Purpose:
To verify the accuracy and legitimacy of claims against the Department and oversee all financial operations of the Juvenile Probation Department.

Accounting section consists of five major functions:
1) Payroll – The unit processes all personnel action forms for all employee changes and monitors/reviews payroll through the County’s Workforce Central Software (KRONOS).

2) Accounts Payable – The unit processes vouchers for payment and submits them to the County Auditor’s Office.

3) Budgeting – The unit budgets and manages the Department accounts that are regulated through the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD), Criminal Justice Division (CJD) and the County of El Paso.

4) Inventory – The unit accounts for the Departments fixed assets.

5) Collections - The unit collects all fees associated with probation/supervision, court costs, victim restitution and all employee reimbursements to the County of El Paso. Fees are recorded using the Texas Juvenile Justice Department Caseworker.

• The cashier’s office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Cash, cashier’s check, and money orders shall be accepted and be made payable to El Paso County Juvenile Probation Department. The payment should indicate the juvenile’s name, date of birth and/or personal identification number (PID).
• The following credit/debit cards are accepted:

American Express
Discover Network
MasterCard
VISA
ATM Debit Cards (STAR, Pulse Pay, and NYCE)

There will be a $1.95 convenience fee applied to all credit/debit card transactions under $87.00. Payments exceeding $87.00 are subject to a 2.25% convenience fee.

• Clients can mail their payment to the following address:
Juvenile Probation Department
ATT: Accounting Section
6400 Delta Drive
El Paso, Texas 79905

DO NOT MAIL CASH

• Clients shall receive a receipt when making a payment. If you do not receive a receipt, please notify Mr. Albert Mendez, Director of Financial Services or Ms. Lorena Heredia, Deputy Chief of Finance and Operations at (915) 849-2500.

Purpose:
The mission of the Clinical Unit is to create a safe and compassionate environment in which clinicians’ aid in empowering youth and families to grow by assisting them in recognizing and utilizing their strengths to overcome mental and /or behavioral health issues as a means to facilitate personal growth and development. Clinical team members work in a variety of settings to address a myriad of mental/behavioral health issues.

Community Based Services- Therapeutic services are provided by qualified, licensed staff to eligible youth and families under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court. Licensed counselors provide trauma sensitive services designed to enhance cognitions, alleviate emotional distress and aid in the development of skills. Community based services are designed to address the family system as a whole, recognizing the youth may be a symptom of a greater dysfunction within the family unit. A holistic approach to counseling which incorporates individual, family and group sessions to ameliorate symptoms associate with a mental/behavioral health diagnosis is part of the program structure. Community based services strives to improve family relations and reduce symptoms to prevent a justice involved youth’s removal from the home/community.

Mental Health Assessments - Comprehensive behavioral health assessments are provided by licensed and qualified clinical staff to gain information and insight to promote treatment and the rehabilitative process. Behavioral health assessments include a clinical interview and the administration of valid and reliable psychometric tools to aid in the formulation of diagnostic impressions and treatment recommendations.

Mental Status Exams and Crisis Counseling are available for eligible justice involved youth. Crisis counseling is brief and focused on minimizing stress frim a traumatic event through the provision of emotional support. A mental status exam is a semi-structured assessment to aid in determining a youth’s behavioral, emotional and cognitive function. It allows for a provisional diagnosis to alleviate symptoms associated with a crisis or distress.

Sexual Offender Treatment Services are designed to correct thinking errors and enhance victim empathy while developing skills and strategies to stop abusive behaviors. Services provided are tailored to each youth based on assessed needs and may include: group services, family, individual sessions as well as parenting and/or chaperon classes. Adjunct services are also provided to address mental and or behavioral health issues in order to facilitate the therapeutic process and evoke change. Services are provided by a clinician licensed to perform sex offender specific services.


Sexual Behavior Therapy is afforded to justice involved youth that may or may not have been abused and exhibit inappropriate sexualized behaviors such as touching, exposure, developmentally inappropriate masturbation or self-touching and/or engage in sexualize language. Services are provided by qualified licensed counselors.

Residential Services are afforded to eligible youth court ordered into the Challenge Academy and their families. Residential services may be considered when additional structure, supports and/or therapeutic interventions are necessary to meet conditions of probation, and/or to appropriately treat a behavioral health need and/or substance use disorder. Residential Services in the Challenge Academy offers two service tracks: a supportive residential track designed to address an identified substance use disorder as well as a behavioral tack for youth in need of behavior modification and/or to address an emotional health need. Therapeutic services provided by licensed counselors and include a combination of individual, family and group services designed to promote abstinence, enhance empathy and cognitions as well as develop strategies to effectively cope with an identified mental, behavioral health or substance use disorder.

Group Services-

• Parenting available include adult parenting sessions based on a strength based approach to enhance communications and relationships with in the family. Parents are taught strategies to enhance their abilities to effectively manage behaviors and solidify roles within the family unit.
• Substance use service are designed to teach skills to youth with a substance use disorder to maintain an abstinent lifestyles.
• Self-Regulating Skills designed to assist youth in identifying, effectively expressing and managing emotional states, while also enhancing executive functioning, critical at this state of adolescent development.
• Social Skills designed to enhance communications, social interactions and development of healthy relationships. Groups provide skills development in increasing awareness, empathy and civic engagements and/or community connectedness.
• Career Development Groups designed to peak vocational interest as well as job preparation and related skills to seek and maintain employment.
• Independent Living Skills designed to teach budget, basic household maintenance, nutrition and meal preparation healthy habits and skills to promote self-reliance and confidence.
• Food Handlers Course is available for justice involved youth and families. The course is designed to meet certification requirements by the Texas Department of Health Services, in which participants meet all classroom and testing requirements will be granted a food handler’s certificate. The course teaches proper safety practices in the preparation, storage and services of food.

Case Management Services are offered to Challenge youth and their families to facilitate the youth’s reintegration back into the home/community as part of the Challenge Aftercare program. Case management entails a collaborative process which includes assessing, planning, care coordination and advocacy to meet the youth’s and families’ needs for successful reentry and continued success within the community. Case Management services include social skills and independent living skills develop as well as vocational and educational assistance to the youth to promote safety, quality of care and positive outcomes.

Psychiatric Services are provided to eligible justice involved youth in both the pre and post adjudication facilities of the Department. Psychiatric evaluations are available for a determination of the need for medication for an identified mental health disorder as well as medication follow up and crisis assessments. Psychiatric services are provided by board certified psychiatrists through contracted services with the Texas Tech Psychiatric Fellowship Program.

Psychological Services are also available to youth in the Department’s pre/post adjudication facilities. Services are provided by a licensed psychologist or post doctorate interns through the Texas Tech Psychiatric Department and may include mental status exams, crisis counseling, and mental health counseling services to enhance coping skills and reduce symptoms associated with a diagnoses disorder.

Purpose:

The Juvenile Detention Center is a short term pre-adjudication facility that provides a safe, caring and secure environment for male and female youth between the ages of 10-17 who are court-ordered detained pending release or out of home placement.

The Center is open 24 hours a day, year long. It has a population capacity of 62 youth, which is considered a medium sized facility in the State of Texas. The Detention Officers maintain order and daily operations of the facility and are responsible for the care, custody and control of the youth in our custody in accordance with standards set by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department. We are responsible for the admissions and release of youth referred to us by local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. We prevent disturbances, assaults and escapes by supervising activities and educational services. We have the responsibility to protect the public, protect fellow officers, support staff and our youth from harm. Officer’s serve as mentors and role models as well as disciplinarians and rule enforcer. Officers also assist in transportation responsibilities that may include transfers to other facilities, medical appointments, court appearances and other required locations. Officers demonstrate concern and empathy for the youth detained.

Programs

Programming in Detention is structured and intended to provide for the safe and secure confinement of the youth detained while addressing their physical, emotional and educational needs. Educational services and structured recreational activities are provided by the Delta Academy through the El Paso Independent School District.

1. Education Program: Follows the EPISD public school schedule. Enables the juvenile to maintain academic level in a public school by continuing their work while in detention.
2. Library Services: Books, magazines and other reading materials are available to youth in the facility.
3. Foster Grandparent Program: Senior citizens volunteer their time to come into detention and interact with the youths.
4. HIV/AIDS Education: Health care awareness, education and testing of youth on the risk of sexual activity, drug use, and other activities that could lead to becoming HIV positive and contracting AIDS.
5. Art & Crafts: Expand the youths’ range and means of self-expression and to express their sense of personal identity and worth.
6. Religious Programming: Every reasonable effort is made to facilitate the practice of the youth's religion and they have access to publications of their respective faiths.
7. Health/Hygiene Education Program: Instruction on various health and hygiene topics and personal cleanliness, proper dental care, foot care, proper diet, weight control, etc. and are conducted on a weekly basis.
8. Medical and Health Care Services: Nursing and pediatric services are provided through a contract with Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.
9. Dental Care Services: Youth are transported to Rawlings Dental Clinic and are provided with dental exams, cleaning, molar sealant, and any other dental services needed such as filling cavities.
10. Clinical Mental Health Services: Services provided through the Clinical Unit of the Juvenile Justice Center. They provide support and crisis services for any detained youth with suicidal ideations or mental health issues as necessary.
11. Texas Tech Fellowship: Psychiatric testing and services provided by Texas Tech Health Science Center.
12. Cadet and Senior Girl Scout Program: The Girls Scout of the Desert Southwest coordinates activities such as journal writing, reading, and performing community service.
13. Delta Academy Tutoring Program: Summer programming to assist youth in completing State mandated testing or GED preparation.

Communication Policies:

We understand that having a child detained and losing regular contact with them can be an extremely stressful experience. The following information is designed to help you maintain communication with your child and explain some of the general rules of the facility. If at any time you should have any questions or require more information, please contact the Detention Section anytime at 849-2570.

Regular Visitation Schedule:

Visitation is capped at ten (10) families and is filled on a first come, first served basis. Visitation will depend on the last name of your child, based on the following schedule:

Last name begins:
A-I: Sun and Wed      J-P: Mon and Thr      Q-Z: Tue and Sat
Visitation is for one hour from 6:15p - 7:15p or 7:30p - 8:30p
*Special Visits: Saturday 5:00p - 6:00p or 8:30p - 9:30p

Visitation Rules:

1. Visitation is restricted to parents, guardians and attorneys. All others requests must be submitted through the assigned Probation Officer for approval from the Senior Detention Officer or Director of Detention.
2. Requests for modified visitation times must be submitted and approved by the Senior Detention Officer or Director through the assigned Probation Officer.
3. When a resident is committed to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department or ordered into an out of home placement, special visitation may be granted for immediate family members with approval by the Senior Detention Officer or Director.
4. All visitors are required to provide proper identification. Only authorized visitors will be allowed into the facility. Any other persons accompanying visitors will not be permitted into the facility.
5. Visitation may be terminated at any time when a problem arises which may endanger the welfare of the resident or the security of the facility. When a visitation is terminated, an explanation will be given to the parents and the resident. Any persons suspected to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs will not be allowed to visit.
6. No food, drinks or tobacco products are allowed into the visitation area. Smoking is never allowed in the facility.
7. Visitors are not allowed to bring any items to the resident. Any discovery of items being given to the resident will result in immediate termination of visitation and review of all future visitations. When applicable, legal charges will be filed. All items are prohibited; some examples include food, candy, gum, letters, notes and pictures.
8. Any items being brought in for the resident must be left at Central Control. All items must be approved by the Senior Detention Officer, Director or facility nurse. These items include prescription glasses, contacts, medications or over the counter medications or hygiene items as requested by the nurse or physician.
9. No cell phones, purses, packages or bags will be allowed into the visitation area. All these items must be secured in the visitor lockers. Keys to the lockers are kept at Central Control at all times. It is the responsibility of the visitor to return the key to Central Control. Large coats and sweaters should be hung in the visitor locker area. All visitors and items with them are subject to search.
10. Visitors may use the restrooms and water fountains in the visitation area. Residents are not allowed to stand up or walk around during visitation and my not use the restroom or water fountain.
11. If a resident is married, and the spouse is requesting to visit, a marriage certificate is required as proof of the marriage and these visits must be approved by the Senior Officer or Director.
12. Parents who are divorced or separated will be permitted to share the visitation hour. In circumstances where the parents do not wish to visit together arrangements can be made to divide the visitation hour into 30 minute visits.
13. All visitors must maintain a proper dress code. If a visitor is inappropriately dressed, revealing or tight fitting clothing, they will be asked to correct their clothing or return for the later visitation.
14. If a resident is a parent, they may request special visits with their child through their Probation Officer and approved by the Senior Officer or Director. When approved, the maternal or paternal grandparents must accompany the child to the visitation.

Telephone Rules:

1. Residents will be allowed a 5-minute telephone call twice weekly. Phone call days will be determined by the housing unit the resident is assigned. Calls are limited to parents or legal guardians.
2. Residents will be allowed to call their attorney during reasonable office hours, usually between 8a and 5p. Incoming calls will not be accepted for residents unless authorized by the Senior Officer or Director.
3. A Detention Officer will dial all calls, based on numbers provided at admission. The officer will ensure that the party called is on the phone before giving the phone to the youth. All calls are documented.

Mail Privileges:

1. Residents are encouraged to write letters while detained. They are provided writing materials and postage for at least two letters per day on assigned mail writing days.
2. Residents are not limited to writing materials or postage for legal correspondence.
3. Residents may send and receive mail from whomever they wish, except for youth in another residential facility or the Texas Department of Corrections, or if the recipient is restricted by the Juvenile Court. Any prohibited mail will be returned to the sender
4. All outgoing and incoming mail will be logged in and recorded as to the sender and receiver of the mail.
5. Mail can be opened, if in some circumstance there is probable cause to believe it contains contraband or may be part of a plan that threatens the security of the facility.
6. Arrangements are made to forward any mail received after a youth had been transferred or released.

Mailing Address

NAME OF YOUTH
JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER
6400 DELTA DRIVE
EL PASO, TX 79905-4408

Personal Property

Any property left behind in detention over thirty days after a resident has been released will be forfeited and become property of the Juvenile Probation Department. It is the responsibility of the youth and the parents to ensure that all property is released as the department will not give notification of property left behind.

Questions

All question may be directed to a Team Leader on duty or:
Mario Artalejo, Senior Detention Officer (MArtalejo@epcounty.com)
Louis Castillo, Director of Detention (LCastillo@epcounty.com)
(915) 849-2570

Purpose:

To provide the highest level of support services to the Department and partnering County entities that increases performance capabilities while also ensuring public safety through the oversight and supervision of juvenile justice involved youth while in the community.

Other Duties:
• Conduct urine analysis (UAs)
• Monitoring visits at the home, school, community service site, counseling site, etc.
• Document all contact with the juvenile, parents, other contacts and all incidents of non-compliance.

Programs
• Community Improvement Program
Provide community service projects and local sites to juveniles in order to complete a certain amount of community service hours ordered by the court. Local community service sites must be non-profit or government agencies such as park and recreation, street maintenance departments, and social service programs.

Projects:
• Parents/Guardians are responsible for transportation
• Every Saturday CIP provides two projects from 8 to 12 pm
• Projects are held during the week when school districts are on official break

Purpose:
Processes incoming referrals for Class B misdemeanors or above from all law enforcement agencies within El Paso County and makes the initial recommendation on case disposition.

Responsibilities:
• Review police reports to verify jurisdiction and probable cause
• Provide initial victim notification
• Conduct juvenile background investigation
• Conduct interviews of referred youth and their families
• Conduct risk and need assessments
• Responsible for detention or release recommendations.
• Recommend court intervention or other alternatives.

Provide service referrals based on youth/family needs.

Programs and Supervisions:
1) Juvenile Court Conference Committees- – Program under Deferred Prosecution primarily used for first time offending, low risk youth referred on a low level offense in which a committee of trained volunteers reviews case and determines the requirements for youth and family to include community service, services to address risks/needs and other requirements to promote youth accountability for his or her actions without the need of a formal court procedure.

2) EMPOWER: Program under Deferred Prosecution aimed to serve youth and families in which mental health is a driving factor to offending behavior and focuses on providing linkage to long term support services. EMPOWER provides parenting skills training classes and academic support by UTEP LSPI students. Families meet regularly with the EMPOWER Team to review compliance and monitor youth and parent’s completion to case plan goals.

3) Deferred Prosecution – This supervision is tailored for youth with higher risks and/or needs that will require more case management and supervision. Case is overseen by a certified juvenile probation officer who creates a formal agreement with family and enforces the conditions to ensure youth and family remain on track for successful completion while also ensuring public safety.

Important points about Deferred Prosecution and programs:

• Used primarily for first time offenders
• Family’s participation is voluntary
• Not to exceed more than six months
• Completion of program closes case
• Community Service is required
• Restitution to victim must be paid as part of participation in DP
• All participants must attend two educational presentations as part of DP participation (One on Bully Prevention and one on Decisions and Consequences)
• Other services that may be required are group cognitive skills training (NCTI), Parenting Classes, assessments, counseling, mental health services and other services aimed to assist with rehabilitation and reparation of harm to the victim or community.

Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program (JJAEP)

Juvenile Court Conference Committees – Program under Deferred Prosecution primarily used for first time offending, low risk youth referred on a low level offense in which a committee of trained volunteers reviews case and determines the requirements for youth and family to include community service, services to address risks/needs and other requirements to promote youth accountability for his or her actions without the need of a formal court procedure.

Level 3:
Supervised probation, requires the probation officer to have frequent contact with the juvenile and sometimes imposes a curfew from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Court order may require the juvenile to participate in community service projects or attend counseling services.

The next level of supervision requires that the juvenile be confined to his home, unless attending school. Juvenile is monitored electronically through the use of a field monitoring unit and a transmitter.

Serious and/or Habitual Offender Comprehensive Action Program (SHOCAP)

Purpose:

To protect the El Paso community and surrounding areas by providing a safe, secure and humane military-style correctional facility and aftercare program that aims to inhibit criminal activity and recidivism through the implementation of evidence-based programming, substance abuse treatment and life skills for the overall growth and development of our cadets and their families.

Responsibilities:

• Continue to reduce recidivism by addressing and focusing on criminogenic factors to appropriately address behavior modification and ensure appropriate reintegration into the community
• Improve programs and service (re-design)
• Continuous and evidence based development of a program core curriculum
• Continuous improvement of clinical programming and services to meet the individual needs of the cadets.
• Continuous and quality improvement and fidelity to program aftercare supervision and services to ensure appropriate re-integration into the community

Programs:
• Challenge Academy - full term, 210 day residential program, designed for 14-17 year old males and females who have exhausted the department’s continuum of services, and are in need of long-term behavioral modification or drug and alcohol treatment for dependency
• APECS - short/intermediate term, 60 day residential program, designed to work with 14-17 year old males and females who have not adhered to their conditions of placement in the community and are in need of a stabilization period due to behavioral issues, drug use and family issues
• CAAP - short term, 10 days residential program, designed to work with 14-17 year old males and females whom had not adhered to their conditions of placement in the community and are in need of a short-tem intensive behavioral modification period. CAAP is a 10-day reminder to participants that they will be held accountable for their actions.

Special Programs Level 4 Probation

Sex Offender Program

Serious Habitual Offender Comprehensive Action Program (SHOCAP)

Juvenile Drug Court Program

Project HOPE - Special Needs Diversionary Program (SNDP)

Dual Status Youth Program

Aftercare/Out of Home Placement Program

Purpose:

To provide innovative and creative training opportunities in order to enhance departmental knowledge while always meeting the Department’s needs.

Responsibilities:

• Maintain staff’s certifications
• Provide all necessary trainings for all staff according to TJJD/Departmental standards
• Establish a fluid training routine and schedule, allowing all employees to receive training.
• Maintain detailed records of accumulated training hours for each employee
• Submit necessary documentation to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department for statutory certification of all newly appointed offices and for re-certification of all experienced officers • Develop and maintain a professional training and curriculum library utilized by staff and trainers
• Responsible for ensuring department units are in compliance with TJJD standards by developing and updating training unit policy and procedure
• Responsible for developing a training monitoring system and updating the Department’s training curriculums
• Organize, administer and/or conduct orientation program for all new department staff
• Collaborate with Department supervisors and administrators to develop needs assessment tools and prioritize training requirements and requests.
• Collaborate with licensed professionals, external agencies and education institutions to identify training resources and programs.

Purpose:

To provide the highest level of support services to the Department by providing reliable, efficient and secure information and communications systems.

Responsibilities:

• Operate, manage and support the information, communications and records systems
• Provide technical and applications support to end users
• Automate departmental processes
• Serve as the Texas Juvenile Justice Department Data Coordinator
• Serve as the JPD Terminal Agency Coordinator (TAC) for the Department of Public Safety
• Serve as the Department’s Custodian of Records
• Provide statistical information

The Juvenile Justice Center kitchen provides complete food services to the youth in Detention and in the Challenge Academy Program, which includes three nutritional meals and a morning and afternoon snack. The meals are prepared in accordance with the School Breakfast Program and the National School Lunch Program Standards and the City of El Paso Department of Public Health. The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program that provides nutritionally balanced, free lunches to youth each day. The Juvenile Justice Center promotes youth’s health, well-being, and ability to learn by supporting healthy eating and physical activity. The Juvenile Justice Center must provide a Nondiscrimination Statement and Complaint Filing Procedures. Please see below for the Department’s Wellness Policy and the Department of Agriculture’s required statement.

Wellness Policy (English)
Wellness Policy (Spanish)

Nondiscrimination Statement and Complaint Filing Procedures (English)
Nondiscrimination Statement and Complaint Filing Procedures (Spanish)

For any questions, concerns or if interested in participating in any aspect of the Wellness Policy, please contact Lorena Heredia, Deputy Chief of Finance/Operations at (915) 849-2500, and/or lheredia@epcounty.com. El Paso County Juvenile Probation Department is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Unit Goal Statement
The Maintenance Unit goal is to provide a safe environment to our employees and clients, through an effective and efficient maintenance program. Maintenance is responsible for the overall physical appearance, security systems, the mechanical systems, cleanliness and landscape of the 121,699 sq. ft. facility that is situated on 9 acres of land. The unit is also responsible for maintaining the Department’s automotive fleet.

Operational Manning Table
1 Building Engineer
2 Maintenance Technician
3 Maintenance Assistant
3 Custodian
9 Total Positions