Commissioner Leon and the Court Approve April 6, 2015 as “Juvenile Probation Day”
Commissioner Leon and the court approved and adopted a resolution recognizing April 6, 2015 as “Juvenile Probation Day, during commissioners court this morning.
The El Paso County Juvenile Probation Department was established in 1950 with the opening of the first Juvenile Detention Facility in the State of Texas. Throughout the 65 years since, there have been many programs and enhancements to the department.
The El Paso County Juvenile Drug Court Program is one of twelve juvenile drug courts in the country and the only program in the State of Texas to be selected by the National Council of Juvenile Family Court Judges to participate in the Juvenile Drug Court Learning Collaborative for the next two years to enhance program operations and outcomes.
The Challenge Academy has consistently received high marks on state audits (the latest Texas Juvenile Justice Department Audit score was 99.12%).
A recent 2 ½ year state recidivism study, “Closer to Home”, conducted by Dr. Tony Fabelo on behalf of the Council of State Governments equated all program outcomes to their recidivism rates. The report placed Counties into 3 levels or tiers with El Paso County JPD, falling under the designated recidivism rate, placed on Tier 1 (Tier 1 being the highest, best performing due to lowest recidivism rate). In 2010 our recidivism rate was 46% and in 2011 to 2013 it was at its lowest, 28%.
