf of those involuntarily committed
to the custody of the Texas Youth Council (TYC) against, both
personally and professionally, Dr. James A. Turman, Executive
Director of the TYC, members of the commission, superintendents
of TYC schools, and other employees responsible for the supervision
of juveniles committed to TYC custody. Issues in the suit included
TYC interference with attorney-client relationships; failure of
TYC to provide rehabilitative treatment, rather than punishment
for adjudicated youth; censorship of incoming and outgoing mail;
prohibition of speaking in languages other than English; physical
abuse; use of tear gas for punishment; security/solitary confinement;
requiring children to remain silent for punishment or to perform
repetitive, degrading, and unnecessary tasks for hours; placement
in a maximum security facility without due process; and concerns
over the quality and sufficiency of medical and psychiatric care.
The case went on for several years, during which time TYC implemented
some changes (per court orders) which improved the conditions
at the schools. In 1975 the Mountain View school was shut down
and in 1979 the Gatesville School for Boys was shut down by the
TYC, with the Gatesville facilities transferred to the Texas Department
of Corrections. The judge's decision came down in 1974 and was
followed by several appeals that went as far as the U.S. Supreme
Court. In August 1981 the parties and amici filed a Joint Status
Report stating they had agreed to suspend formal discovery pending
both the completion of informal discovery and of a series of meetings
intended to negotiate a settlement of all remaining outstanding
issues. Settlement negotiations were carried out in 1982 and a
first proposed settlement was presented on March 3, 1983, but
this was not approved. Following the rejection of another proposed
settlement and a series of tours taken of TYC facilities to report
on conditions, a final settlement was reached and approved by
the court on April 16, 1984.
As part of the settlement, a Committee of Consultants was created
to review compliance of the TYC with the terms of the settlement,
to report the results of the reviews to the TYC executive director,
and to recommend to the TYC answers and solutions to issues and
problems which were referred to the Committee by either the terms
of the settlement agreement or the executive director in the future.
The committee was to inspect each TYC facility yearly and TYC
contract facilities and other programs whenever feasible and appropriate,
and to cease operations after four years. The committee issued
reports in 1985, 1986, 1987, and the final report in 1988, with
consistent findings that the TYC was generally in compliance with
the settlement agreement. Following the 1988 report the case was
discharged from the courts.
Purpose:
These records document the Morales litigation and the resulting
changes TYC incorporated to ensure compliance with the orders
of the court.
Agency program:
The State Youth Development Council was created in 1949, House
Bill 705, 51st Legislature, Regular Session. The purpose of this
council was to coordinate state efforts to help communities develop
and strengthen all child services. It was also directed to administer
the state's correctional facilities for delinquent children by
providing a program of constructive training aimed at the rehabilitation
and successful reestablishment of these children into society.
The agency became the Texas Youth Council in 1957, Senate Bill
303, 55th Legislature, Regular Session, with the additional charge
to provide parole supervision for certain delinquent children
until their discharge. The Legislature also directed the Council
to operate certain institutions for dependent and neglected children
(Corsicana State Home, Waco State Home, and the Texas Blind, Deaf
and Orphan School). Care for dependent and neglected children
is no longer a function of the Youth Commission. This function
is now largely handled by the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services. The commission also initiated a county juvenile probation
subsidy program in the 1970s which was transferred to the Texas
Juvenile Probation Commission upon its creation in 1981. In 1971
a lawsuit was brought against the agency, its officers, and staff
by children confined in the juvenile corrections facilities, known
as the Morales case. Results of this lawsuit led to significant
changes in the way juvenile correction facilities were operated.
The Youth Commission operates under the Texas Human Resource
Code, Section 61, as the state's juvenile correction agency. The
commission provides for the care, custody, rehabilitation, and
reestablishment into society of those youth convicted of delinquent
conduct under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The commission
operates secure institutional and community-based residential
programs for delinquent youth, and supervises the youth once they
return to the community. It also contracts with private sector
providers to operate residential and non-residential services.
The agency protects the identities and identifying information
(such as home addresses and not allowing photographs without permission
of the child) of children admitted to their facilities as required
by the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
The agency operates thirteen correctional institutions (one more
is scheduled to open in 1999), nine community-based residential
programs, and contracts with private sector providers for a variety
of residential programs. Through these institutions and facilities
the agency provides accredited secondary education, vocational
training, and several specialized programs, including programs
for sex offenders, capital offenders who have committed murder,
chemical dependency, resocialization, independent living preparation,
mentally retarded youth, and for seriously emotionally disturbed
youth. The commission also operates a parole system for supervision
of youth released from residential programs.
The Texas Youth Commission also administers the Interstate Compact
on Juveniles for the state of Texas. The Compact (ICJ) provides
for the cooperative supervision of juvenile probationers and parolees
who move from state to state. It also provides for the return
of non-delinquent runaway youth, parole and probation absconders,
and escapees to their home state.
V.T.C.A., Human Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 61
Arrangement: Roughly chronological
Access constraints:
Yes. Children's names and identifying information are confidential
under the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005. Medical and psychological
reports are restricted for 100 years under the Medical Practice
Act. Social security numbers and the home addresses and phone
numbers of employees are confidential under the Texas Government
Code, Section 552.117 (unless waived by the employee).
Use constraints:
None following redaction and/or restriction of materials listed
under "Access constraints".
Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? Yes
A folder inventory and guide to the records is available in the
Archives and Information Services Division.
Gaps: None
Problems:
Materials as listed in "Access constraints" will need
to be redacted or restricted by archivists in the Archives and
Information Services Division before the materials can be used.
Known related records in other agencies:
Some materials may be present in the Attorney General's Office.
Publications based on records: None known
Previous destructions:
Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for
the Texas Youth Commission and none were found for this series
or for equivalent or related series.
Series data from agency schedule:
Title: Morales records
Series item number: 1.
Agency item number: 1.00.06
Archival code: none
Retention: PM
Archival holdings:
Morales case files, 1949-1990 (bulk 1969-1989), 43 cubic ft.
See the "Description section" for the series description.
Appraisal decision:
This was a precedent setting case, not only in juvenile corrections
in Texas, but also nationwide, according to the agency staff.
It changed the way facilities for juvenile delinquents were operated.
Because of the legal interest and informational value of these
files, this series has been appraised to be archival. The files
have already been transferred to the Archives and Information
Services Division, so the agency can remove this series from their
retention schedule.
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Records Series Review
Series Title: Correspondence and administrative files of
the Texas Youth Council
Agency: Texas Youth Commission
Obsolete record series? Yes
Replaced by: similar records are found in the series Correspondence,
administrative
Ongoing record series? No
Annual accumulation:
Agency holdings:
These have been transferred by the agency to the Archives and
Information Services Division.
Description:
This series contains correspondence and administrative files of
the Texas Youth Council, dating 1963, 1968-1974. Correspondence
is between the agency and several of the state schools, state
agencies, local officials, and the general public. Topics include
concerns over construction quality, changes to policies and admittance
standards, employment of students, letters to officials about
conditions in the schools, staff changes, social events at facilities,
deaths at the schools, volunteer programs, education and/or research
project proposals, proposals for programs at schools and homes,
screening of students at the state schools, approving leaves of
absence for children, and acknowledgements. Also present are results
of research projects, a speech by the executive director to a
group of students in 1971, lists giving statistical breakdowns
of kids in the facilities, goals for homes and schools - including
notes from planning sessions and evaluation reports on objectives,
correspondence with and newsletters of the Waco Ex-Students Association
and the Corsicana Ex-Students Association, lists of ex-students
from the orphan homes, monthly hospital reports, and a special
study done in 1963 on the Corsicana State Home.
Current administrative correspondence of the agency is described
in the series Correspondence, administrative. Older correspondence
concerning the state orphanages and juvenile schools can be found
in the records of the State Board of Control, housed in the Archives
and Information Services Division, see State Board of Control,
Records, Board members files.
Purpose:
These files were created and maintained to document the handling
of agency functions.
Agency program:
The State Youth Development Council was created in 1949, House
Bill 705, 51st Legislature, Regular Session. The purpose of this
council was to coordinate state efforts to help communities develop
and strengthen all child services. It was also directed to administer
the state's correctional facilities for delinquent children by
providing a program of constructive training aimed at the rehabilitation
and successful reestablishment of these children into society.
The agency became the Texas Youth Council in 1957, Senate Bill
303, 55th Legislature, Regular Session, with the additional charge
to provide parole supervision for certain delinquent children
until their discharge. The Legislature also directed the Council
to operate certain institutions for dependent and neglected children
(Corsicana State Home, Waco State Home, and the Texas Blind, Deaf
and Orphan School). Care for dependent and neglected children
is no longer a function of the Youth Commission. This function
is now largely handled by the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services. The commission also initiated a county juvenile probation
subsidy program in the 1970s which was transferred to the Texas
Juvenile Probation Commission upon its creation in 1981. In 1971
a lawsuit was brought against the agency, its officers, and staff
by children confined in the juvenile corrections facilities, known
as the Morales case. Results of this lawsuit led to significant
changes in the way juvenile correction facilities were operated.
The Youth Commission operates under the Texas Human Resource
Code, Section 61, as the state's juvenile correction agency. The
commission provides for the care, custody, rehabilitation, and
reestablishment into society of those youth convicted of delinquent
conduct under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The commission
operates secure institutional and community-based residential
programs for delinquent youth, and supervises the youth once they
return to the community. It also contracts with private sector
providers to operate residential and non-residential services.
Through these institutions and facilities the agency provides
accredited secondary education, vocational training, and several
specialized programs, including programs for sex offenders, capital
offenders who have committed murder, chemical dependency, resocialization,
independent living preparation, mentally retarded youth, and seriously
emotionally disturbed youth. The commission also operates a parole
system for supervision of youth released from residential programs.
The agency protects the identities and identifying information
(such as home addresses and not allowing photographs without permission
of the child) of children admitted to their facilities as required
by the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
The Texas Youth Commission also administers the Interstate Compact
on Juveniles for the state of Texas. The Compact (ICJ) provides
for the cooperative supervision of juvenile probationers and parolees
who move from state to state. It also provides for the return
of non-delinquent runaway youth, parole and probation absconders,
and escapees to their home state.
V.T.C.A., Human Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 61
Arrangement: Topically, primarily by facility or subject.
Access constraints:
Minimal restrictions. A few letters may contain the names of juvenile
delinquent children. Children's names and identifying information
are confidential under the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
Use constraints:
None following redaction of materials listed under "Access
constraints".
Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? None
Gaps:
No records are present prior to 1968 except a report from 1963;
none are present after 1974.
Problems:
Materials as listed in "Access constraints" will need
to be redacted archivists in the Archives and Information Services
Division before the materials can be used.
Known related records in other agencies: None
Publications based on records: None known
Previous destructions:
Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for
the Texas Youth Commission and none were found for this series
or for equivalent or related series.
Series data from agency schedule: Not on the schedule, this is
a defunct series.
Archival holdings:
Correspondence and administrative files of the Texas Youth
Council, 1963, 1968-1974, 0.5 cubic ft.
See the "Description section" for the series description.
Appraisal decision:
This series documents some handling of the juvenile issues by
the agency, primarily in regards to conditions and programs in
the schools and homes the agency operated at that time. Although
there are some routine materials present, there is enough material
in this series which provide significant documentation of agency
functions, admittedly on a limited scale. Because of the evidential
value of these files and the lack of similar materials from this
time frame, this series has been appraised to be archival. No
action needs to be taken by the agency as these records have already
been transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division.
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Records Series Review
Series Title: Executive Director's records as ex-officio
member of the Texas Commission on Services to Children and Youth
Agency: Texas Youth Commission
Obsolete record series? Yes
Replaced by: none known
Ongoing record series? No
Annual accumulation:
Agency holdings:
These have been transferred by the agency to the Archives and
Information Services Division.
Description:
The series contains minutes, meeting materials, and other files
of the Texas Commission on Services to Children and Youth, dating
1972-1974. The executive director of the Youth Council served
as an ex-officio member of this commission. Materials present
include minutes, reports on juvenile issues presented at meetings
or forums, testimony heard by the Governor's Interagency Task
Force on Youth Care and Rehabilitation, drafts of legislation,
legislative recommendations, rules and regulation changes, memoranda,
newsletters, new member appointments, policy resolutions, budget
data, and their constitution and bylaws.
Purpose:
These records document the interaction of the Youth Commission
with the Texas Commission on Services to Children and Youth.
Agency program:
The State Youth Development Council was created in 1949, House
Bill 705, 51st Legislature, Regular Session. The purpose of this
council was to coordinate state efforts to help communities develop
and strengthen all child services. It was also directed to administer
the state's correctional facilities for delinquent children by
providing a program of constructive training aimed at the rehabilitation
and successful reestablishment of these children into society.
The agency became the Texas Youth Council in 1957, Senate Bill
303, 55th Legislature, Regular Session, with the additional charge
to provide parole supervision for certain delinquent children
until their discharge. The Legislature also directed the Council
to operate certain institutions for dependent and neglected children
(Corsicana State Home, Waco State Home, and the Texas Blind, Deaf
and Orphan School). Care for dependent and neglected children
is no longer a function of the Youth Commission. This function
is now largely handled by the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services. The commission also initiated a county juvenile probation
subsidy program in the 1970s which was transferred to the Texas
Juvenile Probation Commission upon its creation in 1981. In 1971
a lawsuit was brought against the agency, its officers, and staff
by children confined in the juvenile corrections facilities, known
as the Morales case. Results of this lawsuit led to significant
changes in the way juvenile correction facilities were operated.
The Youth Commission operates under the Texas Human Resource
Code, Section 61, as the state's juvenile correction agency. The
commission provides for the care, custody, rehabilitation, and
reestablishment into society of those youth convicted of delinquent
conduct under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The commission
operates secure institutional and community-based residential
programs for delinquent youth, and supervises the youth once they
return to the community. It also contracts with private sector
providers to operate residential and non-residential services.
Through these institutions and facilities the agency provides
accredited secondary education, vocational training, and several
specialized programs, including programs for sex offenders, capital
offenders who have committed murder, chemical dependency, resocialization,
independent living preparation, mentally retarded youth, and seriously
emotionally disturbed youth. The commission also operates a parole
system for supervision of youth released from residential programs.
The agency protects the identities and identifying information
(such as home addresses and not allowing photographs without permission
of the child) of children admitted to their facilities as required
by the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
V.T.C.A., Human Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 61
The Texas Commission on Services to Children and Youth was created
in 1971, by House Bill 466, 62nd Legislature, Regular Session.
It was composed of eleven ex-officio members and eighteen members
appointed by the governor with concurrence of the Senate for six
year overlapping terms. The ex-officio members were the Commissioner
of Heath; the Commissioner of Education; the chairman of the Coordinating
Board, Texas College and University System; the Commissioner of
Human Resources; the Commissioner of Mental Health and Mental
Retardation; the director of the Texas Department of Corrections;
the director of the Texas Department of Public Safety; the executive
director of the State Commission for the Blind; the executive
director of the Texas Youth Council; the director of the Texas
Employment Commission; and the director of the Texas Rehabilitation
Commission. Of the appointed members, six were to be younger than
21 years of age at the time of their appointment. The chair was
elected from the appointed members. Staff support was provided
by the Department of Community Affairs.
The primary responsibility of the commission was to assist in
the coordination of administrative responsibility and the services
to state agencies and programs as they relate to the well-being
of children and youth. The commission was to periodically report
to the Legislature its findings on studies relevant to the protection,
growth, and development of children and youth. It could also recommend
changes to existing programs or propose new programs it deemed
essential. It also performed any duties assigned to it by the
Governor or the Legislature concerning the White House Conferences
on Children and Youth. This commission was abolished in 1979 by
the 66th Legislature, Regular Session, House Bill 1834, which
was the bill that adopted the Human Resources Code.
V.T.C.A., Title 70, Chapter 9, Article 4413(43).
Arrangement: Unarranged
Access constraints: None
Use constraints: None
Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? No
Gaps: No records present prior to 1972 or after 1974.
Problems: None
Known related records in other agencies:
Similar materials may be present in other agencies whose head
served as an ex-officio member of the commission.
Publications based on records: None known
Previous destructions:
Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for
the Texas Youth Commission and none were found for this series
or for equivalent or related series.
Series data from agency schedule: Not on the schedule, this is
a defunct series.
Texas Documents Collection holdings:
Texas Commission on Services to Children and Youth, Annual
report, 1972, 1974, 1977-1979
Archival holdings:
Executive Director's records as ex-officio member of the Texas
Commission on Services to Children and Youth, 1972-1974, about
0.4 cubic ft.
See the "Description Section" for the series description.
Texas Commission on Services to Children and Youth minutes,
1973-1974, August 1978, fractional
These are minutes of the Texas Commission on Services to Children
and Youth, dating January 1973-May 1974, and August 1978.
Appraisal decision:
These records concern a legislatively-designated function of the
executive director of the Youth Commission, which was to serve
on the Commission on Services to Children and Youth. These files
document some of the actions decided by the commission that had
some impact on services to youth during the period the commission
operated. Files similar to these could be present in the records
of other agencies whose head officer served on this commission,
but what is present in those agencies, if anything, is unknown.
Because this may be the only source materials documenting actions
of this short-lived agency, in addition to the minutes we hold,
this series has been appraised to be archival. No action needs
to be taken by the agency as these records have already been transferred
to the Archives and Information Services Division.
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Records Series Review
Series Title: State Youth Development Council early history
scrapbooks
Agency: Texas Youth Commission
Obsolete record series? Yes
Replaced by: none
Ongoing record series? No
Annual accumulation:
Agency holdings:
These have been transferred by the agency to the Archives and
Information Services Division.
Description:
This series consists of two scrapbooks of clippings and other
materials about the formation and early years of the State Youth
Development Council, dating 1949-c. 1951. The scrapbooks contain
primarily clippings, but also include photographs of the governor
and original members of the Youth Development Council, copies
of dedication programs, news bulletins/newsletters issued by the
council, and some other printed material. Topics covered include
creation of the agency, appointment of the original council members,
opening of and news from state schools and homes, news of council
activities, and various issues pertaining to the problems of juvenile
delinquency. Most of the clippings are no longer attached to the
pages and will be photocopied as a preservation measure.
Purpose:
These scrapbooks were created and maintained to document creation
of the State Youth Development Council, early activities of the
agency, and issues faced by the agency.
Agency program:
The State Youth Development Council was created in 1949, House
Bill 705, 51st Legislature, Regular Session. The purpose of this
council was to coordinate state efforts to help communities develop
and strengthen all child services. It was also directed to administer
the state's correctional facilities for delinquent children by
providing a program of constructive training aimed at the rehabilitation
and successful reestablishment of these children into society.
The agency became the Texas Youth Council in 1957, Senate Bill
303, 55th Legislature, Regular Session, with the additional charge
to provide parole supervision for certain delinquent children
until their discharge. The Legislature also directed the Council
to operate certain institutions for dependent and neglected children
(Corsicana State Home, Waco State Home, and the Texas Blind, Deaf
and Orphan School). Care for dependent and neglected children
is no longer a function of the Youth Commission. This function
is now largely handled by the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services. The commission also initiated a county juvenile probation
subsidy program in the 1970s which was transferred to the Texas
Juvenile Probation Commission upon its creation in 1981. In 1971
a lawsuit was brought against the agency, its officers, and staff
by children confined in the juvenile corrections facilities, known
as the Morales case. Results of this lawsuit led to significant
changes in the way juvenile correction facilities were operated.
The Youth Commission operates under the Texas Human Resource
Code, Section 61, as the state's juvenile correction agency. The
commission provides for the care, custody, rehabilitation, and
reestablishment into society of those youth convicted of delinquent
conduct under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The commission
operates secure institutional and community-based residential
programs for delinquent youth, and supervises the youth once they
return to the community. It also contracts with private sector
providers to operate residential and non-residential services.
Through these institutions and facilities the agency provides
accredited secondary education, vocational training, and several
specialized programs, including programs for sex offenders, capital
offenders who have committed murder, chemical dependency, resocialization,
independent living preparation, mentally retarded youth, and seriously
emotionally disturbed youth. The commission also operates a parole
system for supervision of youth released from residential programs.
The agency protects the identities and identifying information
(such as home addresses and not allowing photographs without permission
of the child) of children admitted to their facilities as required
by the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
The Texas Youth Commission also administers the Interstate Compact
on Juveniles for the state of Texas. The Compact (ICJ) provides
for the cooperative supervision of juvenile probationers and parolees
who move from state to state. It also provides for the return
of non-delinquent runaway youth, parole and probation absconders,
and escapees to their home state.
V.T.C.A., Human Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 61
Arrangement: Roughly in chronological order.
Access constraints: None
Use constraints:
Because most of the clippings are loose, the clippings should
be photocopied prior to use to avoid further loss of arrangement.
Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? No
Gaps: No clippings present in this series after about 1951.
Problems: None
Known related records in other agencies: None
Publications based on records: None known
Previous destructions:
Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for
the Texas Youth Commission and none were found for this series
or for equivalent or related series.
Series data from agency schedule: Not on the schedule, this is
a defunct series.
Archival holdings:
State Youth Development Council early history scrapbooks, 1949-c.
1951, 0.24 cubic ft.
See the "Description section" for the series description.
Appraisal decision:
These scrapbooks provide a good contemporary source of information
about the formation and early activities of the State Youth Development
Council. Even though the majority of the materials are clippings,
they are arranged in a logical fashion and provide some documentation
not only about early actions of the agency, but also about what
issues the council saw as worth maintaining in the scrapbooks.
Because of the informational value about early actions of the
agency, this series has been appraised to be archival. No action
needs to be taken by the agency as these records have already
been transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division.
The Archives will likely photocopy the clippings within their
current arrangement on acid-free paper and discard the originals.
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Records Series Review
Series Title: Youth Commission facilities and programs
history and information notebooks
Agency: Texas Youth Commission
Obsolete record series? Yes
Replaced by: none known
Ongoing record series? No
Annual accumulation:
Agency holdings:
These have been transferred by the agency to the Archives and
Information Services Division.
Description:
This series consists of several notebooks of materials seemingly
compiled to provide a narrative history of most of the schools
and homes operated by the Youth Commission and to highlight functions
and some programs and/or activities at those facilities and in
the central office. The materials in the notebooks date from c.
1950-1990 (bulk c. 1970-1985). According to data found in some
of the notebooks, these were compiled, either by or for the agency,
about 1990. The notebooks about specific facilities usually contain
a narrative history of the school/home; clippings; brochures;
copies of rules, policies or procedures for that facility; copies
of pertinent legislation; and programs for special events, such
as a dedication ceremony. Some of the notebooks also have photographs
of the facilities or children at school or involved in recreational
facilities. There also are two notebooks that focus on programs
and functions of the agency as a whole. One notebook is arranged
topically by the issues of parole, group homes, halfway houses,
Morales-Turman litigation, and has a Board member orientation
manual. The other notebook provides descriptive information about
the different programs within the agency, and is titled "Central
Office". Within this notebook is a thesis done on the history
of the Interstate compacts, titled An Historical Analysis of
the Interstate Compact on Juveniles, Roger H. Voltz, 1982,
done for Sam Houston State University.
Purpose:
These notebooks were created to document the history and functions
of facilities and programs operated by the Texas Youth Commission.
Agency program:
The State Youth Development Council was created in 1949, House
Bill 705, 51st Legislature, Regular Session. The purpose of this
council was to coordinate state efforts to help communities develop
and strengthen all child services. It was also directed to administer
the state's correctional facilities for delinquent children by
providing a program of constructive training aimed at the rehabilitation
and successful reestablishment of these children into society.
The agency became the Texas Youth Council in 1957, Senate Bill
303, 55th Legislature, Regular Session, with the additional charge
to provide parole supervision for certain delinquent children
until their discharge. The Legislature also directed the Council
to operate certain institutions for dependent and neglected children
(Corsicana State Home, Waco State Home, and the Texas Blind, Deaf
and Orphan School). Care for dependent and neglected children
is no longer a function of the Youth Commission. This function
is now largely handled by the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services. The commission also initiated a county juvenile probation
subsidy program in the 1970s which was transferred to the Texas
Juvenile Probation Commission upon its creation in 1981. In 1971
a lawsuit was brought against the agency, its officers, and staff
by children confined in the juvenile corrections facilities, known
as the Morales case. Results of this lawsuit led to significant
changes in the way juvenile correction facilities were operated.
The Youth Commission operates under the Texas Human Resource
Code, Section 61, as the state's juvenile correction agency. The
commission provides for the care, custody, rehabilitation, and
reestablishment into society of those youth convicted of delinquent
conduct under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The commission
operates secure institutional and community-based residential
programs for delinquent youth, and supervises the youth once they
return to the community. It also contracts with private sector
providers to operate residential and non-residential services.
Through these institutions and facilities the agency provides
accredited secondary education, vocational training, and several
specialized programs, including programs for sex offenders, capital
offenders who have committed murder, chemical dependency, resocialization,
independent living preparation, mentally retarded youth, and seriously
emotionally disturbed youth. The commission also operates a parole
system for supervision of youth released from residential programs.
The agency protects the identities and identifying information
(such as home addresses and not allowing photographs without permission
of the child) of children admitted to their facilities as required
by the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
The Texas Youth Commission also administers the Interstate Compact
on Juveniles for the state of Texas. The Compact (ICJ) provides
for the cooperative supervision of juvenile probationers and parolees
who move from state to state. It also provides for the return
of non-delinquent runaway youth, parole and probation absconders,
and escapees to their home state.
V.T.C.A., Human Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 61
Arrangement: Topical by facility
Access constraints:
Photographs showing delinquent children in the state juvenile
schools at anytime, or in the orphan homes after 1973 are confidential.
Children's names and identifying information, such as photographs,
are confidential under the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
Use constraints:
None following the removal of restricted materials described in
"Access constraints".
Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? No
Gaps:
None known, as this is a compiled series. However, notebooks are
not present for all facilities ever operated by the agency, and
it is unknown if there are any notebooks missing from the series
or why some were not created for certain facilities.
Problems:
Photographs identifying children as discussed in "Access
constraints" will be removed prior to use of these notebooks.
Known related records in other agencies: None
Publications based on records: None known.
Previous destructions:
Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for
the Texas Youth Commission and none were found for this series
or for equivalent or related series.
Series data from agency schedule: Not on the schedule, this is
a defunct series.
Archival holdings:
Youth Commission facilities and programs history and information
notebooks, c. 1950-c. 1990 (bulk c. 1970-1985), 2 cubic ft.
See the "Description section" for the series description.
Appraisal decision:
These notebooks are a good source on the history of these facilities
and the functions and programs at those schools, homes, and overall
in the agency. According to the staff these were compiled either
by the Commission or for them as the agency wanted to have historical
information available about the facilities they operated or were
still operating. Because of the informational value about these
facilities-their history and functions, and about various agency
programs, this series has been appraised to be archival. No action
needs to be taken by the agency as these records have already
been transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division.
return to top
Records Series Review
Series Title: Youth Commission outreach and informational
publications
Agency: Texas Youth Commission
Obsolete record series? Yes
Replaced by: possibly Agency publications, but that is
unknown
Ongoing record series? No
Annual accumulation:
Agency holdings:
These have been transferred by the agency to the Archives and
Information Services Division.
Description:
This series consists of publications and printed materials produced
by the Youth Council and the Youth Commission, dating 1953, 1966-1985.
These include brochures, reports, and directories which described
the programs and facilities operated by the Youth Council/Commission.
Many of these include a numbers of pictures of the facilities
and youth housed there, either in school or engaged in recreational
activities. Titles of some of these include Texas Youth Commission
- Child Care Information, several editions; Gatesville
State School for Boys, pamphlet; Gatesville State School
for Boys, larger publication, several editions; Community
Council Directory; Crockett State School for Girls;
Mountain View School for Boys; Brownwood Home and School
for Girls; Texas Youth Commission Reception Center for
Girls; Breakthrough, A Program of Communication Skills,
Gatesville; Dedication of Historical Marker, Corsicana
State Home; and Waco State Home Annual Report (1952-1953).
The agency likely still produces some informational materials
about the schools and programs, but brochures and pamphlets like
these are not generally maintained in the Publications Depository
of the Library and Archives Commission.
Purpose:
These were created to inform the public and others about the facilities
and programs operated by the Youth Commission.
Agency program:
The State Youth Development Council was created in 1949, House
Bill 705, 51st Legislature, Regular Session. The purpose of this
council was to coordinate state efforts to help communities develop
and strengthen all child services. It was also directed to administer
the state's correctional facilities for delinquent children by
providing a program of constructive training aimed at the rehabilitation
and successful reestablishment of these children into society.
The agency became the Texas Youth Council in 1957, Senate Bill
303, 55th Legislature, Regular Session, with the additional charge
to provide parole supervision for certain delinquent children
until their discharge. The Legislature also directed the Council
to operate certain institutions for dependent and neglected children
(Corsicana State Home, Waco State Home, and the Texas Blind, Deaf
and Orphan School). Care for dependent and neglected children
is no longer a function of the Youth Commission. This function
is now largely handled by the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services. The commission also initiated a county juvenile probation
subsidy program in the 1970s which was transferred to the Texas
Juvenile Probation Commission upon its creation in 1981. In 1971
a lawsuit was brought against the agency, its officers, and staff
by children confined in the juvenile corrections facilities, known
as the Morales case. Results of this lawsuit led to significant
changes in the way juvenile correction facilities were operated.
The Youth Commission operates under the Texas Human Resource
Code, Section 61, as the state's juvenile correction agency. The
commission provides for the care, custody, rehabilitation, and
reestablishment into society of those youth convicted of delinquent
conduct under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The commission
operates secure institutional and community-based residential
programs for delinquent youth, and supervises the youth once they
return to the community. It also contracts with private sector
providers to operate residential and non-residential services.
Through these institutions and facilities the agency provides
accredited secondary education, vocational training, and several
specialized programs, including programs for sex offenders, capital
offenders who have committed murder, chemical dependency, resocialization,
independent living preparation, mentally retarded youth, and seriously
emotionally disturbed youth. The commission also operates a parole
system for supervision of youth released from residential programs.
The agency protects the identities and identifying information
(such as home addresses and not allowing photographs without permission
of the child) of children admitted to their facilities as required
by the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
The Texas Youth Commission also administers the Interstate Compact
on Juveniles for the state of Texas. The Compact (ICJ) provides
for the cooperative supervision of juvenile probationers and parolees
who move from state to state. It also provides for the return
of non-delinquent runaway youth, parole and probation absconders,
and escapees to their home state.
V.T.C.A., Human Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 61
Arrangement: Topical
Access constraints:
None, confidentiality associated with children appearing in photographs
is assumed waived since these are materials published and distributed
by the Youth Commission.
Use constraints: None
Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? No
Gaps: None present prior to 1952, between 1954-1965 or after
1985.
Problems: None
Known related records in other agencies: None
Publications based on records: Some of these are published.
Previous destructions:
Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for
the Texas Youth Commission and none were found for this series
or for equivalent or related series.
Series data from agency schedule: None
Suggested series from state records schedule: These are not
on the schedule as this series, similar publications likely considered
to be part of this series:
Title: Agency publications
Series item number: 1.3.001
Agency item number: none
Archival code: none
Retention: AC+5 or US+5
Texas Documents Collection holdings: None located.
Archival holdings:
Youth Commission outreach and informational publications, 1953,
1966-1985, about 1 cubic ft.
See the "Description section" for the series description.
Appraisal decision:
These publications are an excellent source of information about
some of the facilities and programs available from the Youth Commission
as these were presented to potential parents of students or to
the public as a whole. These may still be published - they likely
are in some format, but they do not show up in the Texas Documents
Collection - either they are not deposited, or since these are
mostly brochures and pamphlets, they are not maintained in the
Depository. Information about these facilities is also available
in annual reports, but the focus is not quite the same. Those
are prepared for the governor and legislature, not for families
of potential students or other general audiences. Because of the
informational value about facilities and programs offered by the
agency, this series has been appraised to be archival. No action
needs to be taken by the agency as these records have already
been transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division.
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Records Series Review
Series Title: Juvenile court statistics and related material
Agency: Texas Youth Commission
Obsolete record series? Yes
Replaced by: none known
Ongoing record series? No
Annual accumulation:
Agency holdings:
These have been transferred by the agency to the Archives and
Information Services Division.
Description:
This series consists of several sets of reports related to juvenile
court activities, most created by the State Youth Development
Council or the Youth Council, with one set created by the State
Department of Public Welfare. Dates covered are 1948-1975, 1977.
These reports discuss and/or present statistical analyses of juvenile
cases, Texas statutes related to children's legal issues, related
services for Texas children, and juvenile court reporting. Titles
include Reference Guide for Texas Juvenile Court Reporting,
1952; Juvenile Court Statistics, scattered issues between
1955-1975 (we have 1955, 1958, 1964, and 1967-1975), the Texas
Juvenile Court Directory, c. 1977; and the series Texas
Juvenile Court Research Reports - volumes II-VII, dating 1948-1950,
by the State Department of Public Welfare, including Juvenile
Court Statistics and Related Services for Texas Children,
Selected Texas Statutes Regarding Court Proceedings in Children's
Cases, Texas Statutes Covering the Rights and Legal Status
of Children.
Another series containing collections of state laws pertaining
to juveniles and the courts can be found in the series Ombudsman's
files.
Purpose:
Some of these reports were created and maintained to provide legal
information about Texas juvenile court issues, others to report
on the variety of juvenile cases presented in Texas courts.
Agency program:
The State Youth Development Council was created in 1949, House
Bill 705, 51st Legislature, Regular Session. The purpose of this
council was to coordinate state efforts to help communities develop
and strengthen all child services. It was also directed to administer
the state's correctional facilities for delinquent children by
providing a program of constructive training aimed at the rehabilitation
and successful reestablishment of these children into society.
The agency became the Texas Youth Council in 1957, Senate Bill
303, 55th Legislature, Regular Session, with the additional charge
to provide parole supervision for certain delinquent children
until their discharge. The Legislature also directed the Council
to operate certain institutions for dependent and neglected children
(Corsicana State Home, Waco State Home, and the Texas Blind, Deaf
and Orphan School). Care for dependent and neglected children
is no longer a function of the Youth Commission. This function
is now largely handled by the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services. The commission also initiated a county juvenile probation
subsidy program in the 1970s which was transferred to the Texas
Juvenile Probation Commission upon its creation in 1981. In 1971
a lawsuit was brought against the agency, its officers, and staff
by children confined in the juvenile corrections facilities, known
as the Morales case. Results of this lawsuit led to significant
changes in the way juvenile correction facilities were operated.
The Youth Commission operates under the Texas Human Resource
Code, Section 61, as the state's juvenile correction agency. The
commission provides for the care, custody, rehabilitation, and
reestablishment into society of those youth convicted of delinquent
conduct under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The commission
operates secure institutional and community-based residential
programs for delinquent youth, and supervises the youth once they
return to the community. It also contracts with private sector
providers to operate residential and non-residential services.
Through these institutions and facilities the agency provides
accredited secondary education, vocational training, and several
specialized programs, including programs for sex offenders, capital
offenders who have committed murder, chemical dependency, resocialization,
independent living preparation, mentally retarded youth, and seriously
emotionally disturbed youth. The commission also operates a parole
system for supervision of youth released from residential programs.
The agency protects the identities and identifying information
(such as home addresses and not allowing photographs without permission
of the child) of children admitted to their facilities as required
by the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
The Texas Youth Commission also administers the Interstate Compact
on Juveniles for the state of Texas. The Compact (ICJ) provides
for the cooperative supervision of juvenile probationers and parolees
who move from state to state. It also provides for the return
of non-delinquent runaway youth, parole and probation absconders,
and escapees to their home state.
V.T.C.A., Human Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 61
Arrangement: Topical
Access constraints: None
Use constraints: None
Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? No
Gaps:
None present after 1977. Issues missing from the Juvenile Court
Statistics are 1952-1954, 1956-1957, 1959-1963, 1965-1966,
and any after 1975. We are missing volume one of the Texas
Juvenile Court Research Reports.
Problems: None
Known related records in other agencies:
Copies of the Texas Juvenile Court Research Reports and/or
related reports may still be present at the Department of Human
Services (formerly State Department of Public Welfare).
Publications based on records:
Statutes are published in Vernon's Annotated Civil Statutes; laws
are published in General Laws of the State of Texas.
Previous destructions:
Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for
the Texas Youth Commission and none were found for this series
or for equivalent or related series.
Series data from agency schedule: Not on the schedule, this is
a defunct series.
Texas Documents Collection holdings:
The Documents Collections does not hold editions of the statutes
for the time period covered in this series. Laws are published
in the General Laws of the State of Texas.
Archival holdings:
Juvenile court reports, 1948-1975, 1977, 0.47 cubic ft.
See "Description section" for series description.
The Archives also holds copies of the published General Laws
of the State of Texas, and the original bill files through
1972.
Appraisal decision:
These reports provide quite a bit of information about the legal
statutes involved in juvenile courts and the types of juvenile
cases heard in the courts over a 20 year period. Most of these
materials were produced by the Texas Youth Council, but are not
present in the Documents Collection. The series published by the
State Department of Public Welfare is very pertinent to the issues
of juvenile courts at the time of the creation of the State Youth
Development Council. The legal statutes are available in the published
statutes or the General Laws, but this is a nice compilation
which complements the juvenile court statistics prepared yearly
by the Youth Council. The Youth Council was involved in the juvenile
court issues as they related to their functions of providing correctional
training to youth brought up through the juvenile courts. Because
of the informational value in most of these publications, most
have been appraised to be archival. We will not be keeping the
Texas Juvenile Court Directory; it will be returned to
the agency. No action needs to be taken by the agency as these
records have already been transferred to the Archives and Information
Services Division.
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Records Series Review
Series Title: Photographs
Agency: Texas Youth Commission
Obsolete record series? Yes
Replaced by: none
Ongoing record series? No
Annual accumulation:
Agency holdings:
These have been transferred by the agency to the Archives and
Information Services Division.
Description:
This series consists of loose photographs and photograph albums
with photos of facilities of the Texas Youth Commission and children
and staff at the facilities, including state training schools
and the state orphanages. Dates covered are c. 1960-1978. The
loose photographs include some 8 x 10 black and white photographs
that were mounted on a display-type board and contain captions,
and usually have the name of the school/home on the reverse side
of the board. Other loose photographs are 8 x 10 and smaller,
black and white images, usually with no identifying information.
Views include children in classrooms or in training areas - such
as machine shops or beauty salons; children engaged in recreational
activities - such as singing groups, gym classes, swimming, or
playing sports; views of construction at the Mountain View school;
interior and exterior views from the Gainesville school; and a
couple of photos of Texas governors - Governor Beauford Jester
and Governor Price Daniel. The facilities identified in the photos
are Gainesville, Gatesville, Mountain View, and Crockett schools;
the state orphans homes in Corsicana and Waco; and the Blind,
Deaf and Orphan School. These loose photographs are largely undated,
but by analyzing the methods of dress, furnishings, and items
seen in the photos, most of the pictures were likely taken in
the early-mid 1960s.
There are two sets of photograph albums. The first set consists
of three albums of pictures from the West Texas Children's Home,
most taken in the mid-late 1970s. These views consist of color
snapshots of Christmas celebrations, a Halloween party, children
swimming, prom shots, and shots from student council trips. Also
present are several black and white 5 x 7 shots of Governor John
Connally and Lieutenant Governor Ben Barnes at outdoor events,
likely taken in the early-mid 1960s.
The second set of albums consists of two identical albums of
color snapshots from the Crockett Wilderness Program dating from
1978. Views shown are camp scenes, including setting up camp and
participating in a variety of camping activities.
Some of these photographs are confidential. If a child in one
of the juvenile correction facilities can be identified from a
photograph, that image is confidential unless the image was published,
such as in an annual report or a brochure about the programs at
a facility. If published in an agency publication, it is assumed
the child would have granted permission for his image to be taken.
Identifying children's views from the state orphans homes taken
before 1973 are not confidential. Beginning in 1973 views from
the homes are restricted as well because some delinquent children
were placed in the homes. Photographs that are unpublished and
can identify a child in a juvenile facility cannot be viewed.
Earlier photographs from the orphan homes or state training facilities
can be found in the records of the State Board of Control, housed
in the Archives and Information Services Division, see State
Board of Control, Records, Photographs. Also, early annual/biennial
reports from the late 19th and early 20th century from the Gatesville
State School for Boys (formerly the House of Correction and Reformatory,
then the State Juvenile Training School) contain a large number
of pictures of the facilities and the students. The location of
the original photographs used in these publications is unknown.
These reports are catalogued in the Texana collection of the Archives
and Information Services Division.
Purpose:
These photographs were created to document activities are state
schools and orphan homes operated by the Texas Youth Council.
Agency program:
The State Youth Development Council was created in 1949, House
Bill 705, 51st Legislature, Regular Session. The purpose of this
council was to coordinate state efforts to help communities develop
and strengthen all child services. It was also directed to administer
the state's correctional facilities for delinquent children by
providing a program of constructive training aimed at the rehabilitation
and successful reestablishment of these children into society.
The agency became the Texas Youth Council in 1957, Senate Bill
303, 55th Legislature, Regular Session, with the additional charge
to provide parole supervision for certain delinquent children
until their discharge. The Legislature also directed the Council
to operate certain institutions for dependent and neglected children
(Corsicana State Home, Waco State Home, and the Texas Blind, Deaf
and Orphan School). Care for dependent and neglected children
is no longer a function of the Youth Commission. This function
is now largely handled by the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services. The commission also initiated a county juvenile probation
subsidy program in the 1970s which was transferred to the Texas
Juvenile Probation Commission upon its creation in 1981. In 1971
a lawsuit was brought against the agency, its officers, and staff
by children confined in the juvenile corrections facilities, known
as the Morales case. Results of this lawsuit led to significant
changes in the way juvenile correction facilities were operated.
The Youth Commission operates under the Texas Human Resource
Code, Section 61, as the state's juvenile correction agency. The
commission provides for the care, custody, rehabilitation, and
reestablishment into society of those youth convicted of delinquent
conduct under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The commission
operates secure institutional and community-based residential
programs for delinquent youth, and supervises the youth once they
return to the community. It also contracts with private sector
providers to operate residential and non-residential services.
Through these institutions and facilities the agency provides
accredited secondary education, vocational training, and several
specialized programs, including programs for sex offenders, capital
offenders who have committed murder, chemical dependency, resocialization,
independent living preparation, mentally retarded youth, and seriously
emotionally disturbed youth. The commission also operates a parole
system for supervision of youth released from residential programs.
The agency protects the identities and identifying information
(such as home addresses and not allowing photographs without permission
of the child) of children admitted to their facilities as required
by the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
The Texas Youth Commission also administers the Interstate Compact
on Juveniles for the state of Texas. The Compact (ICJ) provides
for the cooperative supervision of juvenile probationers and parolees
who move from state to state. It also provides for the return
of non-delinquent runaway youth, parole and probation absconders,
and escapees to their home state.
V.T.C.A., Human Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 61
Arrangement: Unarranged
Access constraints:
Photographs showing delinquent children in the state juvenile
schools at anytime, or in the orphan homes beginning in 1973 are
confidential. Children's names and identifying information, such
as photographs, are confidential under the Texas Family Code,
Section 58.005.
Use constraints:
None after any restricted images as described in "Access
constraints" are removed.
Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? No
Gaps:
Dates of these photographs are unknown, it appears none are present
prior to about 1960 or after 1978. Images from juvenile correction
facilities are not present after the early 1970s.
Problems:
Photographs identifying children as discussed in "Access
constraints" will be removed prior to use of this series.
Known related records in other agencies: None known
Publications based on records:
Yes, several publications, including annual reports, a report
on the Gatesville State School for Boys, likely several other
reports as well.
Previous destructions:
Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for
the Texas Youth Commission and none were found for this series
or for equivalent or related series.
Series data from agency schedule: Not one the schedule, this
is a defunct series.
Texas Documents Collection holdings:
Images from photographs appear in some of the annual reports of
the Youth Commission and its predecessors. The Depository holds
a nearly complete collection of the annual reports.
Archival holdings:
Photographs, c. 1960-1978, 3 cubic ft.
See the "Description section" for the series description.
Appraisal decision:
These photographs document activities of children at the facilities
and are a good source for showing children at school and at play.
Some shots are also excellent views of the interior and exterior
of the facilities, which are not available elsewhere in these
records. Although some of these photographs are confidential because
they could identify a child, many have been published and can
therefore be used, and others do not show children's faces. Because
of the visual documentation these images provide these have been
appraised to be archival. No action needs to be taken by the agency
as these records have already been transferred to the Archives
and Information Services Division.
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Records Series Review
Series Title: Gatesville field survey notebooks
Agency: Texas Youth Commission
Obsolete record series? Yes
Replaced by:
Ongoing record series? No
Annual accumulation:
Agency holdings:
These have been transferred by the agency to the Archives and
Information Services Division.
Description:
This series consists of five notebooks containing field survey
notes and sketches of the Gatesville facility grounds, dating
1934.
Purpose:
These notebooks were used to record field survey notes.
Agency program:
The State Youth Development Council was created in 1949, House
Bill 705, 51st Legislature, Regular Session. The purpose of this
council was to coordinate state efforts to help communities develop
and strengthen all child services. It was also directed to administer
the state's correctional facilities for delinquent children by
providing a program of constructive training aimed at the rehabilitation
and successful reestablishment of these children into society.
The agency became the Texas Youth Council in 1957, Senate Bill
303, 55th Legislature, Regular Session, with the additional charge
to provide parole supervision for certain delinquent children
until their discharge. The Legislature also directed the Council
to operate certain institutions for dependent and neglected children
(Corsicana State Home, Waco State Home, and the Texas Blind, Deaf
and Orphan School). Care for dependent and neglected children
is no longer a function of the Youth Commission. This function
is now largely handled by the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services. The commission also initiated a county juvenile probation
subsidy program in the 1970s which was transferred to the Texas
Juvenile Probation Commission upon its creation in 1981. In 1971
a lawsuit was brought against the agency, its officers, and staff
by children confined in the juvenile corrections facilities, known
as the Morales case. Results of this lawsuit led to significant
changes in the way juvenile correction facilities were operated.
The Youth Commission operates under the Texas Human Resource
Code, Section 61, as the state's juvenile correction agency. The
commission provides for the care, custody, rehabilitation, and
reestablishment into society of those youth convicted of delinquent
conduct under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The commission
operates secure institutional and community-based residential
programs for delinquent youth, and supervises the youth once they
return to the community. It also contracts with private sector
providers to operate residential and non-residential services.
Through these institutions and facilities the agency provides
accredited secondary education, vocational training, and several
specialized programs, including programs for sex offenders, capital
offenders who have committed murder, chemical dependency, resocialization,
independent living preparation, mentally retarded youth, and seriously
emotionally disturbed youth. The commission also operates a parole
system for supervision of youth released from residential programs.
The agency protects the identities and identifying information
(such as home addresses and not allowing photographs without permission
of the child) of children admitted to their facilities as required
by the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
The Texas Youth Commission also administers the Interstate Compact
on Juveniles for the state of Texas. The Compact (ICJ) provides
for the cooperative supervision of juvenile probationers and parolees
who move from state to state. It also provides for the return
of non-delinquent runaway youth, parole and probation absconders,
and escapees to their home state.
V.T.C.A., Human Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 61
Arrangement: Arranged by area surveyed.
Access constraints: None
Use constraints: None
Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? No
Gaps: None present before or after 1934.
Problems: None
Known related records in other agencies: None known
Publications based on records: None
Previous destructions:
Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for
the Texas Youth Commission and none were found for this series
or for equivalent or related series.
Series data from agency schedule: Not of the schedule, this is
a defunct series.
Archival holdings:
Gatesville field survey notebooks, 1934, fractional
See the "Description section" for the series description.
Appraisal decision:
These survey notebooks document the facility and grounds at the
Gatesville State School as they existed in 1934. The school had
been in operation since the late 1880s. This facility was transferred
to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in 1979 and is now
operated as prison for female inmates. It is difficult to judge
the long-term value of these notebooks because we do not know
for what exact purpose they were created or how they have been
used. However, we do periodically get requests for field notebooks
found in other record groups because of the detailed surveying
information found in notebooks of this type. And, this facility
is still and will likely continue to be operated by the state.
Because of the informational value in these field notes and the
fact this is still a state-operated facility we have appraised
this series to be archival. No action needs to be taken by the
agency as these records have already been transferred to the Archives
and Information Services Division.
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Records Series Review
Series Title: Legislative files
Agency: Texas Youth Commission
Obsolete record series? Yes
Replaced by: none known
Ongoing record series? No
Annual accumulation:
Agency holdings:
These have been transferred by the agency to the Archives and
Information Services Division.
Description:
This series contains copies of Texas laws and resolutions relating
to juvenile training schools and to the Youth Council, including
the 1947 act appointing a commission to study the problem of juvenile
delinquency and the acts creating the State Youth Development
Council and the Youth Development Council. Files are dated 1947-1957,
1973.
Another series containing a more comprehensive set of juvenile
laws is the series Ombudsman files, described later in
this report.
Purpose:
These were created and maintained to house copies of pertinent
juvenile corrections legislation.
Agency program:
The State Youth Development Council was created in 1949, House
Bill 705, 51st Legislature, Regular Session. The purpose of this
council was to coordinate state efforts to help communities develop
and strengthen all child services. It was also directed to administer
the state's correctional facilities for delinquent children by
providing a program of constructive training aimed at the rehabilitation
and successful reestablishment of these children into society.
The agency became the Texas Youth Council in 1957, Senate Bill
303, 55th Legislature, Regular Session, with the additional charge
to provide parole supervision for certain delinquent children
until their discharge. The Legislature also directed the Council
to operate certain institutions for dependent and neglected children
(Corsicana State Home, Waco State Home, and the Texas Blind, Deaf
and Orphan School). Care for dependent and neglected children
is no longer a function of the Youth Commission. This function
is now largely handled by the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services. The commission also initiated a county juvenile probation
subsidy program in the 1970s which was transferred to the Texas
Juvenile Probation Commission upon its creation in 1981. In 1971
a lawsuit was brought against the agency, its officers, and staff
by children confined in the juvenile corrections facilities, known
as the Morales case. Results of this lawsuit led to significant
changes in the way juvenile correction facilities were operated.
The Youth Commission operates under the Texas Human Resource
Code, Section 61, as the state's juvenile correction agency. The
commission provides for the care, custody, rehabilitation, and
reestablishment into society of those youth convicted of delinquent
conduct under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The commission
operates secure institutional and community-based residential
programs for delinquent youth, and supervises the youth once they
return to the community. It also contracts with private sector
providers to operate residential and non-residential services.
Through these institutions and facilities the agency provides
accredited secondary education, vocational training, and several
specialized programs, including programs for sex offenders, capital
offenders who have committed murder, chemical dependency, resocialization,
independent living preparation, mentally retarded youth, and seriously
emotionally disturbed youth. The commission also operates a parole
system for supervision of youth released from residential programs.
The agency protects the identities and identifying information
(such as home addresses and not allowing photographs without permission
of the child) of children admitted to their facilities as required
by the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
The Texas Youth Commission also administers the Interstate Compact
on Juveniles for the state of Texas. The Compact (ICJ) provides
for the cooperative supervision of juvenile probationers and parolees
who move from state to state. It also provides for the return
of non-delinquent runaway youth, parole and probation absconders,
and escapees to their home state.
V.T.C.A., Human Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 61
Arrangement: Chronological by date of legislation.
Access constraints: None
Use constraints: None
Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? No
Gaps: None present prior to 1947, between 1958-1972, or after
1973.
Problems: None
Known related records in other agencies:
Copies of the bill files should be available in the Archives and
Information Services Division through 1972 and at the Legislative
Reference Library for the 1973 act.
Publications based on records:
The acts are published in the General Laws of the State of
Texas.
Previous destructions:
Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for
the Texas Youth Commission and none were found for this series
or for equivalent or related series.
Series data from agency schedule: Not on schedule, this is a
defunct series.
Texas Documents Collection holdings:
General Laws of the State of Texas
Archival holdings:
Legislative files, 1947-1957, 1973, fractional
See "Description section" for the series description.
The Archives also holds copies of the published General Laws
of the State of Texas, and the original bill files through
1972.
Appraisal decision:
This series served as a reference source for pertinent juvenile
correction laws concerning the creation of the Youth Council and
early juvenile issues. However, these files are incomplete in
their coverage and the laws are readily available in published
form so they have been appraised to be non-archival. These had
been sent to the Library and Archives Commission for review and
will be returned for final disposition to the Youth Commission.
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Records Series Review
Series Title: Ombudsman files
Agency: Texas Youth Commission
Obsolete record series? Yes
Replaced by: none known
Ongoing record series? No
Annual accumulation:
Agency holdings:
These have been transferred by the agency to the Archives and
Information Services Division.
Description:
This series contains a notebook of Texas laws pertaining to juvenile
delinquency, courts, and training schools; a publication on the
duties of the ombudsman; an ombudsman and hearing procedures handbook;
copies of state legislation concerning ombudsmen; and reports
and publications on the duties of the ombudsman, the function
of the program, and handling grievances in correctional facilities.
Dates covered are c. 1943-1951, 1972-1976.
Some early publications on juvenile courts are present in the
series Juvenile court reports.
Some laws pertaining to the creation of the State Youth Development
Council, the Youth Development Council and early juvenile issues
can be found in the series Legislative files.
Purpose:
These records were created and maintained to administer the duties
of the ombudsman and serve as a reference source.
Agency program:
The State Youth Development Council was created in 1949, House
Bill 705, 51st Legislature, Regular Session. The purpose of this
council was to coordinate state efforts to help communities develop
and strengthen all child services. It was also directed to administer
the state's correctional facilities for delinquent children by
providing a program of constructive training aimed at the rehabilitation
and successful reestablishment of these children into society.
The agency became the Texas Youth Council in 1957, Senate Bill
303, 55th Legislature, Regular Session, with the additional charge
to provide parole supervision for certain delinquent children
until their discharge. The Legislature also directed the Council
to operate certain institutions for dependent and neglected children
(Corsicana State Home, Waco State Home, and the Texas Blind, Deaf
and Orphan School). Care for dependent and neglected children
is no longer a function of the Youth Commission. This function
is now largely handled by the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services. The commission also initiated a county juvenile probation
subsidy program in the 1970s which was transferred to the Texas
Juvenile Probation Commission upon its creation in 1981. In 1971
a lawsuit was brought against the agency, its officers, and staff
by children confined in the juvenile corrections facilities, known
as the Morales case. Results of this lawsuit led to significant
changes in the way juvenile correction facilities were operated.
The Youth Commission operates under the Texas Human Resource
Code, Section 61, as the state's juvenile correction agency. The
commission provides for the care, custody, rehabilitation, and
reestablishment into society of those youth convicted of delinquent
conduct under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The commission
operates secure institutional and community-based residential
programs for delinquent youth, and supervises the youth once they
return to the community. It also contracts with private sector
providers to operate residential and non-residential services.
Through these institutions and facilities the agency provides
accredited secondary education, vocational training, and several
specialized programs, including programs for sex offenders, capital
offenders who have committed murder, chemical dependency, resocialization,
independent living preparation, mentally retarded youth, and seriously
emotionally disturbed youth. The commission also operates a parole
system for supervision of youth released from residential programs.
The agency protects the identities and identifying information
(such as home addresses and not allowing photographs without permission
of the child) of children admitted to their facilities as required
by the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
The Texas Youth Commission also administers the Interstate Compact
on Juveniles for the state of Texas. The Compact (ICJ) provides
for the cooperative supervision of juvenile probationers and parolees
who move from state to state. It also provides for the return
of non-delinquent runaway youth, parole and probation absconders,
and escapees to their home state.
V.T.C.A., Human Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 61
Arrangement: By type of material.
Access constraints: None
Use constraints: None
Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? No
Gaps: None present prior to about 1943, between 1952-1971, nor
after 1976.
Problems: None
Known related records in other agencies: None known
Publications based on records:
Laws are published in the General Laws of the State of Texas.
Previous destructions:
Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for
the Texas Youth Commission and none were found for this series
or for equivalent or related series.
Series data from agency schedule: Not on the schedule, this is
a defunct series.
Texas Documents Collection holdings:
General Laws of the State of Texas
Archival holdings:
Ombudsman files, c. 1943-1951, 1972-1976, 0.47 cubic ft.
See "Description section" for the series description.
Appraisal decision:
These files provide some documentation on the duties of the ombudsman,
part of which was to hear grievances of juveniles housed in the
corrections facilities. The notebook of Texas laws is good reference
source of juvenile issues in force at the creation of the State
Youth Development Council. The handbooks and publications document
how the ombudsman was to carry out his functions. Because of the
informational value in this series and the value of the laws as
a comprehensive reference source on juvenile issues this series
has been appraised to be archival. No action needs to be taken
by the agency as these records have already been transferred to
the Archives and Information Services Division.
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Records Series Review
Series Title: Gatesville Task Force and contingency planning
records
Agency: Texas Youth Commission
Obsolete record series? Yes
Replaced by: none
Ongoing record series? No
Annual accumulation:
Agency holdings:
These have been transferred by the agency to the Archives and
Information Services Division.
Description:
This series contains correspondence and memoranda between agency
staff, the staff at Gatesville, local officials, and parents of
students at Gatesville; and a draft of a bill transferring the
facility to the Texas Department of Corrections. These materials
are dated 1978. The Gatesville State School for Boys was shut
down by the Youth Council in 1979 and the facilities were transferred
to the Texas Department of Corrections. These materials generally
concern a workplan developed by the Youth Council for phasing
out operations at Gatesville and concerns over where to now place
the more serious juvenile offenders within the Youth Council system
of juvenile correction facilities. Also present is a folder with
some background information on the Gatesville State School in
the form of clippings, copies of legislation, and draft of a publication
about the school.
Discussion of the reasons behind the shut down of the facility
and the planning process may also be found in the minutes of the
agency, see the series Meeting minutes. See also the series
Morales records, since the shut down was at least in part
a result of a court order resulting from this litigation. The
Morales case was litigation brought against the agency by some
students that eventually resulted in changes in the way juvenile
correction facilities are operated. Orders from the case also
resulted in shutting down the Mountain View School and the Gatesville
State School for Boys.
Purpose:
These record were created to discuss and administer the phasing
out of the Gatesville facility from the Youth Council and its
transfer to the Department of Corrections.
Agency program:
The State Youth Development Council was created in 1949, House
Bill 705, 51st Legislature, Regular Session. The purpose of this
council was to coordinate state efforts to help communities develop
and strengthen all child services. It was also directed to administer
the state's correctional facilities for delinquent children by
providing a program of constructive training aimed at the rehabilitation
and successful reestablishment of these children into society.
The agency became the Texas Youth Council in 1957, Senate Bill
303, 55th Legislature, Regular Session, with the additional charge
to provide parole supervision for certain delinquent children
until their discharge. The Legislature also directed the Council
to operate certain institutions for dependent and neglected children
(Corsicana State Home, Waco State Home, and the Texas Blind, Deaf
and Orphan School). Care for dependent and neglected children
is no longer a function of the Youth Commission. This function
is now largely handled by the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services. The commission also initiated a county juvenile probation
subsidy program in the 1970s which was transferred to the Texas
Juvenile Probation Commission upon its creation in 1981. In 1971
a lawsuit was brought against the agency, its officers, and staff
by children confined in the juvenile corrections facilities, known
as the Morales case. Results of this lawsuit led to significant
changes in the way juvenile correction facilities were operated.
The Youth Commission operates under the Texas Human Resource
Code, Section 61, as the state's juvenile correction agency. The
commission provides for the care, custody, rehabilitation, and
reestablishment into society of those youth convicted of delinquent
conduct under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The commission
operates secure institutional and community-based residential
programs for delinquent youth, and supervises the youth once they
return to the community. It also contracts with private sector
providers to operate residential and non-residential services.
Through these institutions and facilities the agency provides
accredited secondary education, vocational training, and several
specialized programs, including programs for sex offenders, capital
offenders who have committed murder, chemical dependency, resocialization,
independent living preparation, mentally retarded youth, and seriously
emotionally disturbed youth. The commission also operates a parole
system for supervision of youth released from residential programs.
The agency protects the identities and identifying information
(such as home addresses and not allowing photographs without permission
of the child) of children admitted to their facilities as required
by the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
The Texas Youth Commission also administers the Interstate Compact
on Juveniles for the state of Texas. The Compact (ICJ) provides
for the cooperative supervision of juvenile probationers and parolees
who move from state to state. It also provides for the return
of non-delinquent runaway youth, parole and probation absconders,
and escapees to their home state.
V.T.C.A., Human Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 61
Arrangement: Chronological
Access constraints: None
Use constraints: None
Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? No
Gaps: Records only exist for 1978.
Problems: None
Known related records in other agencies:
Materials concerning the transfer of the facility to the Department
of Corrections may also be present at the Department of Criminal
Justice.
Publications based on records: None known
Previous destructions:
Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for
the Texas Youth Commission and none were found for this series
or for equivalent or related series.
Series data from agency schedule: Not on the schedule, this is
a defunct series.
Archival holdings:
Gatesville Task Force and contingency planning records, 1978,
fractional
See the "Description section" for the series description.
Appraisal decision:
This series contains planning materials concerning the shutting
down of the Gatesville State School for Boys, which was the oldest
facility operated by the agency - it was functioning as a juvenile
correction facility in the late 1880s. We do have quite a bit
of material about the Gatesville State School, both in these records
of this agency and those of the State Board of Control, as well
as biennial reports of the school from the turn of the century.
These planning documents provide a final bit of documentation
as to the operation of the facility but also discuss some related
issues, primarily where the agency would now house the most serious
juvenile offenders. And, these planning files could be of interest
to people researching results brought about by the Morales litigation.
Because of the evidential value of these records they have been
appraised to be archival. No action needs to be taken by the agency
as these records have already been transferred to the Archives
and Information Services Division.
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Records Series Review
Series Title: In-house reviews of student rules and consequences
Agency: Texas Youth Commission
Obsolete record series? Yes
Replaced by: none known
Ongoing record series? No
Annual accumulation:
Agency holdings:
These have been transferred by the agency to the Archives and
Information Services Division.
Description:
This series contains memos between staff, copies of rules sent
to the staff of halfway houses to review re: compliance with the
Morales agreement, copies of rules in use at these homes, and
comments on the rules. These materials are dated 1983.
For more information about related changes resulting from the
Morales litigation see the series Morales records. The
Morales case was litigation brought against the agency by some
students that eventually resulted in changes in the way juvenile
correction facilities are operated.
Purpose:
These records were created to review student rules in use at halfway
houses operated by the agency stemming from the Morales litigation.
Agency program:
The State Youth Development Council was created in 1949, House
Bill 705, 51st Legislature, Regular Session. The purpose of this
council was to coordinate state efforts to help communities develop
and strengthen all child services. It was also directed to administer
the state's correctional facilities for delinquent children by
providing a program of constructive training aimed at the rehabilitation
and successful reestablishment of these children into society.
The agency became the Texas Youth Council in 1957, Senate Bill
303, 55th Legislature, Regular Session, with the additional charge
to provide parole supervision for certain delinquent children
until their discharge. The Legislature also directed the Council
to operate certain institutions for dependent and neglected children
(Corsicana State Home, Waco State Home, and the Texas Blind, Deaf
and Orphan School). Care for dependent and neglected children
is no longer a function of the Youth Commission. This function
is now largely handled by the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services. The commission also initiated a county juvenile probation
subsidy program in the 1970s which was transferred to the Texas
Juvenile Probation Commission upon its creation in 1981. In 1971
a lawsuit was brought against the agency, its officers, and staff
by children confined in the juvenile corrections facilities, known
as the Morales case. Results of this lawsuit led to significant
changes in the way juvenile correction facilities were operated.
The Youth Commission operates under the Texas Human Resource
Code, Section 61, as the state's juvenile correction agency. The
commission provides for the care, custody, rehabilitation, and
reestablishment into society of those youth convicted of delinquent
conduct under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The commission
operates secure institutional and community-based residential
programs for delinquent youth, and supervises the youth once they
return to the community. It also contracts with private sector
providers to operate residential and non-residential services.
Through these institutions and facilities the agency provides
accredited secondary education, vocational training, and several
specialized programs, including programs for sex offenders, capital
offenders who have committed murder, chemical dependency, resocialization,
independent living preparation, mentally retarded youth, and seriously
emotionally disturbed youth. The commission also operates a parole
system for supervision of youth released from residential programs.
The agency protects the identities and identifying information
(such as home addresses and not allowing photographs without permission
of the child) of children admitted to their facilities as required
by the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
The Texas Youth Commission also administers the Interstate Compact
on Juveniles for the state of Texas. The Compact (ICJ) provides
for the cooperative supervision of juvenile probationers and parolees
who move from state to state. It also provides for the return
of non-delinquent runaway youth, parole and probation absconders,
and escapees to their home state.
V.T.C.A., Human Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 61
Arrangement: Unarranged
Access constraints: None
Use constraints: None
Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? No
Gaps: None known, this review was conducted in 1983.
Problems: None
Known related records in other agencies: None
Publications based on records: None
Previous destructions:
Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for
the Texas Youth Commission and none were found for this series
or for equivalent or related series.
Series data from agency schedule: Not on the schedule, this is
a defunct series.
Archival holdings:
In-house reviews of student rules and consequences, 1983, fractional
See the "Description section" for the series description.
Appraisal decision:
This is a small series that was created to comply with the Morales
agreement in regards to the house rules for students at halfway
homes. Similar records re: Morales compliance were likely created
by the agency but are no longer present. Although this series
covers a very specific function, these files do somewhat document
the review process the agency followed to create an acceptable
set of rules, and these materials could be of interest to people
researching results brought about by the Morales litigation. Because
of the evidential value of these records they have been appraised
to be archival. No action needs to be taken by the agency as these
records have already been transferred to the Archives and Information
Services Division.
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Records Series Review
Series Title: Interstate Compact on Juveniles files
Agency: Texas Youth Commission
Obsolete record series? Yes
Replaced by: none known
Ongoing record series? No
Annual accumulation:
Agency holdings:
These have been transferred by the agency to the Archives and
Information Services Division.
Description:
This series contains a practices and procedures handbook for fulfilling
the functions of the Texas Interstate Compact on Juveniles, dating
c. 1965; and a summary report from the National Governor's Conference
on Juvenile Delinquency, in 1967. The handbook also contains a
copy of the Texas legislation creating the Uniform Interstate
Compact on Juveniles for Texas.
Materials from meetings of the Association of Juvenile Compact
Administrators, which are the administrators of the state Interstate
compacts, can be found in the series Association of Juvenile
Compact Administrators. Cases handled through the Texas Interstate
Compact on Juveniles can be found in the series Interstate
Compact on Juveniles. Another related item is a thesis done
about the Interstate compacts, which is filed in the series Youth
Commission facilities and programs history and information notebooks,
titled An Historical Analysis of the Interstate Compact on
Juveniles, by Roger H. Voltz, 1982, done for Sam Houston State
University.
Purpose:
The handbook was created to administer the Texas Interstate Compact
on Juveniles functions; the summary report was maintained as reference
material.
Agency program:
The State Youth Development Council was created in 1949, House
Bill 705, 51st Legislature, Regular Session. The purpose of this
council was to coordinate state efforts to help communities develop
and strengthen all child services. It was also directed to administer
the state's correctional facilities for delinquent children by
providing a program of constructive training aimed at the rehabilitation
and successful reestablishment of these children into society.
The agency became the Texas Youth Council in 1957, Senate Bill
303, 55th Legislature, Regular Session, with the additional charge
to provide parole supervision for certain delinquent children
until their discharge. The Legislature also directed the Council
to operate certain institutions for dependent and neglected children
(Corsicana State Home, Waco State Home, and the Texas Blind, Deaf
and Orphan School). Care for dependent and neglected children
is no longer a function of the Youth Commission. This function
is now largely handled by the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services. The commission also initiated a county juvenile probation
subsidy program in the 1970s which was transferred to the Texas
Juvenile Probation Commission upon its creation in 1981. In 1971
a lawsuit was brought against the agency, its officers, and staff
by children confined in the juvenile corrections facilities, known
as the Morales case. Results of this lawsuit led to significant
changes in the way juvenile correction facilities were operated.
The Youth Commission operates under the Texas Human Resource
Code, Section 61, as the state's juvenile correction agency. The
commission provides for the care, custody, rehabilitation, and
reestablishment into society of those youth convicted of delinquent
conduct under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The commission
operates secure institutional and community-based residential
programs for delinquent youth, and supervises the youth once they
return to the community. It also contracts with private sector
providers to operate residential and non-residential services.
Through these institutions and facilities the agency provides
accredited secondary education, vocational training, and several
specialized programs, including programs for sex offenders, capital
offenders who have committed murder, chemical dependency, resocialization,
independent living preparation, mentally retarded youth, and seriously
emotionally disturbed youth. The commission also operates a parole
system for supervision of youth released from residential programs.
The agency protects the identities and identifying information
(such as home addresses and not allowing photographs without permission
of the child) of children admitted to their facilities as required
by the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
The Texas Youth Commission also administers the Interstate Compact
on Juveniles for the state of Texas. The Council of State Governments
drafted a compact agreement in 1955 to address the need for interstate
agreements to cover multi-state problems involving runaway juveniles.
The need was evident for procedures to permit the return of non-delinquent
juveniles who ran away from home to other states, and for a system
under which juvenile offenders could be supervised in other states.
The first organizational meeting of the Compact was held in 1956.
In 1965 the 59th Legislature of Texas enacted House Bill 531 -
The Uniform Interstate Compact on Juveniles by adding a new section
to the Texas Youth Council Act, thus Texas joined the compact
in 1965. The executive director of the Youth Commission is the
compact administrator for Texas. The Compact (ICJ) provides for
the cooperative supervision of juvenile probationers and parolees
who move from state to state. It also provides for the return
of non-delinquent runaway youth, parole and probation absconders,
and escapees to their home state. The administrators of each state
compact are members of the Association of Juvenile Compact Administrators
and they meet yearly to discuss issues pertinent to their endeavors.
V.T.C.A., Human Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 61
Arrangement: Arranged by type of material.
Access constraints: None
Use constraints: None
Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? No
Gaps:
No handbooks are present except for this initial handbook, the
only summary report present is the one for 1967. It is unknown
how many other National Governor's conferences on this topic have
existed, if any.
Problems: None
Known related records in other agencies: None known
Publications based on records: None known
Previous destructions:
Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for
the Texas Youth Commission and none were found for this series
or for equivalent or related series.
Series data from agency schedule: Not on schedule. According
to agency staff current series concerning the Interstate Compact
only contain materials concerning individual cases, so this is
considered to be a defunct series.
Archival holdings:
Interstate Compact on Juveniles files, c. 1965, 1967, fractional
See the "Description section" for the series description.
Appraisal decision:
The handbook present in this series documents the procedures used
to carry out Texas' duties as part of the Interstate Compact on
Juveniles. This is still an ongoing function and the procedures
followed and policies discussed need to be maintained. The handbook
also contains a copy of the legislation creating the Uniform Interstate
Compact on Juveniles for Texas. Because of the evidential and
informational value of this manual, this item has been appraised
to be archival. It can be added to the series Policies and
procedure manuals. The summary report from the National Governor's
Conference on Juvenile Delinquency has some informational value
and can be maintained as a reference source, and transferred to
the series Association of Juvenile Compact Administrators,
as it has a relationship with that series, both physically by
a filing arrangement, and intellectually as many if not most of
the compact administrators attended the conference. No action
needs to be taken by the agency as these records have already
been transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division.
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Records Series Review
Series Title: Theses
Agency: Texas Youth Commission
Obsolete record series? Yes
Replaced by: none known
Ongoing record series? No
Annual accumulation:
Agency holdings:
These have been transferred by the agency to the Archives and
Information Services Division.
Description:
This series contains two theses prepared on the broad topic of
juvenile corrections, dating 1958 and 1978. The first is titled
The Measurement of Employee Absenteeism and Turnover in a Wilderness
Therapeutic Camping Program, by Gary Selman, 1978, done for
Stephen F. Austin State University. The next is Interrelationships
Among Developmental Characteristics of Institutionalized Delinquent
Boys, by B. Bryce Davis, 1958, done for Texas Christian University.
Another thesis concerning Youth Commission activities relating
to the Interstate compacts, can be found in the series Youth
Commission facilities and programs history and information notebooks,
titled An Historical Analysis of the Interstate Compact on
Juveniles, by Roger H. Voltz, 1982, done for Sam Houston State
University.
Purpose:
These are created in fulfillment of a master's degree; copies
were maintained by the agency likely as reference sources.
Agency program:
The State Youth Development Council was created in 1949, House
Bill 705, 51st Legislature, Regular Session. The purpose of this
council was to coordinate state efforts to help communities develop
and strengthen all child services. It was also directed to administer
the state's correctional facilities for delinquent children by
providing a program of constructive training aimed at the rehabilitation
and successful reestablishment of these children into society.
The agency became the Texas Youth Council in 1957, Senate Bill
303, 55th Legislature, Regular Session, with the additional charge
to provide parole supervision for certain delinquent children
until their discharge. The Legislature also directed the Council
to operate certain institutions for dependent and neglected children
(Corsicana State Home, Waco State Home, and the Texas Blind, Deaf
and Orphan School). Care for dependent and neglected children
is no longer a function of the Youth Commission. This function
is now largely handled by the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services. The commission also initiated a county juvenile probation
subsidy program in the 1970s which was transferred to the Texas
Juvenile Probation Commission upon its creation in 1981. In 1971
a lawsuit was brought against the agency, its officers, and staff
by children confined in the juvenile corrections facilities, known
as the Morales case. Results of this lawsuit led to significant
changes in the way juvenile correction facilities were operated.
The Youth Commission operates under the Texas Human Resource
Code, Section 61, as the state's juvenile correction agency. The
commission provides for the care, custody, rehabilitation, and
reestablishment into society of those youth convicted of delinquent
conduct under Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The commission
operates secure institutional and community-based residential
programs for delinquent youth, and supervises the youth once they
return to the community. It also contracts with private sector
providers to operate residential and non-residential services.
Through these institutions and facilities the agency provides
accredited secondary education, vocational training, and several
specialized programs, including programs for sex offenders, capital
offenders who have committed murder, chemical dependency, resocialization,
independent living preparation, mentally retarded youth, and seriously
emotionally disturbed youth. The commission also operates a parole
system for supervision of youth released from residential programs.
The agency protects the identities and identifying information
(such as home addresses and not allowing photographs without permission
of the child) of children admitted to their facilities as required
by the Texas Family Code, Section 58.005.
The Texas Youth Commission also administers the Interstate Compact
on Juveniles for the state of Texas. The Compact (ICJ) provides
for the cooperative supervision of juvenile probationers and parolees
who move from state to state. It also provides for the return
of non-delinquent runaway youth, parole and probation absconders,
and escapees to their home state.
V.T.C.A., Human Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 61
Arrangement: Topical
Access constraints: None
Use constraints: None
Indexes or finding aids required for/or an aid to access? No
Gaps: Unknown, we do not know how many theses have been prepared
on topics relating to the Youth Commission and/or its functions.
Problems: None
Known related records in other agencies: None
Publications based on records: None
Previous destructions:
Destruction requests on file in the Archives and Information Services
Division of the Library and Archives Commission were checked for
the Texas Youth Commission and none were found for this series
or for equivalent or related series.
Series data from agency schedule: Not on the schedule, this is
a defunct series.
Archival holdings:
Theses, 1958, 1978, 0.2 cubic ft.
See the "Description section" for the series description.
Appraisal decision:
The theses in this series concern two aspects of juvenile corrections
and directly relate to activities of the Youth Council. These
are informational and have some research value in their fields,
thus they have been appraised to be archival. No action needs
to be taken by the agency as these records have already been transferred
to the Archives and Information Services Division.
These can either be catalogued or maintained with these records.
The advantage of cataloging would provide a greater awareness
of their presence. However, I recommend they remain with the records
and be filed in the series Reports and studies. Even though
they were not prepared by the agency, the type of research undertaken
is similar to some reports in the Reports and studies series.
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