Inspection reports reflect the desperation and danger youths face in Texas juvenile prisons

Giddings State School, a Texas Juvenile Justice Department prison in Lee County, on July 20. (Credit: Jolie McCullough/The Texas Tribune)

For 24/7 mental health support in English or Spanish, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s free help line at 800-662-4357. You can also reach a trained crisis counselor through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling or texting 988, or you can reach the Crisis Text Line by texting “HOME” to 741741.

Every month, independent investigators visit the five juvenile prisons in Texas to evaluate how each is doing its job, and whether the children in their care are being well treated.