Two former Texas youth correctional officers are facing serious charges in separate abuse cases at a state juvenile center, officials said. Todd Hanks, 53, and Luis Jesus, 24, were indicted on allegations of misconduct at the Evins Regional Juvenile Center, with accused actions including sexual contact with a minor and using excessive force.
Todd Hanks, a former corrections officer, finds himself indicted on two felony charges: indecency with a child and violating the civil rights of a person in custody, in which he allegedly made sexual contact with a 16-year-old inmate on June 29, 2021, Valley Central reported. Arrested shortly after the alleged incident, Hanks is set to be arraigned on May 7. These charges could see him facing two to 20 years in state jail.
On the other hand, Luis Jesus was indicted for official oppression after an incident in June 2022 where he is accused by prosecutors of, while working, he deployed excessive force against a 16-year-old inmate. His case brings to light the continued scrutiny over the treatment of youth in correctional systems and the power dynamics that open the door to abuse.
According to a news release obtained by Fox San Antonio, both individuals worked at the Evins center under the supervision of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) during the time of the alleged offenses. The TJJD is an entity typically mandated with the rehabilitation and correction of youthful offenders, a mission now stained by the allegations against its former employees.
While the cases against Hanks and Jesus move through the courts, these indictments have shed more light on the ongoing conversation around conditions within juvenile correctional facilities, and the imperative to protect the rights and well-being of underage individuals within the justice system.
