The Dallas County Juvenile Department experienced another shake-up in leadership last week after DeAndra Jones, its deputy director, tendered his resignation.
This marks the second high-profile departure this year within the DCJD system, which has come under scrutiny due to allegations of poor conditions at the Dr. Jerome McNeil Jr. Detention Center, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Jones, who had been overseeing the detention center since October under the leadership of its executive director, Darryl Beatty, stepped down just weeks after Beatty resigned following a surprise state inspection. The inspection, conducted by the Office of the Inspector General at the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, uncovered concerns about “supervisory neglect” and unsanitary conditions at the center.
Jones’ departure comes at a critical juncture for the facility, which is now under intense scrutiny.
The nine-member board responsible for Dallas County’s juvenile justice system convened on Monday for its first meeting with the interim executive director of the DCJD, Michael Griffiths, who was appointed to lead the department following Beatty’s exit.
Griffiths, a seasoned veteran with decades of experience in juvenile justice, was called out of retirement to serve as interim executive director. He previously led the department for 15 years before his retirement in 2010.
Griffiths addressed the board and presented an initial report on the state of the detention center. In his remarks, Griffiths acknowledged that the facility had fallen short of state standards for cleanliness and the treatment of juveniles.
He also announced the appointment of Barbara Roberts as the interim assistant director of the DCJD. Roberts, who served in the department from 2007 to 2010 during Griffiths’ previous tenure, will start her new role on August 26, according to The Dallas Morning News.
Griffiths emphasized the need for a thorough review of the department. He said that addressing systemic issues at the detention center was a top priority and indicated his intention to propose a “scope of work” for a potential third-party review of the facility and the juvenile justice system at the board’s next meeting in October.
Conversely, Judge Cheryl Lee Shannon, the board chair, suggested that Griffiths’ expertise and the ongoing investigations by the Inspector General’s office should be sufficient to address the issues. Shannon recommended allowing Griffiths time to evaluate the situation before deciding whether to commission an external review.
Members of the public have been vocal about the leadership changes and ongoing investigations. Rev. Michael W. Waters, founder of Abundant Life AME Church, addressed the board during the public comment period.
“My hope is that, by October’s time, they come to the recognition that this gentleman [Griffiths], whom they laud, is seeking to move us in the right direction and that they would support his intuition,” Waters said, per The Dallas Morning News.