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Juvenile detention officials seek two full‑time supervision officers as population rises
Summary
Juvenile detention leaders told the court a 55% rise in average daily population from 2022 to 2024 and increased felony/violent cases mean they need two additional full‑time juvenile supervision officers, at an estimated annual cost of about $92,600 including benefits.
Officials from the county juvenile detention center told the commissioners’ court they have seen a steady rise in juvenile admissions, a growing share of felony and violent cases, and mounting staff burnout that has pushed overtime and temporary staffing higher. The detention director said average daily population rose about 55% from 2022 to 2024 and the facility is seeing more juveniles who are medically or psychiatrically complex.
The center asked for funding to add two full‑time juvenile supervision officers to relieve staff strain and shorten response times for court, medical and mental‑health appointments. Staff described frequent 1‑on‑1 mental‑health supervision mandates that remove deputies from general housing counts and create additional strain. The estimated recurring cost for two positions was $75,837 for salaries and $92,612 when fringe benefits are included, the director said.
Officials said that without additional staff, overtime obligations and morale problems will continue to grow and that long hiring timelines make it important to start recruitment now. Commissioners expressed concern and asked juvenile services leaders to help draft a staged hiring and training plan that could be considered in the upcoming budget.
Why it matters: rising juvenile detention populations and more severe case profiles increase costs for staff, medical care and court processing; adding two deputies would raise recurring personnel costs but — officials said — would reduce overtime and operational strain.
Discussion vs. outcome: commissioners acknowledged the pressure and asked leaders to return with a phased hiring plan and cost schedule; no appropriation or vote was taken at the workshop.
