DALLAS – H. Lynn Hadnot has been named to lead the Dallas County Juvenile Services, as the head of the organization’s operating board.
Hadnot had recently been named to head up the county’s Juvenile Services division, which helps at-risk youth. The Woodville native has been working with the juvenile division of neighboring Collin County, in the DFW Metroplex, for more than 10 years, and was named deputy director there in 2015.
In a statement to media, Hadnot said of the division in which he is tasked with leading that “the sky’s the limit.”
“I’m really looking to have Dallas County be at the forefront of leading the state of Texas,” he said.
The Juvenile Board in Dallas County has been under many challenges, recently, including the revelation of substandard conditions and poor treatment of inmates within the county’s juvenile detention center, following a state inspection.
According to reports, the state’s Juvenile Justice Department found that officers at the facility kept children isolated for days, and falsified records of observation checks as well as school attendance.
Hadnot, in statements, addressed those reports and called them “concerning,” but committed to being a visible leader, and said that his experience has shown him that, through the years, when youth offenders know that adults charged with their care display care and genuine interest, a positive impact is produced.
Mike Griffiths, who served as the department’s interim director, said that Hadnot’s character, and his knowledge of the juvenile justice system and familiarity with the area made him the ideal pick to lead the department, out of four candidates.
