(TJJD) Youth Handbook - Texas Juvenile Justice Department

MDT (Multi-Disciplinary Team) – The team, made up of you, staff from your facility, andyour parents, meets monthly to discuss your progress and make any needed changes.MLOS (Minimum Length of Stay) – The minimum period of time an indeterminatesentenced youth must stay in TJJD. This is set by TJJD policy.MPC (Minimum Period of Confinement) – The minimum period of time a determinatesentenced youth must stay in TJJD before being eligible for parole. This is set in state law.OIG (Office of the Inspector General) – This office has law enforcement officers whoinvestigate criminal acts committed while on TJJD property and file criminal charges ifneeded.OIO (Office of the Independent Ombudsman) – This office has independent monitorswho focus on problems that affect the whole TJJD system. They work with TJJD staff toimprove the standard of care for all youth. They also help you with complaints about TJJD.Parole – Also called aftercare or community reentry. It’s the period of TJJD supervisionbeginning after release from a residential program and ending with discharge.PO (Parole Officer) – The officer assigned to a youth while he or she is on parole.Project RIO-Y (Reintegration of Offenders-Youth) – A program to prepare you to get agood job or education and training once you go home. Project RIO-Y is something TJJDand the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) do together.PS (Program Specialist) – The program specialist at a facility oversees all of theoperations in a dorm or program. This person is also sometimes called a programadministrator.PSW (Primary Service Worker) – This is the staff member who works closest with you –usually your case manager or parole officer.RRP (Release Review Panel or “the Panel”) – The group of TJJD staff who decideswhether you should be released based on your behavior and treatment progress. Yourcase will only go to this Panel if you haven’t been released by the time your minimumlength of stay is up.SBTP (Sexual Behavior Treatment Program) – This is the specialized treatment foryouth who have committed sex offenses and need intensive services.SSC (Special Services Committee) – The committee at your facility which meets weeklyto do entrance and exit assessments and release reviews or to discuss a request to senda youth to prison. The SSC is usually led by the director of clinical services and includesthe program administrator, principal, assistant superintendent, and others.92