Brazoria County Juvenile Detention Center

You can support your loved ones at Brazoria County Juvenile Detention Center on InmateAid, if you have any immediate questions contact the facility directly at 979-864-1210.

The Brazoria County Juvenile Detention Center is a medium to low-security detention center located at 20875 County Road 171 Angleton, TX that is operated locally by the Juvenile Justice Department and holds youths awaiting the determination of punishment for the crimes of which they are accused. Most of the adolescents are here for less than two years.

The juvenile justice system differs from the adult system, focusing on rehabilitation and recognizing the developmental differences in juveniles. It aims to protect both the child and the public and helps juveniles become productive adults.

Juveniles are detained if they pose a threat, may miss court, or violate court orders. Parental involvement is crucial for effective supervision and rehabilitation.

Key differences in terminology include "taken into custody" instead of "arrest" and "supervision" instead of "probation." Referrals usually come from law enforcement, and an intake social worker decides the juvenile's placement. An inquiry can lead to dismissal, corrective action, or court involvement.

The process includes a plea hearing, possible evaluations, a pre-trial conference, a fact-finding hearing, and a dispositional hearing to determine the case's outcome. Parents may need to cover associated costs.

When a juvenile is brought into detention, the Juvenile Supervision Officer will book the juvenile by doing the following things:

• Obtain general information.
• Inform the juvenile of the rules of the facility, and of their rights while they are there.
• Search the juvenile to assure drugs or weapons do not enter the facility.
• Shower the juvenile and get them dressed in a detention uniform.
• Assign the juvenile a cell, where they will now begin to follow the daily schedule of the facility.
• Contact the family to inform them that the juvenile has been detained.
• Once the juvenile is detained they must be released or go before a judge by the second working day. If a juvenile is picked up after 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, it may be as late as Monday before they are released or taken before a judge. Parents may only visit their child during visitation, which is Saturday mornings from 8:00 a.m. until noon. Only adults may be placed on the visitation list and generally only members of the immediate family.

The juvenile will be assigned to an intake officer who will review the seriousness of the charge, the family situation and the juvenile's history to determine if they will be released or taken before a judge at a detention hearing.

The purpose of a detention hearing is to determine if the juvenile should be detained for a period of time not to exceed ten (10) working days or released on orders by the court.

Intake

When a juvenile is first referred to the Juvenile Justice Department, they will be assigned to an intake officer. The primary role of an intake officer is to be an investigative agent and obtain background information on the juvenile. Some of the information collected may be the juvenile’s past history, school performance and their family situation. The intake officer will make a recommendation to an assistant district attorney as to what should occur with the juvenile’s case. The assistant district attorney will then make a decision for the appropriate course of action. The most noted courses of action are:

Supervisory Caution – this involves an office appointment with the juvenile, parent or guardian and the probation officer. The probation officer will discuss the specific issues related to the juvenile’s case and counsel with the family as a whole on steps to take to avoid further involvement in the Juvenile Justice System.
First Offender Program – this program was designed as a comprehensive introduction to the Juvenile Justice System. Its purpose is to inform the juvenile and parent or guardian of the consequences and responsibilities associated with the juvenile’s conduct as well as to share with them, the resources available to prevent future referrals to the Juvenile Justice System. It is a special program for those children who have not been through the Juvenile Justice System, but need some guidance.
Deferred Prosecution – this is a six month supervision with rules for the juvenile to follow. This involves a court appearance by the juvenile and parent or guardian. An intake officer will make a report to the judge who will be the final decision maker as to whether or not deferred prosecution is granted. While a juvenile is under this type of supervision, they will be required to report to a probation officer. Failure to comply with the rules of this agreement will result in the juvenile going back to court on the original charge.
Formal Court Action – if the charge is serious enough, or the juvenile is in need of supervision beyond what their parent/s or guardian/s can provide, a petition will be filed on the offense and the juvenile and parents or guardian are required to appear before a judge. Although it is a requirement at this stage for a juvenile to be represented by an attorney, a juvenile has the right to hire an attorney for any other course of action. If a juvenile’s parent or guardian can not afford an attorney, one may be appointed by a judge. If a juvenile is adjudicated (in the adult world known as guilty) of the offense, then one of the following dispositions may be made:

Probation

This is a period of supervision with rules for the juvenile to follow. The rules may include things such as a curfew, drug testing, no association with gang members or co-actors or other people on probation or parole, counseling, restitution fees, attorney fees, probation fees, community service and reporting to a probation officer.

Intensive Supervision Probation

This is handled much the same way as regular probation; however, the main difference is that supervision is stricter. The juvenile will face more contact with a probation officer and the curfew is 6:00 p.m. every night.

Placement

Placement outside the home is obtained when the juvenile does not respond to supervision in the home or displays behaviors that need to be addressed in a therapeutic environment.

Texas Juvenile Justice Department

If the charge is serious enough and/or the juvenile’s history requires a need for a more strict and secure environment, the juvenile may be committed to the TJJD, state’s juvenile correction’s agency. Once a juvenile is sent to TJJD, it is TJJD officials and the juvenile’s behavior that will determine how long the juvenile will stay.

Determinate Sentencing

Determinate Sentencing involves a juvenile being placed on probation past the age of 18 and therefore being transferred to adult probation or being placed in the TJJD and possibly being transferred to adult prison once reaching the age of 19. This is a list of offenses which may have a disposition of determinate sentencing: habitual felony conduct, murder, capital murder, aggravated kidnapping, sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, aggravated robbery, aggravated assault, injury to a child, elderly or disabled individual, deadly conduct, criminal solicitation, indecency with a child, criminal solicitation of a minor and criminal attempt.

Certification

Certification, also known as “waiver of jurisdiction and discretionary transfer to criminal court” is yet another option. If a juvenile is 14 years of age he/she may be certified to stand trial as an adult, if one of the following offenses are alleged: capital felony, aggravated controlled substance felony, first degree felony or if a juvenile is 15 years of age, and one of the following offenses are alleged: second degree felony, third degree felony or a state jail felony. If the juvenile is certified as an adult for a juvenile crime, he/she will be certified as an adult for any future felony offenses if committed as a juvenile.