Maverick, Dimmit & Zavala Counties’ Juvenile Board to meet on Sept. 17th
By: Jose G. Landa
Copyright 2013
The Maverick, Dimmit, and Zavala Counties’ Juvenile Board is having a regular Board meeting on Tuesday, September 17, 2013 at 2:00 P.M. at the District Courtroom at the Maverick County Courthouse located at 500 Quarry Street, Eagle Pass, Texas.
The Maverick, Dimmit, and Zavala Counties’ Juvenile Board members include the Honorable Amado J. Abascal, III of the 365th Judicial District Court, the Honorable Cynthia L. Muniz of the 293rd Judicial District Court, the Honorable David Saucedo-County Judge of Maverick County, the Honorable Francisco Ponce-County Judge of Dimmit County, and the Honorable Joe Luna-County Judge of Zavala County. The Chief Juvenile Probation Officer of the Board is Bruce A. Ballou. The Chairperson of the Board is the Honorable Cynthia L. Muniz of the 293rd Judicial District Court.
The Agenda posted on the Maverick County Courthouse Bulletin Board includes calling the meeting to order, establishment of quorum, recognition of visitors, discussion and presentation regarding an Update on the Border Hope Restorative Justice Center, discussion of House Bill 2862, discussion and possible action relating to the approval of Housing Pre-Adjudicated Youth at the Border Hope Restorative Justice Center for short term detention, discussion and possible action relating to the submission of an application for certification as a pre-adjudication secure facility, discussion and possible acton regarding approval of fiscal year 2013-2014 Budget, discussion and possible action relating to Kerr County Contract for detention services, discussion and possible action concerning past, current, and future operation of the Border Hope Restorative Justice Center, an Executive Session regarding discussion on personnel matters as authorized by the Sections 551.071 and 551.072 of the Texas Open Meetings Act under the Texas Government Code, reconvene in open session to take possible action on matters addressed in Executive Session, Action concerning personnel matters, and adjournment.
At the last Maverick, Dimmit, and Zavala Counties’ Juvenile Board meeting held on April 23, 2013, Board members expressed some serious and material issues regarding the Border Hope Restorative Justice Center compliance with State of Texas standards and legal requirements regarding Pre-Adjudication Secure Facility and its effects on liability to Maverick, Dimmit, and Zavala Counties and the Board.
The Border Hope Restorative Justice Center was created by the three counties of Maverick, Dimmit, and Zavala to address and house its juvenile delinquency clients instead of sending them out of the district to other juvenile facilities. Since its opening, the Border Hope Restorative Justice Center has accepted juveniles from other counties other than Maverick, Dimmit, and Zavala counties and may have possibly entered into legal contracts to do so. One item on the agenda is the discussion and possible action regarding a contract with Kerr County for juvenile detention services. According to an article in the Big Bend Now Online Website, Presidio County Commissioners Court held an Emergency Meeting on July 12th to approve a contract with Maverick County to institutionalize its juvenile offenders in the Maverick County Juvenile Detention Facility, presumably the Border Hope Restorative Justice Center.
In March of 2013, a juvenile offender at the Border Hope Restorative Justice Center assaulted the Security Guard at the center and escaped from the facility. There are other reports that juvenile offenders at the Border Hope Restorative Justice Center have done certain things while doing community service within Maverick County.
The Maverick, Dimmit, and Zavala Counties’ Juvenile Board meeting on Tuesday, September 17th, is open to the public. All persons interested in juvenile and juvenile delinquency issues are welcomed to attend the public meeting.
