The U.S. Justice Department found on Thursday that Texas has routinely violated the civil rights of juveniles at five detention facilities by using excessive force, failing to protect them from sexual abuse and discriminating against children with disabilities.

The investigation, which started in October 2021, looked at the treatment of children in custody of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.

The probe found that staffers at the facilities often use physical force against child detainees, including the frequent use of pepper spray as a “first response” to address misbehavior.