Community Based Detention (CBD)

Community-Based Detention (CBD) is a program of detention services provided in a youth’s own home to selected juvenile offenders. Eligible youth are those who can be safely returned to the physical custody of their parent(s) while awaiting disposition of their case. CBD services are provided by the Tarrant County Advocate Program (TCAP) and conform to the general function of detention and established standards for in-home detention services. TCAP uses trained advocates to provide intensive face-to-face supervision of a youth’s activities, knowledge of current whereabouts, monitoring of attendance at school or work, and return to home when expected. Advocates may escort youth and parents to court hearings. Advocates also assist youth in keeping appointments for legal and diagnostic services and provide nightly curfew checks. They provide assistance and support to parents during the detention period through a variety of individual and family activities which identify strengths and needs in areas of educational, vocational, and social functioning. This information may be presented to the court in cases where CBD has been engaged for 14 days or longer. Disposition of cases where CBD has been utilized is docketed as expeditiously as cases in the detention center.