The standoff began after a report that found the Dallas County Juvenile Department lags behind national standards, including keeping kids locked up longer than other juvenile detention centers. Now, a court will decide whether the commissioner gets the documents he wants.
A legal fight is playing out between a Dallas County commissioner and the director of the Dallas County Juvenile Department.
The standoff began after a report that found the Dallas County Juvenile Department lags behind national standards, including keeping kids locked up longer than other juvenile detention centers."We have received some very credible evidence that children are being held in isolation, meaning to stay behind a door for time periods that they shouldn't be allowed to be behind a door," Sommerman said.
"They're seeking all authority. These records are highly protected or more protected than medical records," said Brian Hail, Beatty’s attorney. "The juveniles, the hope is that one day they work their issues out and go back as adults and are good functioning members of society. And the last thing we need is records out there even with names redacted off of it."Sommerman and Judge Clay Jenkins are both on the nine-member juvenile oversight board.
"The state does do inspections of these facilities. They are not looking at the same type of information as I'm looking for. They're not doing it in as greater depth as I'm looking for, for it to be done in. Now, that’s no criticism of the state whatsoever," Sommerman said. "But we need to govern ourselves. I mean we don't need to be abdicating to the state."
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