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Is Dallas County juvenile lockup moving past abuse allegations?

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Is Dallas County juvenile lockup moving past abuse allegations?


Dallas County’s new interim juvenile department chief has begun to right the ship.

For more than a year, the juvenile department has been plagued with allegations of deplorable conditions and mistreatment of children in its youth lockup. It also has been criticized for not properly handling the cases of juvenile offenders, sometimes keeping low-risk children locked up much longer than they should be. Findings of a state investigation into some of the worst allegations are expected soon.

But at a recent meeting of the Dallas County Juvenile Board, interim director Mike Griffiths offered some refreshing good news.

Griffiths, who led the department between 1995 and 2010, said he had begun fixing up the Dr. Jerome McNeil Jr. Detention Center, buying new furniture, cleaning and painting. He also said he planned to bring back in October plans for a thorough, third-party review of the entire juvenile justice system to lay bare where breakdowns are occurring. Such a review is critical to restoring the community’s trust in the department, Griffiths rightly noted.

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Now it’s up to the Juvenile Board, with the support of the Dallas County Commissioners Court, to keep this positive momentum going. The board must not only welcome an outside review, as we recommended last month, but also resist the urge to be defensive, as it has in the past. The board also must commit to hiring a permanent director with a strong record of working in a large juvenile justice system and who can tackle the particular problems facing Dallas County.

Those problems are numerous. A March 2023 report by the group Evident Change, sought by Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot, who was concerned about recidivism, found that juveniles were being held in detention for months longer than national standards recommend. That led him to believe that rather than rehabilitating juveniles, the county’s system was turning them into hardened criminals.

Then, a June 2023 investigation by this newspaper found that some juveniles were locked in their cells for 23 hours a day while others complained of filthy conditions, insufficient food and lack of medical care.

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The Texas Juvenile Justice Department has since launched two inquiries into the neglect allegations, including one begun in July 2023 and another following a surprise inspection at the detention facility this summer. The latter led to the sudden resignation of Dallas County Juvenile Department director Darryl Beatty and Griffiths’ appointment.

Since taking over the helm, Griffiths has gotten strong reviews from top county officials. Creuzot, a former district court judge, told us he has known Griffiths for decades and supports his plan for a third-party review.

But while Griffiths is clearly the right person to chart a new course for the juvenile department, at 72 he is understandably eager to get back to retirement in Chicago. The Juvenile Board must humbly accept any criticism coming its way and rely on these lessons to help find an able director. It won’t be smooth sailing, but it must follow this better map.

We welcome your thoughts in a letter to the editor. See the guidelines and submit your letter here. If you have problems with the form, you can submit via email at letters@dallasnews.com



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Dallas, TX

U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett mourns friend, fallen Dallas police Officer Darron Burks

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U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett mourns friend, fallen Dallas police Officer Darron Burks


Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett remembers fallen Dallas officer Darron Burks as dear friend

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Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett remembers fallen Dallas officer Darron Burks as dear friend

01:45

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NORTH TEXAS – In the days since Dallas police Officer Darron Burks was tragically killed, it’s clear how many lives he touched. His influence extended far beyond the streets of Dallas, reaching all the way to Capitol Hill.

U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, says she met Burks around 2014 through mutual friends in their fraternity and sorority, long before he became a police officer.

“It’s still one of those things that doesn’t quite feel real to me,” she said. “This really was a gut punch to me. It’s someone I considered to be a really great friend.”

When Crockett first heard the news of an officer being killed, she had no idea it was Burks, who patrolled in the district she mostly covers. She was shocked to learn that Burks had transitioned from teaching math at Texas Can Academy to policing.

“It hurts to know that I wasn’t there to at least celebrate the transition to the police department,” Crockett said. “It’s tough when you know that someone who really always had your back, to sit there and think… you didn’t have their back enough.”

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Crockett remembers Burks as a caring man with a servant’s heart and believes his death is a significant loss for the entire North Texas community. She hopes to rearrange her schedule to attend his services this weekend and urges others to honor his life in a simple but meaningful way.

“This was a guy who had a million-dollar smile and would always look to lift someone else up. So, if you have a chance, do your part. Try to lift someone up,” she said.



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Police release video of fatal shooting of man who killed officer, wounded two others

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Police release video of fatal shooting of man who killed officer, wounded two others


What to Know

  • Dallas police officer Darron Burks was killed in a shooting Thursday in Oak Cliff. Dallas Chief of Police Eddie Garcia said the attack was premeditated and Burks was executed.
  • Two other officers were injured in a gun battle with the suspected shooter when they arrived at the scene. One of the wounded officers has been released from the hospital and the other is critical but stable.
  • Police killed the suspected shooter after a chase that ended in Lewisville. He was identified Friday as Corey Cobb-Bey.
  • The initial shooting took place at about 10:10 p.m. Thursday on the 900 block of East Ledbetter Drive. The pursuit ended in Lewisville, on the 1000 block of Stemmons Freeway, at about 10:45 p.m.
  • Funeral services for Burks will be held on Saturday at Watermark Church in Dallas.

Dallas police released dash-camera video Monday of the fatal shooting after the pursuit of the man police say targeted and killed one officer and injured two others on Thursday.

Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia said Friday that Corey Cobb-Bey, 30, intentionally set out to shoot police when he killed officer Darron Burks sitting in his patrol car at an Oak Cliff community center between calls. He also wounded two others who arrived at the scene to check on Burks.

The late-night attack set off a highway chase that ended with officers fatally shooting the suspect.

The video released Monday shows the moment Cobb-Bey pulled over on Interstate 35E in Lewisville and got out of his white Buick. The video from the cruiser includes audio — someone on the police radio said, “Felony stop, use caution.”

“Use caution, he’s looking back, he’s still in the car, coming out with a weapon,” the voice can be heard as the suspect is seen walking back toward officers. “Hands are up.”

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The angle of the dash cam shows an officer taking a defensive position behind his cruiser’s door.

“Drop the gun,” officers can be heard yelling at Bey multiple times as he walks away and then back toward officers.

Dallas police edited the footage pausing it and zooming in on the weapon.

Cobb-Bey does not appear to aim directly at police but continues walking toward officers.

Dallas police blurred the video at the moment officers opened fire shooting several rounds at Cobb-Bey.

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“Roll EMS, roll EMS, we’ve got shots fired,” someone calls out over the police radio as the footage ends.

Six officers fired at Cobb-Bey, who died at the scene after being hit multiple times, police said. No officers were injured.

Police recovered two shotguns at the Lewisville site and two handguns at the Oak Cliff shooting scene. Garcia said Cobb-Bey had legally obtained the guns. One of the shotguns is shown in the video released by Dallas police on Monday.

Deputy Police Chief William Griffith said in the video released Monday by Dallas Police that the investigation shows the attack was “premeditated” after investigators collected evidence on social media.

Griffith said that Cobb-Bey recorded his encounter with Burks on a cell phone. The police department will not be releasing that video.

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Senior Corporal Jamie Farmer, who was the first officer to arrive on the scene in Oak Cliff was shot in the leg and was treated and released from the hospital Monday.

Senior Corporal Karissa David was the second officer to respond to the scene of Burks’ shooting, she was shot in the face. Garcia said Friday she was in critical but stable condition.

Public visitation for Burks is planned for Friday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. followed by the funeral service at 11 a.m. Saturday at Watermark Church on LBJ Freeway in Dallas.

Flags around the city have been flying at half-staff in honor of Burks.

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3 Dallas Cowboys that will be better than expected in 2024

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3 Dallas Cowboys that will be better than expected in 2024


The stars of the Dallas Cowboys are well-known. With the top-end talent on the roster being looked upon to bear the brunt of the load in 2024, it will still take a full-team approach if they are going to be considered a real threat this season.

While there are varying expectations for players up and down the roster, here are three players who have a chance to be better than expected, and perhaps have a bigger impact than some originally thought.

Three Cowboys primed to be better than some think in 2024

Israel Mukuamu

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When it comes to versatility and the ability to be a plus player on the roster, not many provided more upside than defensive back Israel Mukuamu. The now veteran secondary player has played all over the defensive back end, and with new leadership under control this year, he has a chance to be used perhaps in the manner he should have been all along.

It’s clear that he has a unique skill set that Dallas should be taking advantage of. From his long and athletic frame to his ability to play safety, nickel corner, and boundary corner, there isn’t much that he can’t do in the secondary.

With DaRon Bland’s absence, we may get a chance to see Izzy play cornerback on the outside more than we initially thought. That being his more natural position, where he played in college, it could be good for the Cowboys and their depth.

Chauncey Golston

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When you think of Dallas pass rushers, the first name that comes to mind may not be Chauncey Golston. However, the former EDGE-turned-defensive tackle is now once again being called upon to line up out wide.

With Sam Williams gone for the season, the Cowboys have been scrambling to find pass rush depth, and while they have added pieces to the mix to help, one of the main keys was on the roster all along in Golston.

Don’t be surprised if he is able to show production both in the pass rush and in the run game, as Golston is a big, physical player who has shown quality ability in limited action.

Luke Schoonmaker

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This will be a controversial one, but something that is very possible to happen. Luke Schoonmaker is coming into his second season with many within the fan base ready to, if they haven’t already, write him off. With other weapons on the roster, he has become a forgotten man, and that’s something you may want to rescind before it’s too late.

Schoonmaker has talent and the ability to produce in the NFL. It will take him staying healthy and making the most of his opportunities to do so. He’s under the microscope this season, and that’s okay as the fanbase opts for a show me, don’t tell me approach to last year’s second-round pick.

He may never be a high-end piece for this team, but that doesn’t mean he can’t exceed expectations this season. Look for Schoonmaker to surprise some people this year, even if it is only marginally.



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