Advocates Gather to Oppose the $304 Million Proposal for a New Child Jail in Travis County

Press release
Written By Maria Reza

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The proposal outlines the expansion of three additional buildings, despite only 26% occupancy of current facilities

AUSTIN, TX – Today, the Travis County Commissioners Court will vote on a $304 million proposal to expand juvenile detention facilities under the Comprehensive Facility Plan. The meeting will take place today at 1:30 p.m. CT at the Travis County Administration Building Commissioners Courtroom, additional information including how to watch the meeting virtually can be found here. The Travis County Commissioners could vote on the plan, despite criticism from advocacy groups and residents. Community members and Spokespeople from the Finish the 5 coalition will be submitting public comments at the meeting and are available to interview. 

Currently, children are held at the Gardner Betts Juvenile Justice Center and the Jeanne Meurer Intermediate Sanctions Center, the proposal outlines the creation of additional courtrooms and detention facilities which include 48 new beds. The plan stresses the need for more space however, the facts show that it is not needed. Currently, 31 children occupy the 118 beds available between both facilities, according to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.

“I’m shocked to see Travis County consider taking such a drastic step backward on our progress. Not so long ago, when we were here debating the new women’s jail, the Commissioner’s Court declined the proposal for a new jail and recommitted itself to ‘community-based support to reduce the jail population by redirecting efforts from criminalization and incarceration to developing and sustaining effective community supports such as prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and equitable opportunities,’” said Alycia Castillo at the Texas Civil Rights Project. “We’re also still waiting for investment in the Mental Health Diversion Center, the plans for which could be expanded to serve people of all ages. There are alternatives. I wish we were here today to hear a briefing on a comprehensive plan to invest in community support in Travis County, not a comprehensive plan to invest in incarcerating our children. We’re asking the Commissioner's Court to meet with the community to develop new strategies.” 

“Youth who have committed an offense need treatment, counseling, understanding, support, and tools to help change negative behavior. Parents need support, guidance,  and resources to help them deal with their troubled child.  There are attachment theories that indicate the importance of parent-child relationships. Taking a child away from the parent can create more harm. Locking children in a physical facility, whatever it will be called, is still a jail/detention center to the child,  and reinforces their badness which then leads to more acting out behaviors. Money needs to be better spent on peer support counselors, community resources, education, and special education, to prevent our youth from going on the wrong path,” said Rachel Gunner, Advocates for Social Justice Reform. Bob Batlan from the same organization says, “My biggest worry is that officials will check off an item on their to-do list to address issues related to troubled Juveniles by paying for a design of a high-class detention facility.  At best that is kicking the can down the road. Data seems to suggest that detention, juvenile or adult, is rarely the road to good community outcomes.”

“Speaking as someone who was incarcerated at Gardner Betts as a young Black girl in 2008, I can say with confidence that what I needed were supports and services, not a prettier holding cell,” said Angel Carroll,  Director of Advocacy at Measure.  “I am deeply disturbed that after all these years, a reported 84% of the kids in Travis County children’s jail cells are kids of color, meaning Travis County still hasn’t made any progress on the severe overrepresentation of kids of color in our incarceration system. I am deeply disturbed that the question before us is ‘how do we build more capacity for incarceration?’ when it should be ‘how do we create a continuum of care and support interventions to address this legacy of racism in the criminalization of children?’ I urge the Commissioner’s Court to treat our children like children, not prisoners, and seriously consider alternatives like mental health treatment, substance use treatment, and access to basic needs to help Travis County families and communities thrive.” 

"Investing $304 million in a new child jail is a grave misstep for Travis County. Instead of perpetuating a cycle of incarceration, we must allocate these funds toward comprehensive community programs, mental health services, and educational opportunities. Our children deserve support and pathways to success, not imprisonment and criminalization. It is time we prioritize true public safety by uplifting our youth and addressing the root causes of systemic issues," said Chas Moore, Austin Justice Coalition.

“Advocates with the Finish the 5 coalition have met with the Travis County Juvenile Probation Department over the past year to voice disapproval and alternatives to the proposal. The decision to put forward the proposal at today’s meeting was not communicated to the public and gave no time for meaningful community input,” Sarah Reyes, with Texas Center for Justice and Equity said. “In an effort to combat decisions like this being made behind closed doors, the coalition proposed a community advisory board be created so those impacted could provide input; however, that request went unanswered.”  

"$304 million could be better spent on mental health services and community-based alternatives instead of a cage for kids,” said Chantel Pridgon with Grassroots Leadership. “Instead of perpetuating the cycle of incarceration, the county must do the right thing and invest in our children’s future through preventative and long-term solutions. A jail is not it.”

“There is nothing redemptive about a facility, by its nature is punitive, in its use with youth.,” said Robert Lilly with Texas Advocates for Justice. “I have been a ward of a juvenile prison and I can tell you from my lived experience you can't put lipstick on this pig and tell us it is pretty. Its very nature is corrupt and it will only harm our youth detained there, and our soul, as a society for supporting it."

“This proposal is misguided and out of touch with our children's needs. Building a new juvenile detention facility and presenting it as being more like a community center or college campus is deceptive and harmful. It perpetuates the false narrative that any type of incarceration is the solution to community challenges,” said Jennifer Toon, Project Director, Lioness Justice Impacted Women’s Alliance.

Community members and spokespeople from the Finish the 5 coalition will be submitting public comments at the meeting and are available to interview, please reach out to the respective media contact for scheduling. 

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Contacts: 

Maria Reza
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Advocacy organizations demand implementation of Counsel at First Appearance (CAFA) for those detained at Travis County Jail