The Refuge

The Refuge's license was suspended last year when it was discovered an employee had offered to sell nude photos of two girls in exchange for drug money. The nonprofit sex-trafficking treatment center reached a settlement with the state that allowed it to reopen.

Despite allegations that made national headlines and drew statehouse investigations and federal court attention, no charges were filed against the facility, which was created to care of sex trafficking victims. Former residents at the heart of the scandal are frustrated by what they see as evasions of responsibility and the lack of justice.

Shawna Rogers died at 17, after years of abuse, violence and exploitation. The compounding cost of failures — from law enforcement and rehabilitators as well as family — finally proved fatal. In the end, she was blind to those who wanted to help her as they had been blind to her needs for years. Her life stands as a haunting example of how far Texas still has to go to help victims like her.

A federal hearing Monday brought new revelations around the issues plaguing Texas' foster care system as well as news that Judge Janice Jack would seek contempt charges.

Federal court monitors report that a letter from a legislator to the head of Texas DPS says a girl from the facility planned her escape with the phone of an employee of the center focused on treating trafficking victims.