Highlights of agency's history
Sunday, May 06, 2007
1836: Republic of Texas establishes 8 as the age of responsibility for crimes. Age raised to 9 in 1856.
1853: Legislature raises age of criminal responsibility to 13 and authorizes construction of a vocational training school for 'wayward' youths.
 TEXAS STATE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES In 1889, the state's first reform school, Gatesville School for Boys, opened. Here's how the entrance to the school looked in a 1914 report. |
1889: First reform school, Gatesville School for Boys, opens.
1916: Gainesville State School opens for wayward girls.
1918: Age of criminal responsibility is raised to 17.
1943: Legislature replaces criminal charges against youths with special civil procedures.
1949: After a scandal over punishment and a lack of programs for incarcerated youths, Texas Youth Development Council is formed to take over state schools and youth training programs.
1950: Crockett State School opens for delinquent African American girls.
1957: After a scandal over issues including crimes by former incarcerated youths, Texas Youth Council is created to run training schools and homes for dependent and neglected children. Name changes to Texas Youth Commission in 1983.
1966: U.S. Supreme Court mandates that incarcerated juveniles have a right to due process, a right to counsel and other legal processes.
1971: Federal lawsuit Morales v. Turman challenges constitutionality of Texas correctional programs for youths, beginning a 17-year odyssey that leads to changes.
1973: In response to Morales case, Legislature enacts reforms with emphasis on community programs and other alternatives to confinement.
1974: Citing a brutal culture not likely to be changed, federal judge shuts down state schools for boys at Gatesville and Mountain View.
1981: Texas Juvenile Probation Commission is created to oversee community-based programs.
1984 : Morales v. Turman settlement is reached.
1987: Facing a spike in violent youth crimes, Texas adopts 'blended sentencing.' where a period of confinement is combined with rehabilitation.
1988: Court oversight of youth system under Morales v. Turman ends.
1995: Reflecting a national trend, the Legislature enacts Juvenile Justice Code cracking down on violent offenders.
2000: The number of youths sentenced to Youth Commission lockups peaks at 5,559, a record. Violence in youth lockups is on the upswing.
2005: Sexual assault allegations involving staff members at the West Texas State School prompt an investigation by Texas Rangers.
2007: Scandal erupts over failure to prosecute the assault case and allegations of an official cover-up. The agency is placed in conservatorship, and its citizen board resigns.
