Escarcega began his career with the Texas Youth Commission (TYC) in 1975. During his tenure with TYC he held numerous positions of increased responsibilities. In 1998, following a national search by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), he was selected to serve as BOP's Juvenile Services Administrator in Washington, DC, pursuant to an Inter-Agency Personnel Agreement (IPA) for a two-year period. He
transitioned from State of Texas employment to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, until his retirement in 2012. During his tenure with BOP, he completed a three year detail to the State of Hawaii, where he served as Technical Advisor at the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility (HYCF). The focus of his work centered around a Memorandum of Understanding between the the Division of Civil Rights of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), involving the conditions of confinement for juveniles. Additionally, Mr Escarcega served as a Commissioner on the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Commission, for the District of Columbia (DC). Following a year of intensive examination of DC's Juvenile Justice System and submitting recommendations for alternatives for juvenile confinement, he and the other members of the Commission submitted their findings and a final report to DC Mayor Anthony A. Escarcega also served a two- year IPA assignment to the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Office of Juvenile Services. He served in the capacity of Technical Advisor. Escarcega's extensive experience of over 37 years in the area of juvenile justice, has included publishing articles, memberships in local, state and national organizations promoting juvenile justice. He is the recipient of several awards and recognitions for his work in enhancing best practices with data-driven decision making processes in Juvenile Justice. His professional career has included teaching positions at El Paso Community College and the University of Texas at El Paso. Upon retirement in 2012, he worked as an Independent Consultant until July 2016, at which time he became owner of ESCARCEGA & ASSOCIATES, LLC.
