Texas Juvenile Justice Department head Shandra Carter resigns

Shandra Carter, the Executive Director of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD), has resigned from her position. Carter had led the agency, which manages five state youth prisons, since 2022.

The circumstances surrounding her departure remain unclear. The resignation follows an extended lockdown of all TJJD youth prisons that began two months ago after a juvenile correctional officer was assaulted in August.

Deputy Executive Director Sean Grove will serve as the interim leader while the agency's board conducts a search for a permanent successor. The TJJD has faced significant challenges, including a 2024 U.S. Justice Department report that identified unconstitutional conditions in its facilities, including excessive force and inadequate mental health services.