AUSTIN – A federal judge has approved a settlement between the Texas Youth Commission and the Justice Department over inmate safety at the state's juvenile prison in Edinburg.

U.S. District Judge Ricardo Hinojosa had previously rejected a settlement on grounds it lacked a specific timeline for suggested reforms at the Evins Regional Juvenile Center, which federal prosecutors began probing in 2006 after numerous reports of abuse.

A Justice Department review released in 2007 described a "chaotic and dangerous" environment at Evins that violated inmates' constitutional rights with its high levels of violence and too few guards to control the facility.

The settlement establishes parameters for safe living conditions and staffing levels, restricts use of youth restraints and guards against retaliation for reporting abuse and misconduct. The Justice Department will also review the lockup every six months.

The Associated Press