H.R. No. 53 R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, Texas Juvenile Justice Professional Day is taking place on January 24, 2017, and this occasion offers an ideal opportunity to recognize the outstanding contributions of the dedicated individuals working in this field; and WHEREAS, The Texas juvenile justice system is regarded as one of the most progressive in the country and is composed of 166 community-based probation departments that serve the state's 254 counties in partnership with the Texas Juvenile Justice Department; and WHEREAS, More than 8,200 certified juvenile probation and supervision officers work tirelessly and courageously to help rehabilitate young people, handling 100 percent of the referrals received into the juvenile justice system each year and providing ongoing services at the local level to 95 percent of those referrals; and WHEREAS, When dealing with young offenders, the Texas legal system depends on the efforts of juvenile court judges, juvenile prosecutors, juvenile defense attorneys and advocates, and law enforcement officers and their staff to break the cycle of youth crime and violence and protect the public from delinquent conduct; to ensure the consistency and quality of such services throughout the state, Texas Juvenile Justice Department staff members also offer assistance and training to all juvenile justice personnel in addition to providing rehabilitation services directly to young offenders committed to the department's facilities; and WHEREAS, Through their hard work and expertise, juvenile justice professionals make a positive difference in the lives of at-risk youth and help maintain the security of the citizens of Texas, and their contributions are indeed deserving of recognition; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas Legislature hereby recognize January 24, 2017, as Texas Juvenile Justice Professional Day and commend youth probation personnel for the essential services they provide. White ______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 53 was adopted by the House on February 23, 2017, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House