Independent Ombudsman for the Texas Juvenile justice System Giddings State School Site Visit Report O10-SV-20-008 September 17-18, 2019 Observer: Conrad Jones Purpose: Routine Secure Facility Site Visit Report: This report is designed to identify problems and seek remedies that help secure the rights and ensure the safety of youth housed at the facility. The issues identified in this report are based entirely on the Ombudsman’s observations, interviews with staff and youth, and collected data. Unless otherwise noted, the issues identified in this report do not constitute formal legal findings. Last Review Date: August 20-21, 2019 Current Facility Population: 226 Facility Population September 2018: 210 Number of Youth Interviewed: 20 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Facility, Programs, Processes or Administrative Functions: At the initial time of this visit, the administration reported Dorm 9B was on “shut-down” status for ‘one week due to being involved in recent campus wide major disruptions. It was reported to the O10 that these recent disruptions on 9B seem to be related to conflicts between residents on other dorms. The administration reported the shut-down was scheduled to end and the residents would be returning to their normal school and recreation schedule the same afternoon. The 010 observed the residents and Youth Development Coach (YDC) staff on this dorm from the control room just prior to them returning to their regular programming. The residents appeared to be generally compliant and appropriately interacting with each other. YDC staff were in ratio and providing direct supervision. On the second day of this visit the O10 observed the residents on 10A and 10B from the control. The residents were generally quiet and following staff directives. There was a psychological staff member on dorm 10A interacting directly with various residents. ‘The Regulation Safety Unit (RSU) was relatively quiet and the YDC staff were in ratio and providing direct supervision of the residents. There were several residents assigned to RSU for their participation in a campus disruption the evening prior to this O10 visit. All these residents reported they understood why they were in RSU and had been informed about their current status. There were also four residents refusing to leave RSU because of personal safety concerns. During the ‘August site visit, these same four residents were also refusing to leave RSU. This was reported as an issue on the August 2019 O10 report and is further addressed below. It was also reported to the O10 that one resident in RSU recently physically assaulted the RSU case manager and a YDS. This resident was pending placement into the Phoenix Program.‘A walk through of the school and vocational buildings was conducted. The residents in both areas were quiet and appeared to be appropriately interacting with each other and were responsive to directives from YDC and educational staff. During class changes, the residents’ movements between classes was smooth and orderly. The residents on the dorms were either participating in their scheduled groups or in the dayrooms playing board games or watching television. The facility recently implemented a positive behavior incentive dorm. Eligible residents are able to play video games, watch movies, and have extra snacks. TJD Response: The dorms on slowdown and shut-down returned to regular prog September. The youth were able to exploit an issue with the fire alarm system that allowed the system to engage and open doors without their being an actual fire emergency. The facility reprogrammed the fire alarm system to ensure the youth could no longer improperly set off the system The facility wot to leave the regulation and safety unit. The facility administration v ¥y with the OIG to identify youth suspected of gang affiliations, and the multi-disciplinary teams work with their youth to find ways for the youth to feel safer when engaging, in regular programming. The facility will continue to staff youth who refuse to leave the regulatior and safety unit, and when appropriate, the staff will develop the safe housing plans to get the youth back on the campus Interviews: During the course of this site visit, 20 residents were interviewed. Residents in the Capitol Offender Program (COG) dorm, Sexual Behavior Treatment Program (SBT) dorm and the Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) dorm reported being either enrolled in the program or pending entry. The residents pending assignment into these programs said the case managers are keeping them informed on when they will be able to start their specific treatment groups. Most residents across campus reported satisfaction with their current dorm assignments. They also said they are given opportunities for recreational activities in the gym as well as the rec-room. MONTHLY SUMMARY: Facility incident data was taken from the TJJD intranet on October 3, 2019. The table and graph below detail the number of incidents by category during the past three months as well as the three corresponding months in 2018. During the month of August 2019 there was a significant increase from the previous month in the number of youth on youth assaults. However, for the last three months, the number of physical restraints, fleeing apprehension, and major disruptions during this same period appear to be decreasing. According to the data, the number of incidents during this current period remain generally higher than the corresponding months in 2018. [Giddings incident Trends une-201¢{ July-2018 [Aug-2018] [iune-201] July-2019 [Aug-2019 loc Spray 2 20 B 39 36 30 Restraints 2 2 7 ii 31 81 [Assaults-Youth on Youth | 32 a 15 32 2 0 lAssaults-Youth onStaff_| 9 10 10 a 4 R fEscape/Attempt Escape | 0 0 0 oO 0 oO Fleeing Apprehension it 32, 9 86 B 31 [Gang related 2 6 B 9 3 10 [Part. Major Disruption 6 29 6 is | 29 it Giddings State School - September 17-18, 2019 10-003 01/16‘mJune-2018 miuly-2028 % Aug-2018 120 100 40 wmJune-2019 muly-2019 w Aug-2019 120 I ~ 0 60 | 0 i Bn _ 2 ao B SS SF Se FP SF oF eee FF A et Kos ~ os eo & # oe ‘ ‘TID Response: The number of youth-on-youth assaults did increase for the month of August. The number of assaults resulting in injury also increased for this month; however, the majority of assaults (60%) still resulted in no injury. The total number of youth-on-youth assaults were lower in September. The facility and agency continue to monitor all incidents on campus, and the facility incidents that implements corrective actions to corre ISSUES IDENTIFIE] trending upward Issues from previous site visits remain on the report until the ombudsman has confirmed that the response presented by TJJD has been completed and implemented. 1. 8/21/19 -Three residents reported being in fear of returning to dorm 9B. Each of the residents reported being physically threatened and/or being psychically assaulted by gang affiliated residents. What will the facility do in order to ensure these and other residents on this dorm do not live in fear of being threatened by residents with gang affiliations? 11/8/19-T]JD Response: These youth were placed on safety plans. Facility staff counseled these youth to determine if there are specific youth causing the issues, and the facility addressed those youth accordingly. These youth returned to their dorms, or other dorms on campus, pursuant to the safe housing assessments conducted. The case managers develop the safety plans and safe housing assessments, which are kept on the dorm for the direct-care staff. As stated above, the facility also works closely with the OIG gang intelligence officer to identify youth suspected of gang affiliations, staff those youth, and develop safe housing assessments and safety plans to ensure their peers are not thr: atened on the dorms, 9/18/19 - During this site visit, the administration reported two of the four residents refusing to leave were being moved out of security and another was scheduled to be transferred toa halfway house. One of the four was still continuing to refuse to leave security. The administration advised T)JD Central Office is aware of this resident's concerns and they are working with them for an appropriate solution. Giddings State School - September 17-18, 2019 10-003 0: 1/1611/15/19-T]JD Response: The facility continues to work closely with the OIG gang intelligence officer to identify youth suspected of gang affiliations. The facility will also continue staffing the youth who are refusing to leave the regulation and safety unit for safety reasons. 2, 8/22/19 - At 9:20am a resident was observed walking unescorted from near the cafeteria in the direction of the infirmary and there appeared to be no YDC staff in the area monitoring this resident. The O10 asked the resident who was supervising him and he replied, “Me, myself, and I". This was reported to the administration and said they would investigate this. What will the facility do in order to ensure that residents are not allowed to walk unsupervised across campus? 11/8/19-T}]D Response: Youth remain in sight of staff at all times. This youth was a café worker, and was in the line of sight of the café staff, although the café staff remained in the building. The facility administration reminded the café staff to keep the line of sight of the youth at all times. This issue was also communicated with team leaders and senior coaches to ensure all youth are supervised properly 9/18/19 - No residents were observed walking unescorted on campus during this site visit. 11/15/19-T]JD Response: This issue was addressed by the facility administration following the 10's August site visit. Staff will ensure proper supervision of youth during movements on campus. 71D will continue to monitor these issues at all facilities 3. 5/15/19 - During and subsequent to this site visit, the O10 received reports that indicated that number of gang of related incidents, fleeing apprehension, and the number of major disruptions have recently increased. According to incident reports from the facility as well as, reports from direct care staff and residents, it appears as though these increases are related to the recent influx of residents from the Gainesville state School. How does the agency and the facility plan to address the increase of these incidents across campus? How will the facility address this apparent increase in gang activity as well as the increase in major disruptions? 8/20/19 - T)JD/Facility Response - As mentioned above, when looking at the incident rate per 100 youth, most incidents remained relatively stable. The increases are not solely the result of youth being moved from Gainesville; a momentary increase in incidents is expected when any facility receives an increase in youth, regardless of where the youth are from, Increasing the youth population ata facility will slightly disrupt the milieu before incidents stabilize again. The facility has done a good job working with all youth on campus, including the youth recently placed on the campus. The most recent data suggests we are beginning to see incidents level off across the campus. The agency will continue to monitor incidents on this campus. 6/27/19 -T)JD data indicates that number of youth assaults, fleeing apprehension, and physical restraints have still been increasing, 10/10/2019-T]JD Response: Certain incidents did increase in May/June as more youth were brought onto the facility. When controlling for population, overall incidents are on the decline following this site visit, including incidents requiring physical restraints, incidents of OC spray, Giddings State School ~ September 17-18, 2019 10-003 01/16fleeing apprehension, and assaults on staff. TID continually monitors incident trends at all facilities. 7/21/19 - TJD data indicates that number of youth assaults, fleeing apprehension, and physical restraints have still been increasing. 10/10/2019-T}JD/Facility Response - The data shows a decline in youth assaults and a steady trend of assaults on staff. The majority of the assaults remain unauthorized contact not involving bodily injury, and the number of assaults that are confirmed in a level II due process hearing are even lower. The number of OC spray in June was high, but the use of OC spray in July and August are much lower. The overall use of restraints has also decreased since the data reported in June. Both of these decreases is attributable, in part, to the facilities focus on catching incidents low and engaging with youth at the appropriate level of intervention. As the facility continues to work with staff on catching youth at the lowest level of engagement, T]}D will continue to monitor these trends. 8/21/19 - T)JD data for July 2019 indicates there were general decreases in the number of incidents from June 2019. This issue will remain open and the O10 will continue to monitor this data. 11/8/19-T]}D Response: TY] continues to monitor incidents at this facility. The total number of incidents, both in number and when controlling for population, continue to decline. 9/18/19 - With the exception of youth of youth assaults, during the past three months the number of incidents in the other categories appears to be decreasing. The 010 will continue to monitor this data. 11/15/19-T]JD Response: Targeted corrective actions, staffing of youth, and further implementation of the intervention aspects of the Texas Model have led to the decrease in incidents. On this campus, there were some incidents on campus that led to youth-on-youth assaults. However, in the following months, the number of youth-on-youth assaults have been jower than the data reported for August 2019. Incidents trends across the board are improving, and the facility and T)JD will continue to monitor the total number and rate of incidents at this facility, I certify that this report represents a true and accurate assessment of all issues identified. u hisfte Date Submitted byy Conrad Jones Deputy Ombudsman Giddings State School - September 17-18, 2019 10-003 01/16