A probe into allegations of child neglect at the Dallas County Juvenile Department by the State of Texas has been made public.
The investigation will be led by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department’s (TJJD) Office of Inspector General, according to a letter sent to Dallas County Juvenile Department (DCJD) Director Darryl Beatty, The Dallas Morning News reported.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, DCJD has been coming under fire over allegations that more than 100 juveniles have been subjected to solitary confinement unnecessarily, sometimes without being fed or given necessary medical care.
“Our children are being subjected to long periods of isolation, poor nutrition and not being allowed to go outside? This is inhumane treatment,” claimed Dallas County Commissioner Elba Garcia, according to DMN. “We cannot fail in this fight.”
Judge Cheryl Shannon, chair of the Dallas County Juvenile Board, was copied on TJJD’s target letter.
“I have ensured that all allegations that we have been made aware of have been referred to TJJD for their review and investigation,” Shannon said, DMN reported.
“It appears that this process is moving forward and that the process is doing what it is designed to do as the [Office of Inspector General] is an arm of TJJD,” she added.
TJJD spokesperson Barbara Kessler declined to share any specific information with DMN, stating, “We do not comment on pending investigations beyond what our [Office of the Inspector General] has put out.”
Kessler said that such allegations of neglect and abuse of minors are not common but not unprecedented either. DCJD has reportedly violated several state codes and has been deemed “non-compliant” by most state inspectors since 2017, according to DMN.
Additionally, as previously reported by The Dallas Express, DCJD has been accused of holding inmates for longer than necessary, allegedly contributing to some juveniles’ recidivism.
“I invite this investigation. We need to have a clear understanding of what is happening over there at the Juvenile Department,” said Dallas County Commissioner Andy Sommerman, WFAA reported.