The youth sent to the Texas Youth Commission (TYC) are the state's most serious or chronically delinquent offenders. In fiscal year 2010 (9/09 – 8/10), 52% of new arrivals had committed violent offenses.
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93% were boys.
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7% were girls.
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44% were Hispanic.
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34% were African-American.
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21% were Anglo.
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44% 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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32% were identified as eligible for special education services.
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5% of the TYC new arrivals were English language learners.
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83% had IQs below the mean score of 100.
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72% had high or moderate need for alcohol or other drug treatment.
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42% had high or moderate need for mental health treatment.
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79% 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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56% came from low-income homes.
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72% came from chaotic environments.
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44% had families with histories of criminal behavior.
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11% had family members with mental impairments.
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38% had more than one felony adjudication.
More detailed statistics are available in the TYC Commitment Profile.