Kaufman, Texas – March 6, 2025 – With rising concerns about juvenile crime spilling over from neighboring urban centers, Kaufman County leaders are urging residents to support a proposed $40 million Juvenile Detention Center in an upcoming referendum on May 3.
Kaufman, Texas – March 6, 2025 – With rising concerns about juvenile crime spilling over from neighboring urban centers, Kaufman County leaders are urging residents to support a proposed $40 million Juvenile Detention Center in an upcoming referendum on May 3.
The initiative, backed by a coalition of mayors, law enforcement officials, and county leaders, aims to address what many see as a growing crisis—youth crime fueled by gang activity, drugs, and violent offenses.
The proposal has already drawn strong endorsements from officials across the county, including District Attorney Erleigh Wiley, Sheriff Bryan Beavers, multiple police chiefs, and local mayors.
A Costly Problem: Juvenile Crime on the Rise
Currently, law enforcement agencies in Kaufman County—including the sheriff’s department, city police, and school district officers—are forced to transport arrested juveniles to facilities hundreds of miles away in central and west Texas.
These long-distance transports not only cost taxpayers thousands of dollars each month but also pull officers away from their primary duty—patrolling neighborhoods and preventing crime.
“Kaufman County is a wonderful place to live, work, retire, and raise a family – but the increase in violent juvenile crime coming in from Dallas and other large cities is threatening our special way of life,” said Wendy Thomas, Co-Chair of The Safer Kaufman County PAC, which is leading the push for the detention center.
Authorities argue that the absence of a local juvenile facility weakens law enforcement’s ability to effectively respond to serious youth offenses, allowing dangerous offenders to return to the streets sooner than they should.
What the Proposed Juvenile Detention Center Would Do
The proposed center would not only hold violent juvenile offenders but also provide rehabilitation and education programs to help at-risk youth turn their lives around.
Key goals of the center include:
• Keeping violent juvenile offenders out of neighborhoods and schools
• Protecting local families from big-city crime influences
• Fighting gang and drug-related crime countywide
• Reducing law enforcement costs by eliminating long-distance transport
• Allowing officers to stay on patrol rather than spend hours transporting juveniles
• Providing troubled minors with education and rehabilitation opportunities
“This is not just about locking kids up,” said Forney Mayor Jason Roberson, one of the most vocal advocates for the measure. “It’s about keeping our communities safe while also giving these young offenders a chance to change course before it’s too late.”
Public Safety and Cost Savings
Beyond safety concerns, the financial argument is also a major selling point for local officials. The estimated cost of the facility would be about $2 per month for the average homeowner, an amount leaders believe is a small price to pay compared to the millions of dollars that would be saved on juvenile transport costs over the next decade.
“We are spending thousands every month to send juveniles across the state, that’s money we can’t use to fight crime here,” said Sheriff Bryan Beavers. “A local facility will make our communities safer.”
Rising Crime and Growing Concerns
Kaufman County’s move to build a juvenile detention center follows a notable increase in serious juvenile offenses.
Judge Joseph Russell, who oversees many of these cases, highlighted the troubling trend in a November 2024 interview with The Kaufman Herald:
“The juvenile crime rate is going up with the population growth, but at the same time it’s also the seriousness of these charges. We’ve got aggravated robberies, aggravated assaults, and a lot of incidents involving firearms. These are direct, immediate threats to the community.”
These concerns are echoed by law enforcement across the county, with multiple police chiefs stating that their officers have limited options when dealing with juvenile offenders under the current system.
What Happens Next?
The fate of the Juvenile Detention Center now rests with Kaufman County voters, who will decide the measure on May 3.
Early voting runs from April 15 through April 30, giving residents ample time to cast their ballots.
As public safety remains a top concern in Kaufman County, the May 3 vote will be a critical moment—one that will determine how the county deals with rising juvenile crime for years to come.