(TJJD) Youth Handbook - Texas Juvenile Justice Department

Like everything else you do, TJJD will be what you decide to make it. Instead oflooking at being here as punishment, try to think of it as an opportunity. As youmove through the treatment program, you will learn some interesting things aboutyourself. You will also meet new people who have had similar experiences. Sinceyou have to be at TJJD anyway, you should try to make the best of your time.The choice is yours. You can make some life-changing decisions for the betterstarting right now. All of the possibilities in life are still open to you. The onlydifference is, now you have the programs, resources, and individuals who canhelp you figure out what you need to do to make your dreams come true.Back to those feelings I told you about when I first arrived at TJJD. I know you’reprobably feeling the same way. That’s OK. They are normal. I also know thatthere’s not much I can say that will change your mind right now. It’s a journeythat you will have to take for yourself. Just know, from someone who made itthrough the toughest part, it will get better; you will get better; and you have a lotof reasons to look ahead.The administrators at TJJD wrote this book – Looking Ahead –to answer some ofyour basic questions. They got help from TJJD youth like me to keep things inperspective. There is a lot of information about TJJD in this book. If at any timeyou don’t understand something, just ask a staff member or your peers.Starting right now, let’s look ahead together to the day you can go home a betterperson – able to succeed in your community without breaking any laws. It canhappen. I’m living proof.Best wishes,Jason2