Abbott orders investigation of 'serious allegations' at the Texas Juvenile Justice Department

Allegations of misconduct and “potentially illegal behavior" by members of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department have led Gov. Greg Abbott to order an investigation, according to reports by multiple media outlets.

The Texas Rangers’ report will help the governor decide what steps to take next.

“Serious allegations have been raised about events at the Texas Juvenile Justice Department. I requested the Texas Rangers to investigate the allegations and submit a report on their findings so that appropriate remedial action can be taken,” Abbott wrote in a July 12 tweet, with an accompanying link to a Fox News article on his order for the investigation.

Abbot requested the investigation in a letter to Col. Steven McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety. He did not clearly state what the possible illegal behaviors may have been. He did say that he expects full cooperation from those in leadership positions at the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.

It may not be related, but KSAT reported in June on an incident involving a former juvenile detention officer, Ramon Montanya, who was arrested after being accused of using excessive force against a 13-year-old boy in 2019. The incident, which was caught on camera, showed Montanya holding the youth’s arm behind his back and lifting to hyperextend the arm. That broke the boy’s shoulder. KSAT notes that Montanya was indicted by a grand jury on June 23 for a first-degree felony – injury to a child, causing bodily injury and assault causing bodily injury, among other charges.

The Texas Juvenile Justice Department is reviewing cases that go back to 2017, said Camille Cain, executive director of the department, to “ensure that we are as vigilant as possible in identifying potential illegal conduct and isolating and patterns of behavior that could help remove staff members before they can prey on youth in our care,” she said in an interview with Fox News.