Juvenile Probation Department
6400 Delta Drive
El Paso, Texas 79905
Phone (915) 849-2500

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Juvenile Probation Department

  • About Us
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  • MISSION STATEMENT

    To assist young people in avoiding delinquent behavior and provide protection of the public by promoting the concept of consequences for delinquent conduct, as well as providing treatment, training, and rehabilitation that emphasizes accountability and responsibility of both parents/guardians and children for their actions.

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  • HISTORY

    1950:
    •El Paso County Juvenile Probation Department established, Detention Home opened
    1971:
    • National Council on Crime and Delinquency first noted inadequacies of El Paso County Juvenile Justice Facility
    • El Paso County’s Court of Domestic Relations (overseeing juvenile cases) created and coordinated by presiding Judge Enrique H. Peña
    • First Court Directive restricting maximum number of children in Detention at any time
    1972:
    •Juvenile judge must ensure that an attorney is available, to represent any juvenile, at all Detention Hearings
    1973:
    • 63rd Legislature adopted Title III of Family Code, effective September 1st
    • Code expanded to prevent loss of jurisdiction over 17 year old who committed delinquent act while younger than 17
    • Legislature ratified Interstate Compact on Juveniles
    • CINS (Children In Need of Supervision) established
    • No more separate Release Hearings for juveniles upon release from Detention
    1974:
    • First Director of Court Services and Court Coordinator positions established
    • Crisis Intervention Program constructed
    • Implementing Computer Information System Project
    • Recruiting and training of “Volunteer Probation Officers”
    1976:
    •Established Community Improvement Program
    1977:
    •First Offender Program established
    1979:
    • Established first 2 Court Conference Committees
    • Designed and opened Project Crossroads Halfway House as an Alternative to institutionalization
    1980:
    • First Review Hearings created and held
    • Developed slide presentation entitled, “What Happened to Randy?” dealing with juvenile committed to, then, Texas Youth Councile
    1981:
    • New Girl’s Unit constructed by the El Paso Job Corps Center participants
    • Victim Restitution Program (provided employment and job training as part of probation), Education Assistance Program and Status Offender Program closed down.
    1982:
    • Awarded, first time, “Purchase of Services for Juveniles” Grant
    • Old girl’s unit converted to Probation Office space
    • Foster Grandparent Program began
    • Education programs developed and conducted by Detention staff
    1983:
    • Governor’s Office, Criminal Justice Division, began funding the JPD education component.
    • VNA Program established. Prior to this, juveniles with medical issues had to be treated at R.E. Thomason Hospital
    1984:
    •Established the Victim Impact and Information Programs, Status Offender Program, Home Confinement/Detention Programs and Hope Line Program.
    1985:
    • Mexican National Children Liaison Program introduced
    • House Arrest Program began
    • 6.5 million dollar bond to finance construction of new Juvenile Justice Center approved
    • Operation Fingerprint started
    • El Paso Juvenile Detention Facility approved for participation in the National School Breakfast and Lunch Program
    1986:
    •Groundbreaking on site for new Juvenile Justice Center
    1987:
    • Furr’s Foundation Grant provided for physician’s services in the Detention Facility, on an as need basis
    • Governor’s Office, Criminal Justice Division, awarded a $29,404 grant the provided medical/dental diagnostic and treatment, as well as psychological/psychiatric evaluation and treatment
    1988:
    • Electronic Monitoring System established, first in the state
    • Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention offered a 40-hour seminar that established the SHOCAP Program
    • 40-hour New Employee Orientation became standardized
    • Late December, New Juvenile Justice Facility completed and staff began moving in
    1989:
    • Implemented the Border Children Justice Project
    • Implemented the Diversionary Placement Program as a TYC alternative
    • Transferred Information Management System from JSIS (Juvenile Statistical Information System) to incorporate the local, retooled CJIS (Comprehensive Justice Information System)
    • Entered into agreement with the Texas Department of Health and Human Services to establish teams, centralizing the joint caseloads by assigning a coordinated DHS/JPD Team
    • Visiting Nurse Association Program expanded to 4 hours per day, Monday-Friday
    1990:
    • Established the Challenge Program
    • Developed an Aftercare component
    • Developed a Continuum of Juvenile Court Services focusing on protection of community and rehabilitation
    1991:
    • First Juvenile Judge, Enrique H. Peña, retired
    • Conscious effort made to divert juveniles from TYC to local departments/facilities for services
    1992:
    • First time ever, several cases prosecuted under the Determinate Sentencing Act
    • Texas Legislature attached a greater consequence to juveniles adjudicated for felony offenses (possible admission of those records during penalty phase of criminal proceedings)
    • PAVE Program began
    1993:
    • Established Juvenile Court Referee Program
    • Title IV-E Program began
    • Mentoring Program with UTEP Student Athletes at JPD (Detention and Challenge)
    1994:
    • Challenge Program expanded to include females
    • Developed Choices Program, juveniles facing consequences of delinquency
    • First Offender and Conference Committee Programs recognized as 2 best prevention programs in the state
    • Lowered Age of Certification from 15 to 14
    1995:
    •NOVANET Educational Computer System installed at JPD
    1996:
    • Project Libertad established
    • Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program (JJAEP) established
    1997:
    •Initial stages of construction on new post-adjudication (Challenge) facility and office extension
    1998:
    • In-Home Services Program (IHSP) Grant awarded
    • Community Restorative Justice Committee Program (incorporated with Conference Committees)
    1999:
    • Ability to accept credit cards for payment, resulting in more compliance/fees paid
    • SouthWest Keys Program Residential Treatment Center (RTC) at Crossroads Building
    2000:
    • New post-adjudication facility and office extension open
    • Department divided into 3 categories: Probation, Operations and Legal
    2001:
    •Texas Council on Offenders with Mental Illnesses (TCOMI) grant awarded
    2002:
    •2 Assistant Case Mangers added to growing Title IV-E Program
    2003:
    • Reassignment of Crossroads Building
    • Storage containers to warehouse juvenile records
    2004:
    •409th District Court designated as El Paso County Juvenile Drug Court
    2005:
    • 2 Probation Officers reassigned to Drug Court
    • Field and Court Services merge to create Probation Services Unit