Office of Governor William P. Clements, Jr. March 24, 1981 lor Immediate Release: Governor Bill Clements today announced his support of legislation to expand the Adult Probation Connission to include juvenile probation services (SB 1010 by Senator Bill Meier of Euless and HB 1)04 by Representative Buddy Jones of Hillsboro). This bill sets first standards for the State's juvenile probation officers in lhe area'. of educational qualifications, caseloads, level of juvenile probation services. and training. In addition, it establishes a code of ethics with enforcement provisions for juvenile probation officers. This bill also retains juvenile probation as a judicial function which it has been for over 60 years. lhe current Adult Probation Commission would be expanded from nine to 12 members. The Governor, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and Presiding Judge of the Court of Criminal Appeals would each appoint four members. One of the Governor's appointees must he a member of the judiciary, and the Chief Justice and Presiding Judge will each appoint Oiree judges and one citizen member. State Supreme Court Chief Justice Joe Greenhill; Court of Criminal Appeals Presidin Judge John I. Onion; Judge Jerry Shackelford, Chairman, Juvenile Judges Committee; judge Bill Martin, Chairman, Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Advisory Board; Noy NW), President, ICX,V, Probation Association; and juvenile probation officers are among ,,upporters tH the legislation. "Governor Clements has consulted with me and I agree with the expansion to include juvenile services and the division of appointing authorities," Chief Justice Greenhill "The Adult Probation Commission has done an outstanding job for adult probation,. and I anticipate that the same will he true through the expansion of the Probation Commission for juvenile probation services," Judge Onion stated. Governor Clements said he listened to both sides -- the juvenile judges and probation officers and the Texas Youth Council -- for over a year. He said he feels it is clearly in the best interest of Texas youth that the delivery of juvenile probation services be left with the judiciary. "This bill will become the 11th bill of my Anti-Crime Package," Governor Clements said. "It is extremely important to divert juvenile offenders at a very early age and to rehabilitate them. We must commit our resources to improving our success in rehabilitation and keep youthful offenders from graduating into the Texas Department of Corrections."