Can my child be sent to a Texas juvenile prison and if so for how long?

If your child is charged with a felony offense it is possible that they may be sent to a juvenile prison - called TJJD or Texas Juvenile Justice Department - based on the facts of the case and their prior juvenile history. A child must be released from TJJD when they reach age 19. If they are released prior to age 19 they may be placed on parole. In some serious aggravated felony offenses the State may seek a Determinate petition from a grand jury and your child may face a sentence of 2 to 40 years - depending on the level of the felony offense. And that sentence can result in your child being transferred to an adult prison at age nineteen by the judge of the court.

If your child is charged with a misdemeanor then they may not be sent to juvenile prison. However, if they are placed on probation they may be removed from your house and sent for several weeks or several months to one of the local juvenile probation department facilities in order to undergo and participate in rehabilitation programs.