Speaking during a Houston Community Media discussion on the challenges facing children and teenagers, Rep. Gene Wu said many of the issues that eventually bring young people into the justice system begin much earlier—in classrooms, at home and in communities where families struggle to access the support children need to succeed.
By the time a young person enters the juvenile justice system, Texas State Rep. Gene Wu believes the real opportunity to help may have already passed.
Speaking during a Houston Community Media discussion on the challenges facing children and teenagers, Wu said many of the issues that eventually bring young people into the justice system begin much earlier—in classrooms, at home and in communities where families struggle to access the support children need to succeed.
Rather than focusing primarily on punishment, Wu said Texas should continue investing in education, counseling, mental health services and early intervention to help children before they reach a crisis.
Wu said his years as a prosecutor in the Harris County District Attorney’s Office shaped his understanding of juvenile justice.
“I saw prosecutors and defense attorneys and judges working together to fix what is wrong with the child, and not just say, ‘How much can we punish this child for acting the way that they did?'” Wu said.
That experience reinforced what he said is already reflected in Texas law.
“The word is rehabilitation,” Wu said. “Every single thing that we do in a state by law should and must go towards rehabilitation.”
Wu said many of the challenges seen in juvenile courts are connected to issues children experience long before they encounter the justice system, including limited access to counseling, healthcare, stable family support and educational opportunities. Those comments reflected his perspective on youth policy and juvenile justice.
Throughout the conversation, Wu emphasized the important role schools play in identifying and supporting students facing academic, behavioral or mental health challenges.
He said educators are increasingly asked to meet complex student needs while working with larger class sizes and limited resources. When those challenges go unaddressed, he said, students may become involved in school disciplinary systems that can eventually lead to contact with the juvenile justice system.
Wu also expressed concern about relying on law enforcement to handle routine school discipline.
“When schools find ways to get rid of them, one of the easiest ways is to have them arrested,” he said.
He argued that expanding access to counselors, therapists and other student support services could help schools address problems earlier and reduce the likelihood that disciplinary issues escalate into justice issues.
Wu said improving outcomes for children requires more than legislative action.
He encouraged parents, educators, community organizations and residents to stay engaged, learn about issues affecting local schools and communicate their priorities to elected officials.
“The public has to make its voice known,” Wu said, adding that local journalists also play an important role in helping communities understand issues affecting children and families.
When asked what advice he would give young people who want to make a difference, Wu offered a simple message:
“Educate. Organize. Activate.”
Children do not become statistics overnight.
Throughout the discussion, Wu returned to the idea that preventing future involvement with the juvenile justice system begins by investing in children long before they reach a courtroom. He pointed to education, mental health care, family support and community engagement as important parts of that effort. Those views reflected his perspective as a longtime advocate for juvenile justice reform and a member of the Texas Legislature.
Whether those conversations happen in schools, homes or neighborhood organizations, Wu said helping children early offers communities the best opportunity to change lives before small challenges become lifelong obstacles.
