1. (a) Juvenile justice professionals found to be in violation of the provisions of this subsection shall be subject to disciplinary action including, but not limited to, suspension, revocation or denial of the professional certification issued under the authority of the Commission.
2. (b) The people of Texas expect juvenile justice professionals to exhibit unfailing honesty and respect for the dignity and individuality of human beings and display a commitment to professional and compassionate service.

3. (c) The Commission subscribes to the following code of ethics principles:

   1. (1) Juvenile justice professionals shall:

      1. (A) abide by all federal laws, guidelines and rules, state laws, and Commission administrative rules;
      2. (B) respect the authority and follow the directives of the juvenile court and governing juvenile board;
      3. (C) respect and protect the legal rights of all children and their parents and/or guardians;
      4. (D) serve each child with concern for the child's welfare and with no expectation of personal gain;
      5. (E) respect the significance of all elements of the justice and human services systems and cultivate a professional cooperation with each segment;
      6. (F) respect and consider the right of the public to be safeguarded from juvenile delinquency;
      7. (G) be diligent in their responsibility to record and make available for review any and all information that could contribute to sound decisions affecting a child or the public safety;
      8. (H) report without reservation any corrupt or unethical behavior that could affect a juvenile or the integrity of the juvenile justice system;
      9. (I) maintain the integrity and confidentiality of juvenile information and not seek more information than needed to perform their duties, nor reveal information to any person who does not have authorized access to the information for a proper professional use;
      10. (J) perform all duties impartially and without regard to race, ethnicity, gender, disability, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, political belief or socioeconomic status; and
      11. (K) treat all juveniles and their families with courtesy, consideration and dignity.

   2. (2) Juvenile justice professionals shall not:

      1. (A) use their official position to secure privileges or advantages;
      2. (B) permit personal interest to impair the objectivity that must be maintained to impartially execute their official duties;
      3. (C) accept gifts, presents, favors, or other advantages that could give the appearance of impropriety or impair the impartial and objective exercise of professional responsibilities;
      4. (D) maintain or give the appearance of maintaining an inappropriate relationship with a juvenile residing in a facility or under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court that includes, but is not limited to, bribery, solicitation or acceptance of gifts, favors, or services from juveniles or their families;
      5. (E) discriminate against any employee, juvenile, parent or guardian on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, disability, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, political belief or socioeconomic status;
      6. (F) engage in behaviors that misuse government property or resources, or that use the personal effects or funds belonging to a juvenile;
      7. (G) be designated as a perpetrator in a Commission abuse, exploitation and neglect investigation conducted under the authority of Texas Family Code Chapter 261 and Chapter 350 of this title;
      8. (H) interfere with or hinder any abuse, exploitation and neglect investigation, including a criminal investigation conducted by law enforcement or an investigation conducted pursuant to Texas Family Code Chapter 261 or Chapter 350 and Chapter 358 of this title;
      9. (I) deliver into or remove from the grounds of a juvenile facility, program or department any item of contraband or possess or control any item of contraband beyond the time period required to immediately report and deliver such item to the proper authority within the facility, program or department;
      10. (J) utilize unnecessary force or violence and shall only use the amount of force reasonably necessary and appropriate when justified to ensure the security of juveniles, the facility, program or department; or
      11. (K) falsify or make material omissions entries to governmental records.

Source Note:The provisions of this §345.310 adopted to be effective March 1, 2010, 35 TexReg 1287.