The youth sent to the Texas Youth Commission (TYC) are the state's most serious or chronically delinquent offenders. In fiscal year 2006 (9/05 - 8/06), 33% of new arrivals had committed violent offenses, the same percentage as in fiscal 2005. Overall, 39% of new arrivals were categorized as high risk offenders.
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89% were boys.
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11% were girls.
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44% were Hispanic.
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34% were African-American.
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22% were Anglo.
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34% admitted at intake that they are gang members.
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Median age at commitment was 16.
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Median reading achievement level was 6th grade (four years behind their peers).
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Median math achievement level was 5th grade (five years behind their peers).
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40% were identified as eligible for special education services.
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7% of the TYC population were English language learners.
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83% had IQs below the mean score of 100.
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46% were chemically dependent.
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41% had serious mental health problems.
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76% had parents who never married or who divorced or separated.
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36% had a documented history of being abused or neglected.
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60% came from low-income homes.
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74% came from chaotic environments.
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52% had families with histories of criminal behavior.
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12% had family members with mental impairments.
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48% were in juvenile court on two or more felony-level offenses before being committed to TYC.
More detailed statistics are available in the TYC Commitment Profile.
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