tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post5292246906528059257..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: Might Texas close more juvie lockups in wake of ongoing woes?Gritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-24428394490247169982012-05-07T21:27:58.502-05:002012-05-07T21:27:58.502-05:00AMEN 8:37!!! Let's bury that Conextions puppy....AMEN 8:37!!! Let's bury that Conextions puppy. It never has worked.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-27401975664017860622012-05-07T20:37:54.656-05:002012-05-07T20:37:54.656-05:00Unfortunately, the young men in the Giddings Capit...Unfortunately, the young men in the Giddings Capital and Serious Violent Offender Program live on a dorm. There, they are rewarded for bad behavior. They are in the program mentioned above while, at the same time, they are in the Conextions program. Conextions is where the problem is.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-9222221104053682562012-05-07T19:12:34.657-05:002012-05-07T19:12:34.657-05:00From the TJJD web site.
Capital and Serious Viole...From the TJJD web site.<br /><br />Capital and Serious Violent Offenders<br /><br />The Giddings State School operates a Capital and Serious Violent Offender Treatment Program for youths that are committed for murder, capital murder, and if the offense involved the use of a weapon or deadly force. The program helps these young people connect feelings associated with their violent behavior and to identify alternative ways to respond when faced with risky situations in the future. Participants in this program are required to reenact their crimes and to play the role of both perpetrator and victim. <br /><br />The Giddings Capital and Serious Violent Offender Program has gained worldwide attention and been featured on several national news programs. It is one of TJJD’s most promising specialized treatment programs. Research shows that participation in this program reduced the likelihood of being re-incarcerated for any offense by 55 percent, and for a felony offense, by 43 percent.Sheldon tyc#47333https://www.blogger.com/profile/17236854879241753231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-87994809011897412692012-05-07T07:45:09.749-05:002012-05-07T07:45:09.749-05:00So let's just review where we have been...now ...So let's just review where we have been...now we are at least no longer sexually assaulting kids, and that's about it!<br />BUT we seem to be ok with kids assaulting staff, kids selling off the weaker ones and there is such a culture of that type going on that kids want to be in security for thier own safety, and we are ok with that! And we are also good with pumping experimental drugs into kids .....seems we are good with that! Oh, almost forget, state is going broke, and with that just a few got big raises, no problem! <br />Honestly the list Townsend management screwups is so long it's really not even funny, but the governor and Whitmire and Madden are all good with it! OR THEY WOULD PUT AN END to this nightmare! <br /><br />It's bad for thier little law, it's bad for staff that are busting thier ass to help kids, it's bad for kids that are wanting to change, it's a mistake that with each day gets worse. Waiting for another session, another year, another month, week, or day is just plane wrong!<br /><br />Everyone working here knows its completely out of control....somebody is going to get killed! TJJD will make a quick drive through issue a paper response and send some flowers!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-55699536737110178182012-05-06T23:11:45.469-05:002012-05-06T23:11:45.469-05:0011:18 am posts an informative link.
Amidst all th...11:18 am posts an informative link.<br /><br />Amidst all the drum-banging for community placements and probation by Grits and Mike Ward and Whitmire, we rarely see this side of the story.<br /><br />I know it costs more tax dollars to keep a youth in secure custody rather than probation, but ask the parents of Eric Forrester if it was worth keeping the teen who killed him (who was on probation for multiple offenses) out of secure confinement. Hell, even the relative of the convicted killer blamed the juvenile justice system for being too easy on him and continually placing him on probation and now one teen is dead and another serving a life sentence.<br /><br />But I'm sure that's a question that Grits, Mike Ward, and Whitmire are going to avoid asking.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-23501044338998279382012-05-06T15:07:12.149-05:002012-05-06T15:07:12.149-05:00Stan's mistake was when he came back to Giddin...Stan's mistake was when he came back to Giddings and set up the same old culture. He surrounded himself with the pre-2007 group of insiders and his administration had one motive--to serve him and his loyal insiders. If he had taken his retirement two years ago, he could have stayed in the shadows. His loyal insiders will lie for him until they die and face their judgment for a lifetime of corruption.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-60457986909157430792012-05-06T01:51:24.557-05:002012-05-06T01:51:24.557-05:00Hey 12:24....you comment relating to purely polit...Hey 12:24....you comment relating to purely political reasons was a bit strange . Seeing as how Townsend got the job was purely political. Where it not for the governors office, should I say her friend in the governors office, she would somewhere else and the much needed reform would be than a paper program. <br /><br />How's CASA doing these days? Can't find many scandalous headlines over there....hmmmm?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-49807289158290829542012-05-05T21:42:42.881-05:002012-05-05T21:42:42.881-05:002:24pm I find it ironic that you state,
"Od...2:24pm I find it ironic that you state, <br /><br />"Odd, that those who criticize the most are often those with absolutely no first-hand experience in leading any organization".<br /><br />Really, well this is what you have now leading this agency. When was the last time a JCO staff was asked what do you believe would help make this place a better place for youth and staff, and not just some bullshit event where Central Office staff show up and let you know they feeel your pain?<br /><br />I find it laughable that anyone ever thought Townsend could ever lead this agency;<br /><br />1) During/after conservatorship she brought in as General Counsel someone with no Juvenile Justice Exp<br />2) She place as her #2 person over a Juvenile Justice Dept a person whose job was as the Chief Financial Officer<br />3) She allows a Person from Maryland with no real leadership exp run the facilities<br /><br /> We can go on and on but the truth is, Townsend really needs to head back to Arizona, she has been a dismal failure. You can attend as many seminars and read as many books as possible but it still does not translate to leadership.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-39180042841610407522012-05-05T15:11:07.713-05:002012-05-05T15:11:07.713-05:00They need to audit education next....
http://www....They need to audit education next....<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf-2p5gLIYc&feature=relatedAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-50419895104977584132012-05-05T14:24:10.858-05:002012-05-05T14:24:10.858-05:00The articles by Mike Ward in the Statesman appear ...The articles by Mike Ward in the Statesman appear to be the result of an agreement between Ward and certain legislators. In exchange for "inside" information, Ward is careful not to critically examine the behavior of people like Senator Whitmire.<br /><br />The article in the Statesman today very much smacks of a witch hunt. Having been involved with contracts for building projects for more than three decades, I can tell you that there are always change orders. No contract, no matter how tightly written, can account for all of the issues that come up during the course of the contract. I can see nothing that was done poorly by the agency.<br /><br />What I do see is Ward carrying the water for those who wish to depose the agency administrators for purely political reasons. Just watch politician pile on in a completely disingenuous attempt to appear to be acting on behalf of the oppressed.<br /><br />I challenge Senator Whitmore to run the agency. Can you imagine the disaster? Odd, that those who criticize the most are often those with absolutely no first-hand experience in leading any organization.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-21547203208816814012012-05-05T11:18:25.680-05:002012-05-05T11:18:25.680-05:00Keep them closer to home in their communities. Her...Keep them closer to home in their communities. Here we have a mother who blames the TJJD for doing just that.... watch the vido and see the story below.<br /><br />http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/18148252/teen-killer-broderick-patterson-gets-lifeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-30955032127530614702012-05-05T10:53:33.776-05:002012-05-05T10:53:33.776-05:00Hey John Whitmire and aids.... if what the America...Hey John Whitmire and aids.... if what the American Statesman reported in Saturday's edition is accurate, then here's another prime reason to place the agency right back into conservatorship. Those change orders on thos construction contracts required board approval before it could be approved, and despite Townsend saying she fixed that problem, well - eh-hem- she lied. No she's refusing to disclose these files even they were discussed openly in the meeting and in public? How is THAT not covering something up. Her Arizona banking General Counsel gave her that advise as well... what a bunch of crooks. I think Kimbrough needs to return and clean this house.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-39898145988775592002012-05-05T09:25:45.018-05:002012-05-05T09:25:45.018-05:00There are things worse than a director trying to ...There are things worse than a director trying to hold on long enough to "earn" her full retirement !<br /><br />One is a board chair who promises transparency and then from day one has been an active part in the hiding , manipulating reports and flat out straight up lieing to help cover, not just these last fiscal " errors" but also the abuses that have been on his watch with the old TYC and the "new" TYC. And part of his ability to do this is the fact that he's a preacher, really a preacher wouldn't lie or not have sincere care for kids.... Would he?<br /><br />The other messed up thing worse than a director hanging on us a government that instead of admitting they sit up a board to make the wrong appointment, continues to allow us to travel down this road to hell! It's bad for kids and the future as we keep digging deeper and deeper into this hole. Eventually she will be able to retire, and the next person will have a task of biblical proportions to correct all this mess! Yes Mr. Fisher I said biblical ... Read up on it!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-81656611989407844892012-05-04T23:25:14.472-05:002012-05-04T23:25:14.472-05:0011:03
That's called nepotism and cronyism. It&...11:03<br />That's called nepotism and cronyism. It's what TYC/TJJD is run on. That's what our agency is all about. There is no fair play.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-59897716544012123512012-05-04T23:03:31.034-05:002012-05-04T23:03:31.034-05:00This just continues to be a big joke and the only ...This just continues to be a big joke and the only way it's going to change is if the Board wants it to change. Here are some facts I think most of us "peons" would agree upon:<br />To many people running things and making policy that have never worked with the youth or promoted up through the ranks.<br />Townsend should never have been re-hired to run the merged entities.<br />Until the criminals quit designating what T.V. they are watching, being allowed to pick out their own video games, play slipnslide, and just overall being given the run of the campus things will not change.<br />Staff have to be given more tools to work with the youth.<br />The "kids" are being treated better than most of the families of the people they've victimized--how screwed up is that.<br />The Good Old Boy system is alive and well.<br />Retaliation does exist and is tolerated--file a grievance and you will learn this first hand.<br />It's still who you know as to what you get, including positions.<br />There are still more supervisors in positions because of who they know than because of what they can do.<br />Supervisors to busy sleeping with other staff to focus on their priorities. The list is endless.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-49301985253140832062012-05-04T17:55:18.653-05:002012-05-04T17:55:18.653-05:00What did they discuss in today's board meeting...What did they discuss in today's board meeting?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-75428858770515417052012-05-04T17:03:07.523-05:002012-05-04T17:03:07.523-05:0012:01 You are exactly correct. The board meeting ...12:01 You are exactly correct. The board meeting today had nothing accomplished by anyone but Meade and a small few others. So many sat on there hands and said nor did anything. Replace everyone but the chiefs. Make the chief's on the advisory council the new board. Get rid of Townsend. Heck, shut everything down, start over with the county departments taking the lead. I bet I can get a job at a county department or facility and be much better off than working in the hell hole formerly known as The Texas Youth Commission.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-36813421113242278392012-05-04T12:01:23.965-05:002012-05-04T12:01:23.965-05:005/04/2012 06:45:00 AM "The Chair of the "...5/04/2012 06:45:00 AM "The Chair of the "new" board, was the chair of the old commission, the now caring Mr. Meade and others all knew and stuck thier heads deep in the sand to give the Directors job to Townsend."<br />Yes Fisher was the chair for all those years of TYC and shoulda known better but the rest of the board were duped by the governor's office into believing Townsend was the best thing out there. Meade has seen the light and is trying to turn all the other non-chiefs into believers that things are wrong at these facilities and there needs to be a change. Without Meade these things would not be at the level of attention they are now and from talking to him we JCO's have a friend who "gets it" and understands we and the juveniles are suffering through this mismanaged cluster @#$% . Everyone needs ro ralley behind this man because he is trying to make a difference. Heck fire the board chair and place Meade as chair. Replace ALL the non-chief's with chiefs and make something happen that is good for the state.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-71980554996154013892012-05-04T11:20:28.685-05:002012-05-04T11:20:28.685-05:00Stan felt he had to keep his little clique around ...Stan felt he had to keep his little clique around him-hell they were the only ones he trusted. He had known them for 15-20 years and knew they were solid soldiers. He even put Dwight Harris' brother in as number three out there at Giddings. He was so used to the old way being successful that he didn't change a thing, except just enough to fool those who needed fooling. Those fools had never been a problem for him all those years, so he thought, why worry now.<br /><br />I guess we can now see his soldiers take the stand for him. He took care of them and they will all sing the same song--nothing changes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-35269648923161295232012-05-04T10:52:41.481-05:002012-05-04T10:52:41.481-05:00"Hey Townsend.....don't let the door hit ..."Hey Townsend.....don't let the door hit ya' where the good Lord split ya!" Your days are numbered! The more you talk, the more obviouse it is...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-11061725618581158442012-05-04T09:50:29.210-05:002012-05-04T09:50:29.210-05:00Does everyone remember when Townsend first met the...Does everyone remember when Townsend first met the ledge when she came on and they started grilling her into changing the program. Townsend said if things don't get better, she won't be here meaning she'd leave. <br /><br />Well I ask this: Are you having trouble finding the damn door Cherie?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-49608449186950065892012-05-04T09:47:23.622-05:002012-05-04T09:47:23.622-05:00The more she talks, then deeper it gets. Whitmire ...The more she talks, then deeper it gets. Whitmire is going to lite that ass up when tries this "lip service" on him. 200 points? What the hell is that? Points? Has anyone ever heard of using points to measure activity on campus? This is another ruse. <br /><br />Cherie Townsend, you are the most disrespected and misguided/ignorant ED this agency has ever seen. And that includes the Pope. It's not just field staff that disrespect you, it's CO as well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-90622386287572606792012-05-04T07:50:50.261-05:002012-05-04T07:50:50.261-05:00How could they have thought that these wrongheaded...How could they have thought that these wrongheaded programs would be effective? What kind of theoretical world were they living in?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-86385312589738213002012-05-04T07:26:27.484-05:002012-05-04T07:26:27.484-05:00Approximatley two years ago I sat in a room with T...Approximatley two years ago I sat in a room with Townsend and others and stated that the current treatment progarm was ineffective and staff and youth were in jeopardy. I went on to state that consequnces had to be meaningful and effective for youth to internalize their actions and learn from their mistakes. I was told that "I was from the old Resocialization way of thinking", and that "I was correctional". I did go onto to state that even my own children were consequnced for not abiding by curfew and this was part of learning to make responsible choices.<br />I can go on and on about this and other conversations where Townsend was present, comments she had made about the youth were not at fault for assaulting staff but rather the 'Poor implementation of treatment programs at Giddings, and the staff were at fault". This meeting was attended by at least 30 other staff at CO when she stated this. And you are just now attempting to address these issues that you yourself was the employees fault and not the youth assaulting employees. We can also talk about how it was brought to your attention over two years ago about the ineffective "Redirect Program" and how a committe was formed to tweak it based upon youth behavior, and you allowed to other sttipulations to this program at the time (serious bodily injury and oral/anal penatration) but that was it. You have never listened to those out in the field, you have a disdain for those who actually do the work as if they are beneath you. I would not state this if it was not true and it can be proven as such based upon the amount of witnesses in the room when these were said. For the sake of this agency, the youth and staff, step down before you are told to step down.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-71620113604406207322012-05-04T06:45:06.104-05:002012-05-04T06:45:06.104-05:00Are you kidding me? Please Jesus tell me you guys ...Are you kidding me? Please Jesus tell me you guys are joking, per Statesman atrticle by Mike Ward<br /><br />EVERYONE in the system knew of these problems in November and the "hiccup" in December. Everyone knew of these and many many more both major and minor hiccups throughout TYC. The Chair of the "new" board, was the chair of the old commission, the now caring Mr. Meade and others all knew and stuck thier heads deep in the sand to give the Directors job to Townsend. So acting all amazed at these stories is a level of hypocrisy that could only happen in the old TYC, that is in reality the new TJJD.<br /><br />The dynamic Mr.Smith tells the board assaults "increased by 200 points"...points? My guess is that should be per cent, but points in guess sounds better.<br />The "new" director and her point man also announced that the development of "calmimg areas"...are you kidding me? It seems with no clue as to just who these kids are, the ones that beat on staff and other kids, the kids that buy and sell the weaker of the population...they now get to go to calming areas! Being sent to "timeout" probably didnt work for this population in the second grade, pretty sure in thier current environment it wont either. <br />If this were not laughable enough, this next little bit of programing should maybe get someone on the cover of Texas Monthly as the Bumsteer winner. Again in an apparent lack of understanding of just which kids counties are sending to TYC, we are going to let them sign a "gang peace treaty"...really! <br />Ask any indian how well that little treaty system works!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com