An agency official said the legislature invested in the Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) across two sessions, enabling planned groundbreakings for new, purpose-built juvenile facilities; the official described extensive design work and framed the projects as recognition of the agency’s program successes.

An agency official told the Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) that many facilities are decades old and were retrofitted rather than designed for current populations; the official said purpose-built construction is critical for staff and youth safety and highlighted recent legislative funding.