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Juvenile Justice Alternative
Education Program
The Harris County Sheriffs Department is proud to be able to
contribute to the success of the JJAEP (Juvenile Justice Alternative
Education Program). The main objective of this program is to
take at-risk students coming from diverse backgrounds and rehabilitate
them to the point that they can be placed back in their home
school districts with a good chance of academic success. The
Brown Excel Academy located at 2525 Murworth provides the services.
Other support such as Community Youth Services, a division of
Children's Protective Services and licensed drug counselors
are also provided.
The JJAEP has many prongs of attack. One must realize that,
in many cases, the deterioration of these students has come
over time and thus needs a stout and demanding cure. These
students were placed in the program because their home school
districts had exhausted their avenues of treatment and control,
or they committed an offense, which requires mandatory expulsion.
Each individual comes equipped with their own personal baggage
of needs and wants. To this end, counselors, teachers and
administrators are assigned the task of bringing these students
back into the educational mainstream.
In order for the staff to achieve this goal, they must have
a safe and controlled environment. Each deputy is given a
caseload consisting of anywhere from 60-100 students. The
officer follows up on absent students under his charge. State
mandatory attendance laws are strictly enforced. Truancy is
not an option. Sometimes it becomes necessary to file appropriate
charges when violations have been committed. There are times
when a visit to the home becomes warranted. It is imperative
that these students be in attendance every day and that while
in said attendance, their safety is protected from those unwilling
to strive for the same positive goals. Positive interaction
cannot be attained in a hostile environment. The deputy is
charged with keeping all those involved out of harms way.
Often joint cooperation is needed to ensure that the rules
and regulations set forth are followed. If they are not, then
it becomes their job to take the appropriate actions. It is
also necessary for individual officers to take hands on approach
in gaining both attention and respect. The officers assigned
to this duty are often asked to don many hats in order to
satisfy the varied situations that they face.
It is obvious to those who have had any interaction with
this program that there have been many success stories. It
is with and through the help of many individuals and organizations
that the program continues to flourish.
The juvenile justice alternative education program is part
of the Sheriff's Department Patrol Bureau, Community Services
Division and can be reached at 713-225-3273.
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