Texas Juvenile Justice Department

Last week at Giddings Juvenile Correctional Facility, 19 youth chose to take an important step in their personal journeys by participating in a baptism ceremony surrounded by TJJD staff, volunteers, mentors, and community partners.

At TJJD, we recognize that rehabilitation looks different for every young person. For some youth, faith and spirituality can serve as a meaningful source of hope, self-reflection, accountability, and purpose as they work toward positive change. Participation in faith-based programming is always voluntary, but for those who choose it, these opportunities can become an important part of their growth and transformation.

For these 19 young men, baptism represented a personal commitment to a new path and a brighter future. Their stories are unique, but each demonstrated courage, resilience, and a desire to move forward.

A special thank you goes out to Anchor Point, Epiphany, and Kairos Torch teams who lead many of our faith-based activities and mentor the young men at Giddings. We are grateful to the staff, volunteers, mentors, and community organizations who help support opportunities like this for youth to explore the values, relationships, and support systems that contribute to lasting change.

At TJJD, we are proud to be trusted voices in the juvenile justice space, partnering with professionals across Texas and the nation to share knowledge, innovative practices, and lessons learned.

This past quarter, TJJD staff shared their knowledge and experience at state and national conferences, presenting on topics ranging from juvenile justice best practices and treatment approaches to leadership, research, training, and public safety. These speaking engagements reflect the depth of talent across our agency and our commitment to advancing the field through collaboration and continuous improvement.

While this article highlights just a few examples, it represents a much broader culture of professional engagement and knowledge-sharing happening throughout TJJD. We are proud of the many employees who dedicate their time and expertise to presenting, teaching, facilitating discussions, and helping move the juvenile justice profession forward.

Read more about some of the outstanding professionals and trusted voices representing TJJD at conferences this quarter: https://www.tjjd.texas.gov/tjjd-staff-share-expertise-at-state-and-national-conferences/

We’re continuing our Leadership Spotlight series by highlighting Anne Garcia Fine, Chief Financial Officer at TJJD!

Annie brings a unique blend of experience in education, public policy, research, and state government to her leadership role. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the College of Wooster, a Master of Arts in Secondary Education from Roosevelt University, and a Master of Public Affairs from The University of Texas at Austin’s LBJ School of Public Affairs.

After completing her undergraduate degree, Annie initially considered a career in law before discovering her passion for education. She spent several years teaching high school special education, history, government, and economics in Chicago Public Schools before moving to Austin, where she continued teaching special education. Her experiences working directly with students and families inspired her interest in education policy and public service, leading her to pursue graduate studies at UT Austin.

While attending the LBJ School, Annie worked with Travis County Health and Human Services, gaining experience in nonprofit contracting and social service programs. Upon graduation, she joined the Legislative Budget Board, beginning her career in state government and deepening her passion for research, evaluation, data analysis, and the intersection of finance and policy implementation.

Since joining TJJD a year ago, Annie has found the perfect opportunity to combine her professional interests with meaningful public service. As Chief Financial Officer, she oversees the Budget and Finance Team, Probation Grants Team, Legislative Reporting and Statistics Team, Federal Education Grants, and agency grant management efforts. Her priorities include ensuring TJJD remains a trusted steward of taxpayer resources, strengthening customer service and partnerships, and fostering collaboration across teams.

One of Annie’s most significant accomplishments during her first year has been helping lead the development of the agency’s Legislative Appropriations Request. Looking ahead, she is excited about strengthening performance measures and grant evaluation processes to better demonstrate the impact probation departments have on youth and communities across Texas.

Annie says one of the most rewarding parts of her work is seeing the results of agency funding firsthand—watching programs succeed, collaborating with teams across the state, and seeing youth grow and thrive through access to resources and support. She credits the TJJD Advanced Leadership Academy and Texas Fiscal Officer Academy as transformative experiences that strengthened her leadership skills and confidence as a new CFO.

Through her commitment to collaboration, continuous improvement, and responsible stewardship of public resources, Annie is helping position TJJD for long-term success while supporting positive outcomes for youth across Texas.

📢 TJJD’s Top 5 Jobs of the Week!

Ready to make a difference? Check out these opportunities across the agency:

📍 Mart, TX – Substance Abuse Counselor I / II / III
🔗 https://capps.taleo.net/careersection/644/jobdetail.ftl?job=00058817&tz=GMT-05%3A00&tzname=America%2FChicago

📍 Edinburg, TX – Teacher-CTE-Technology or Graphic Design or Printing and Imaging
🔗 https://capps.taleo.net/careersection/644/jobdetail.ftl?job=00056745&tz=GMT-05%3A00&tzname=America%2FChicago

📍 Gainesville, TX – Teacher-CTE- Graphic Design or Printing and Imaging or 3D Design
🔗 https://capps.taleo.net/careersection/644/jobdetail.ftl?job=00056794&tz=GMT-05%3A00&tzname=America%2FChicago

📍 Giddings, TX – Juvenile Corrections Officer II / III / IV
🔗 https://capps.taleo.net/careersection/644/jobdetail.ftl?job=00058437&tz=GMT-05%3A00&tzname=America%2FChicago

📍 Brownwood, TX – Juvenile Correctional Officer II / III / IV
🔗 https://capps.taleo.net/careersection/644/jobdetail.ftl?job=00058806&tz=GMT-05%3A00&tzname=America%2FChicago

Join our team and help create better opportunities for Texas youth.

We’re continuing our Leadership Spotlight series by highlighting Alan Michel, Senior Director of ACA Accreditation and Readiness at TJJD!

Alan brings nearly 33 years of experience in juvenile justice and youth services, with more than 17 years dedicated to TJJD. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Sociology with a minor in Criminal Justice from Iowa State University and began his career as a direct care staff member working directly with youth offenders. From the start, he was drawn to the opportunity to help young people make healthier choices and build better futures.

Throughout his career, Alan has served in a variety of leadership roles across three states, gaining experience in residential settings, detention centers, and large secure juvenile facilities. Before joining TJJD, he worked in Louisiana as Facility Director and Deputy Director of Treatment at Swanson Center for Youth. Earlier in his career, he served in Iowa as both a Detention Director and Director of a Day Treatment Program. At TJJD, he has held several leadership positions, including Regional Director, Director of Facility Safety, Manager of Halfway Houses, Superintendent of Giddings State School, and Manager of Treatment Services.

As Senior Director of ACA Accreditation and Readiness, Alan focuses on evaluating processes, policies, and procedures to help ensure safe, supportive, and validating environments for both youth and staff. He works closely with facilities across the agency to identify opportunities for improvement, strengthen operations, and support successful outcomes through accreditation and continuous quality improvement efforts.

Alan says his passion has evolved over the years. While he began his career focused on creating direct change for youth, his mission today centers on ensuring staff have the training, resources, and confidence they need to succeed. Having experienced both frontline and leadership roles, he understands the importance of supporting staff as they navigate demanding work while celebrating victories—both large and small—that make a lasting difference.

Among the accomplishments most meaningful to him are partnering with facility leaders to implement positive change, achieve ACA accreditation, and navigate major improvement efforts, including DOJ oversight. He values being part of collaborative teams that work toward meaningful progress and lasting improvements for youth and staff.

Alan considers his time at TJJD the defining chapter of his career. He believes the agency represents safety, accountability, and an environment that promotes therapeutic growth for youth who have made poor decisions. His commitment to continuous improvement, staff support, and positive outcomes reflects the impact he has made throughout decades of service in juvenile justice.

Stay tuned as we continue our Leadership Spotlight series and highlight more of the leaders making a difference across TJJD.

Become a Difference Maker at TJJD! We are hiring an Inventory and Store Specialist IV – Agency Property Manager to help oversee agency-wide assets, inventory management, warehouse operations, and property accountability across the organization.

In this role, you'll coordinate inventories, manage asset records, oversee surplus property processes, support warehouse operations, and help ensure TJJD resources are tracked and maintained efficiently. If you have experience in inventory management, property accounting, logistics, or asset control, this could be the opportunity for you.

This full-time position may be located in Austin or Mart and includes excellent State of Texas benefits, retirement, paid leave, health insurance, and opportunities for professional growth. The work you do behind the scenes helps support the staff, programs, and operations that serve youth across Texas every day.

Ready to put your skills to work in a mission-driven environment? Apply today!

https://capps.taleo.net/careersection/644/jobdetail.ftl?job=00058731&tz=GMT-05%3A00&tzname=America%2FChicago