Director Ross Worley

Ross Worley received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from East Texas Baptist University. He has served as pastor, youth pastor and worship pastor in several different churches in Texas since being licensed to the ministry in 1982. 

Prior to coming to Smith County, he worked as a youth counselor and Out Reach Coordinator with the S.T.A.R. Program in Longview. He began his career at Smith County Juvenile Services in 2001, starting as a court officer before being promoted to facility administrator and then to assistant director. The Smith County Juvenile Board appointed him to serve as director in 2011. 

Worley is a member of the Texas Probation Association and has served on several state Juvenile Justice Legislative Committees. He is a member of the state President’s Council and is the past president of the Northeast Texas Juvenile Chiefs Association. 

Worley and his wife, Ann, live in Chandler. They have four children and four grandchildren. 

Purpose Statement

The Smith County Juvenile Services Department, with participation and involvement of the community, PROTECTS AND SERVES both juvenile offenders and the community:

• By screening, investigating, supervising, counseling and referring for services all juveniles involved in law violations.
• By providing detention that is safe, secure and nurturing for juveniles who must remain in custody.

Mission Statement

To instill respect, discipline, achievement and responsibility in the youth of our community ensuring citizen safety and security.

Location

Physical Address

2630 Morningside Drive
Tyler, TX 75708
Phone: 24 Hour: (903) 535-0850

Mailing Address

PO Box 1257
Tyler, TX 75710
Fax: (903) 510-6704

Juvenile Services Programs

The Juvenile Court

The Smith County Juvenile Courtroom at the Juvenile Attention Center is operated under the direction of the Juvenile Judge.

Court and Community Service

The Court and Community Service Unit consists of:

• The Director
• The Director of Probation Services
• Administrative Assistant
• Administrative Secretary
• Probation Officer Supervisor
• 15 Certified Juvenile Probation Officers
• Case Aides
• 3 Data Management Specialists
• Programs Director
• Training and Compliance Director
• 2 Community Service Coordinators

The probation division is responsible for supervising juveniles on probation and referring the child and the family to agencies in the community in order to help meet their needs. Probation officers are responsible for conducting initial interviews with the child and their parents and, if necessary, taking the child through the court process. The probation officer is an extension of the Juvenile Court and is responsible for completing social investigations, preparing reports for and testifying in court. They are also responsible for supervising the child following court action on a voluntary basis if no court action is taken.

As a supervisor, the probation officer monitors the child's progress or lack of progress in an area such as the home, school and place of employment. The supervision and monitoring is to enforce the conditions of probation and to assess the needs of the child. A confidential record is kept of all significant events regarding each case. The probation officers participate in a 24 hour on-call rotation to answer emergency calls from law enforcement, parents and children.

Detention Services

The Detention Services are located in a 65-bed facility serving a wide range of troubled juveniles. A full-time staff of Juvenile Detention Officers provides 24-hour care. The full time staff consists of:

• The Director of Residential Services
• The Residential Superintendent
• 3 Detention Supervisors
• 4 Training Officers
• Detention Officers who work directly with the residents.

The Detention Program provides temporary services for juveniles who are awaiting a court hearing and are unable to return home. The program is designed to aid the child in becoming more secure, learning discipline habits, following rules and better understanding socially acceptable behavior. This is accomplished through daily learning activities chores and guidelines that each person is expected to follow. Juveniles are monitored constantly and are provided daily feedback through a behavioral level system which determines what privileges (i.e.: day-room, phone calls, etc.) are earned each day. The average length of stay is two weeks.

Other activities, afforded to the program include: academic studies provided by teachers, volunteer groups offering learning, recreational and religious activities, mentors and staff implemented activities in physical fitness and life skills.

H.O.P.E. ACADEMY (Helping Others Pursue Excellence)

Mission Statement

“Creating safer communities by inspiring and empowering at-risk youth to believe and succeed.”

The H.O.P.E. Academy is within the building where Smith County Juvenile Services is located. Juvenile Services has three divisions: Court and Community, Detention and Residential. H.O.P.E. Academy is a residential secure facility that is designed for the safety and security of the residents, staff and community. Our goal is to provide residents with a safe, secure, nurturing atmosphere in which they will reflect on past activities, make positive changes in their thinking and behavior, and return to the community as a contributing member. Our staff is committed to helping and facilitating opportunities for change. We are only part of the solution, the attitude and cooperation reflected by residents and their families is vital to any changes that take place.

H.O.P.E. Academy consists of three phases in which residents have the opportunity to earn points every day to move up to the next phase. Daily points can be earned through participation in treatment, school, exercise, behavior and other daily activities. Resident who earn all possible points every day can complete the program in approximately six months. Residents who are behind in the program will be evaluated by the treatment team to determine a projected completion date. At completion of the program, residents will be presented with a certificate of completion during a graduation ceremony in which family members can participate.

Admission

A child must have a court order from the juvenile court before placing the child in the program.