My name is Ms. Jackson. I’m a native of Houston, Texas, and the parent of a disabled child who spent over five years in the juvenile justice system. At age eleven, my oldest son was placed in a Harris County Juvenile Detention Center on allegations of breaking a $50 window. After nearly nine months in Harris County detention, and nine months of advocacy, his release was approved by the presiding judge. But a court attorney appointed herself Guardian Ad Litem and presented before a visiting judge without notifying me of the changes and the new court date. Instead of the agreed upon release, the judge sentenced Marquieth to the Texas Youth Commission without a parent present.
Marquieth was incarcerated for three years and six months. My son was sexually, physically, and mentally abused. He received no education and was medically neglected.
These experiences increased my awareness of the injustices occurring in the juvenile justice system. Here began my campaign to draw state and local attention to problems within the Texas juvenile justice system. Years of dedication finally paid off with the formation of the Texas Families of Incarcerated Youth (TFIY) in June 2004. We lobbied the Texas legislature to reduce incarceration youth and increase family-focused, evidence-based interventions and sentencing options. In 2007, Texas passed Senate Bill 103 which prohibited counties from sending youth to secured facilities on class C misdemeanors. This historical legislation changed the Texas juvenile justice system forever. The legislation included the development of a Parent’s Bill of Rights, which was drafted in partnership with the Texas Youth Commission. I am dedicated to engaging families and community members in the struggle to reform juvenile and criminal justice systems, and ensuring that directly affected youth and their families play a meaningful role in the efforts to reform policies and reduce racial and ethnic disparities within juvenile incarceration.
My name is Ms. Jackson. I’m a native of Houston, Texas, and the parent of a disabled child who spent over five years in the juvenile justice system. At age eleven, my oldest son was placed in a Harris County Juvenile Detention Center on allegations of breaking a $50 window. After nearly nine months in Harris County detention, and nine months of advocacy, his release was approved by the presiding judge. But a court attorney appointed herself Guardian Ad Litem and presented before a visiting judge without notifying me of the changes and the new court date. Instead of the agreed upon release, the judge sentenced Marquieth to the Texas Youth Commission without a parent present.
Marquieth was incarcerated for three years and six months. My son was sexually, physically, and mentally abused. He received no education and was medically neglected.
These experiences increased my awareness of the injustices occurring in the juvenile justice system. Here began my campaign to draw state and local attention to problems within the Texas juvenile justice system. Years of dedication finally paid off with the formation of the Texas Families of Incarcerated Youth (TFIY) in June 2004. We lobbied the Texas legislature to reduce incarceration youth and increase family-focused, evidence-based interventions and sentencing options. In 2007, Texas passed Senate Bill 103 which prohibited counties from sending youth to secured facilities on class C misdemeanors. This historical legislation changed the Texas juvenile justice system forever. The legislation included the development of a Parent’s Bill of Rights, which was drafted in partnership with the Texas Youth Commission. I am dedicated to engaging families and community members in the struggle to reform juvenile and criminal justice systems, and ensuring that directly affected youth and their families play a meaningful role in the efforts to reform policies and reduce racial and ethnic disparities within juvenile incarceration.