The letter is the latest in a series of negotiations between the state and federal governments as they try to settle the case.Obviously the reason TYC doesn't want conditions labeled as violations of civil rights is they don't want litigants alleging abuse at the Evins unit to be able to rely upon that determination later in court. They want to rewrite history through semantic games. That must not happen.
DOJ officials in March, following a months-long investigation, called conditions at Evins “chaotic and dangerous,” and said officials there failed to protect prisoners from youth and staff violence.
Specifically, they saw as problematic the high number of youth-on-youth assaults, inadequate staffing levels that left one guard in charge of 24 young people, insufficient programming, problems with youth placement, a dysfunctional grievance system and staff-on-youth violence.
TYC officials have agreed with DOJ about many of the problems and worked to solve them, but its administrators did not want the language in the settlement to say they violated civil rights, the letter said.
The feds should stick to their guns on the letter's language and on the lengthier period of monitoring (four years) they'd originally proposed. The reforms implemented this spring were at most a first step, not in any way a complete fix to TYC's many problems, as the letter to the feds claimed.
TYC needs to stop fighting federal oversight and take its medicine. And like so many kids under their care, IMO that oversight should consist of an indeterminate sentence - when they've proven their rehabilitated, as far as I'm concerned, then the feds can let the agency off the hook.
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86 comments:
And I thought all of the Spin Doctors were gone from the "New TYC". I am starting to think some of our state elected and appointed officials might not be honest! You think?
Sounds like the same kind of litigation limiting move as keeping the actual time span of the abuse at West TX quite.
I have a feeling what is hidden at TYC will come into the light very soon.
Evins has been problematic from the start. It is only under the titular control of the TYC. It is really controlled by politicians in the Valley. The major problem at Evins is that most of the youth population at Evins comes from within 40 miles of the place. The kids are almost all heavily gang-involved, and their gang "homies" in the free live in the same neighborhoods where most of the staff live. They go to school with the children of staff members. That is not a healthy situation, for obvious reasons. I might add, that if the reasons are not obvious to you, then you do not know much about today's juvenile delinquency.
That last comment was not directed at you, Scott, but rather at some of the politicians from the valley who might happen to read it.
To the last anon, I'm not sure that's entirely accurate about Evins housing mostly Valley kids. According to this article, "Some of the youth now at Evins are from deep South Texas, but most are from Dallas, Houston and San Antonio."
Originally Evins had mostly Valley kids, but as population increased and administrative transfers for riotous behavior became the norm, the population shifted to a more diverse group.
Federal oversight, if on location and not just based on TYC-generated reports, would be a good thing.
I am anonymous 7:53/55. My comments were based upon the conditions that existed immediately before the DOJ investigation began. I mispoke in implying that this is the situation today. I spent some time down there last August helping out. I was appalled by what I saw. The gang situation was the worst that I had ever seen in TYC. Senator Hinojosa would like it to go back to the way it was back then - a Valley institution, run by the people in the Valley, housing gangsters from the Valley.
I don't think the DOJ needs to change a thing in their report. We need the Federal oversight. The TYC management should realize that having that oversight gives them some protection from local political interests.
Two observations based on Scott's original posting and the comments so far:
1. TYC historically has resisted viewing any abuse allegations in the context of civil rights. In the Morales case of the 1970s, Judge Justice attempted to carve out a "right to rehabilitation" but this was struck down by the 5th Circuit on appeal by TYC and the state AG.
2. Critics of large institutions have been arguing since at least the late 1960s that they are too beholden to local political powers. This is how they have survived endless rounds of abuse scandals, corruption scandals, etc.
In other words, if Evins is really as people here are saying, that may be an argument for more federal oversight, or even replacing it with a completely different type of facility (or facilities).
There is a reason the word "institution" connotes permanence - they are inherently resistant to change of any sort and its defenders' first reflex to any criticism or problem is to circle the wagons. That clearly has not changed despite the change in leadership.
Bill Bush, UNLV
Just when you think it can not possibily get any worse at TYC, it does. There is no such time as hitting bottom at TYC.
You are right there is no bottom at TYC. The latest... restrict all full size vehicles from entering the facility. How in the hell does Mr. H. think this will work. What a crock. The facilities and staff will only suffer from this TDCJ move. They are bound and determined to take something that works great and turn it into a disaster. Good luck CO with getting maintenance done on the campuses. I think you people have been smoking to much pot or something. You are worse than the last group. You make changes without any thought of what you are doing or what problems you will cause. Oh I am sorry you can't think... Your are TDCJ
If the politicians were really interested in a rehabilitative TYC, they would build some small units regionally and concentrate on rehabilitation of youth from the region. But, and this is a big but, we all have to realize that even among youth there is an element that is thoroughly criminal and that this thoroughly criminal element will sabotage rehabilitative efforts. Therefore, what is needed is a system of progressive sanctions. Okay - you did not work out on probation, you did not work out on local programming, so we sent you to TYC. You refused to work the original program TYC sent you to, so we are sending you to a more correctional type program further away, you will have to work your way back to the regional TYC facility, or to a regional half-way house or parole. There has to be both a carrot and a stick. The carrot has to be a really good carrot, but the stick has to be real as well.
What I have seen in almost 20 years of TYC experience is a lot of extremely dedicated people working very hard in the institutions, but a total lack of creative imagination on the part of our political leadership. The ideas that I expounded above are not solely my own. There were some excellent people higher up the food chain in TYC who agreed - the problem has always been that they could not convince their political bosses; specifically that grandstanding, self-important, and all-powerful dean of the Senate.
On my campus the Supt., Assistant Supt. and the Business Manager used to park their vehicles inside the fence. Why shouldn't they park outside like everyone else? That is one change from the TDCJ imports I applaud.
And what does moving the privileged vehicles outside the fence have to do with the DOJ overseeing TYC anyway?
Personally, I think the feds should come and look at all of our institutions as they are today - and take over more than just Evins. Having the feds take over would be like a prayer answered. Maybe they could make some decisions based upon sound juvenile justice principles instead of press releases.
Hey can any of you confirm in the Valley that my best friend, Alex Escarcega (DOJ, BOP), is watching Evins?
Dude - don't tell me my boy had to shed the grass skirt in Hawaii to come back to Texas?
He's been seen in the Valley???
"Mule Driver.... call me." You know who I am... call me... I'm still there.... for now..."
It's like I tell the folks who complain about all the new surveillance cameras on campus - if you are doing the right thing you have nothing to fear and everything to gain from having the observation.
I don't think the cameras solve all our problems, but they help. The same applies to outside observation. I welcome federal observation of our operations.
All of TYC needsto be under DOJ scrutiny. Even the Texas Penal Code recognizes that having sex with anyone who is incarcerated is a civil rights violation, as is failure to provide adequate safety for inmates.
Alex Escarcega - you're kidding me! I was beginning to think he had fallen off the edge of the earth:) Alex spent alot of time out here in West Texas before leaving us for BOP. It's been a long time and we would love to see him out here! Now those were the days!
Alex is the guy they should have hired back to put TYC back on track
Hello Escarcega, goodbye TDCJ. The agency will become respectful once again with Alex as it's leader. He is one man that is respected and loved by anyone that ever worked with him. Lord hear our prayers. This is so uplifting, if there is any truth to this, I may just hang on a while longer!! Don't anyone pinch me. I like this dream!!
Alex is tough, smart and has all the qualities of a leader that I listed on the blog about attracting new employees to TYC. Plus, he is a really nice guy and he really cares! Mr. Madden, if you are reading this, please note! Old Salty
No amount of semantic games will change what is currently going on in TYC. Civil rights violations are occurring on a daily basis and no one in our (Texas') government gives a shit! A civil rights violation, like a rose, by any other name is a civil rights violation. If you have nothing to hide, nothing you don't want anyone to see (Ed, Dimitria), what do you have to fear? DOJ should not change its words simply so that the current executive administration won't have to feel bad.
To hell with semantics, try the truth for a change!
it has nothing to do with making anyone feel bad and honestly Grits it has nothing to do with rewriting history. It only has to do with avoiding future lawsuits. And you have to be honest, any state under any circumstances is going to fight federal oversight. it is a bit disengenious to say oh, they should just bend over and let the feds do whatever the hell they want to do. That is the nature of the relationship between state/federal governments.
The latest and greatest news out of Al Price;
Business Manager suspended
Principal suspended
Asst. Principal suspended
The sharks are gathering, whose next?
JOB SECURITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So who does that leave to run the show at Al Price? How about the DOCS and the HR lady? Are they still there?
Looks like a few kids at Al Price were so dispruptive they were transferred to Victory Field. They arrived today. Anyone from Al Price have any idea why they shipped them so far north? Sounds like behavior issues to me. That's just what we need.... 2 TYC facilities in the state falling apart just as two are in the process of closing. Is it just me, or doesn't anyone else smell BIG trouble?
Giddings and Crockett just got a bunch of them from AP as well. The Big Dogs were in Crockett today in a Big Dog powwow, with of course, Tommy B in tow.
Patience, the people in charge have a plan. We will get to a 12 to 1 ratio someday and all the youth will be happy on the campus because we will reward them with cookies and ice-cream.
@9:29 - So you think this is just routine institutional pushback and the state isn't resisting the civil rights abuse claims, as I suggested, because "they don't want litigants alleging abuse at the Evins unit to be able to rely upon that determination later in court"? I think that's exactly what's going on here.
Since most big TYC changes were put off until the Sunset process and it will take time to see if those work, 4 years is the minimum reasonable time for the feds to keep watch over the agency, IMO. Also, I agree with the commenters who say the whole system needs a federal monitor, not just in Edinburgh.
YES-THE WHOLE AGENCY NEEDS FEDERAL MONITORING: INSTITUTIONS, HALFWAY HOUSES, PAROLE OFFICES AND CONTRACT CARE.
THERE IS STILL DIRT IN AND UNDER THE RUG THAT NEEDS BEATEN OUT AND SWEPT OUT.
I think one of the first things I said is that it is to avoid future litigation.
It is not about rewriting history, it is entirely focused on law and politics.
Expecting that TYC should just bend over and take their medicine is remarkably unrealistic. I doubt you can find a historical example of a state not fighting tooth and nail on every issue related to federal oversight of mental health or correctional agencies.
And anybody in the attorney general's office who said, "Oh, ok. I think we should just let the feds just come on in. Whatever they say is going on must be whats going on, because we know the federal government is immune to corruption and political influences" would be out on their butt before they could shut their mouth.
Scott, you are absolutely right. The coverup in West Texas was engineered by one person. The real cover-up is on-going with the current administration. Did it not strike anyone as strange that a whole passle of decent, honorable and talented people were swept out the door long before the instigator of the cover-up? Could it possibly have anything to do with her close relationship to the Governor?
We need all the oversight we can get. If it is true that Alex is the fed who is in charge of watching, I think that is wonderful. He is an honorable man who also has experience at a fairly high level in TYC. He was with the agency before it went astray under Steve Robinson.
Those kids shipped to Victory Field and Crockett from AP. Are they within the "let's keep them close to home" concept of the lege? If this lege is reading this blog. Here is my comment, you as well as the TDCJ coup, have no idea the juvenile correctional system. These kids were moved because they were the problem, obviously, because of this, it did does not matter where they were sent, they just wanted them out the way, right? So, you are not going to practice what you preached are you? Of course not because circumstances dictate the course of action. Are their mommies and daddies going to be abel to visit them at Victory and Crockett? Will they be close enough to visit the darling children at these facilities? This was the major concern of the Pope. Has it gone by the wayside because she can make the rules and policy as she plays the game??
Shame on the lege! Shame on TDCJ, they should have the courage to resign and admit they know nothing about juvenile corrections! This is why the agency is chaos and turmoil.
Look for the most qualified people in juvenile corrections and hire them. We want TYC to succeed and become the top in the nation. This is an embarrasment to all tax payers and constituents. Admit defeat and failure and it let's go on. Post those jobs and hire the most qualified person for the job. It's time for the politicians to step out and stay out, but before you do, march down to central office and escort all TDCJ appointees out of there! So we can all sleep at night and know that the youth we care for will be given the chance at rehab.
@anon 1:27 - First, the AG IS saying let the feds come in, just for two years, not four, so your argument contradicts reality.
Second, it IS rewriting history. Civil rights abuses occurred. Stop mincing words. Admission of sin is the first step on the path to redemption.
Finally, maybe it's true that anybody who said that in the AG's office would be fired, just like anybody who revealed TYC's dirty little secrets under Dwight Harris didn't last long. If so, that's pretty sad. But they could leave with their head held high and their dignity intact. With respect to my friends in the Lege, the problems at TYC aren't fixed and many of them haven't even received significant focus yet. After months of bending over backwards to try to give them the benefit of the doubt, I'm increasingly convinced the current batch of TYC administrators, by all appearances, couldn't find their asses with both hands and a flashlight.
If ever an agency needed adult supervision, it's this one, and they're presently not getting it from their conservator.
Ouch. Well put Henson.... but damn boy, that was hard... "Couldn’t find their asses with both hands and a flash light?" Needless to say, my belly vibrated on that one!
Grits...I love the "both hands and a flashlight" comment. You have a way with words like no other!
Too harsh, whitsfoe? ;)
I wish I could say that was original; the phrase came (to me) from a now-octogenarian horse trainer I was close to growing up.
For me, the revelation that TYC brass did this State of the Agency tour and didn't announce plans to remove 10-13 year olds to contract care was a 'straw that broke the camel's back' moment. We can debate whether that's a good idea, but the only reason to do that tour was to inform employees what's going on. Instead they just blew smoke up everybody's ass.
Meanwhile, nearly every public announcement is retracted, then they always reverse course and blame the mistake on an underling. Now they say if you want to know what's going on, read the friggin Texas Register! I'm getting fed up with TYC management and I don't even work there!
Grits, that is the reason that I left. I saw no hope of reform under the new management and believe that only a federal takeover that cleans out the new management will solve the original problem and the numerous problems the TDCJ types and the friends of Kimbrough created and continue to create.
TB is about to go federal with his former supervisor, Escarcega, who is looking at the Evins situation. I bet if Alex is down there… tommy will go….
Grits, in telling you to "read the friggin Texas Register," you might remind them that TYC has not published anything in the Texas Register since SB 103 went into effect.
TB and Escarcega???? Thats like Laurel and Hardy, Lenny and Swiggy, Abbott and Costello, Bert and Ernire, please stop this irrelevant banter and focus on something constructive.
History will judge this past session as a disaster and please re-do their reports cards especially Maddens. All the praise he received after the session and where is he now? He left the ship and took the oars.
Amen, Brother Grits! Although in my little world of questionable witticisms, they couldn't find their asses with both hands in a phone booth!
Keep up the good work. Those of us who have been able to remain at TYC and not fall victim to the Papist Purge appeciate your candor.
We all know TB is just a flunkie that has managed to fly under the radar for a while. But it won't be for much longer. Sooner or later, the TDCJ Coup will find out what the field already knows! No one respects him!
Look at this... TYC has a flunk fest but forgets to invite its occupying force.... now they've turned on themselves. It's no wonder they're in the shape they're in right now....
Just a bit of advise TYC employees, ya'll need to hang tight with each other.... there's a keg in closet waiting for ya! Don't let TDC mess you guys up... their history speaks for itself… you guys need to take your agency back from these screwballs!
Uniboner, just how do you propose that we take TYC back?
Try this:
"The whole is greater than the sum of its parts." Get it?
Tha' Bone
@8:18 - I've been saying for months y'all need a really serious union. You never see a union rep quoted on behalf of TYC employees in all this year's coverage. Why is that?
Because what tries to pass for a union for TYC is only interested in collecting dues and pretending to give a shit about the employees they're supposed to represent. Kinda like Dimitria and Ed and the boys, only without threats and intimidation.
Having witnessed state union representatives attempt to represent employees or former employees I can personally say that the Union is incompetent, impotent, and poorly run.
Grits, TYC has had the state employees union available to them and have seen how ineffective they are...therefore it would take more than your thinking it is a good idea to convince us, not to mention we have a natural distrust in the sincerity of anyone claiming to help.
Jaded
No one said you'd have to join the Texas State Employees Union. There are other options available.
Explore. You'd be amazed at what unions can do. TYC folks need to realize you're playing in their hand by turning on each other like I've been reading. Not good because TDC is essentially dividing and conquering your agency.... Wise up.
Tha’ Bone
I agree completely whoever is currently representing TYC workers is doing a poor job, but you either stand together or fall separately. A lot of folks have already paid the price for disunity. Dozens was fired who weren't involved in the WTX scandal, and for the most part folks on this blog were the only ones saying anything! Y'all need a formal voice.
Ask the Bexar probation officers about what's involved in changing union representation. They had an ineffective union and ditched them. Last I heard I think they went with the Steelworkers!
Uniboner,my question was "just how do you propose that we take TYC back?" All you answer with is "explore" Such a BS answer. What political office are you running for? If you can't give a straight answer to the question, just don't bother. Your responses are worth less than a toothpick at a gunfight.
Thank you Grits!!! I have been saying all along, where the heck is the union? I did not see them at the hearings defending us to the committees, but I see that money out of my paycheck every month. The rest of you that are posting, we do need to get ahold of the probation officers and find out how they changed unions. Grits, any idea on who I could contact, I will do it and post it on this site if need be. Time to stop talking and do some action.
The only real power a union has is to go on a job action (a.k.a. strike). TYC employees are blocked from doing that by law.
"The only real power a union has is to go on a job action (a.k.a. strike)"
Hell, ask the police associations if that's the only power unions have!! There are lots of approaches besides a strike ... many, many, starting with a bully pulpit. Also, defending against all these improper firings, in court if necessary, would have been a good start. Finally unions are a way to engage the political process in a fashion you can't do alone. But it's not only about strikes, at all, if you've got good leadership.
Are you kidding me Grits? Are you talking about contacting the police in TEXAS??? We called in the Texas Rangers already. Look how much good that did. I don't mean to sound negative, but there is truth to what I am saying. If the Texas Rangers can't help us, I don't understand what any other type of state law enforcement is going be able to offer us. Maybe if I knew what a "bully pulpit" is it would help. Can you define it please?
Hey 12:53: What part of "The whole is greater than the sum of it's parts" didn't you get? Seems like everyone else fully understood where I was going with that - i.e. UNION - dumbass.;)
@6:26, I'm talking about the police UNIONS and their example of how to do politics without strikes - they're quite powerful. I don't mean you should call them to investigate crimes. I mean they're an example of a successful public employee union.
And a bully pulpit is a platform to speak to and educate the public. When Kimbrough and the Lege were dominating the press coverage, employees interests were never voiced the way they would be if your union was functional.
Maybe Grits can give y'all an active list of which Unions are large in Texas and possibly shed some light on the Texas Corrections Officers Association (if they're still calling themselves that). That is (was) TDC's Correctional Officer's Union, and they were very vocal back in the 80's-90's that I recall. I've since moved out of state, but hell, it's worth a shot.
What TYC employees might want to consider is luring back a high ranking/politically connected retiree to lead that process and get you flying. Nothing lends more credibility than being there, and doing it. So who fits that bill? My name search gives rise to a guy named Ron Jackson, possibly Steve Robinson…. But the most effective came up as a Sandra Burnham (based on most name hits). So who was Sandra Burnham and what is she doing now?
ACK, Uniboner! NOT Steve Robinson. He's the guy that ran TYC into the ground. Dwight was just his fall guy sucker.
Who is this Sandra Burnham?
Actually, Leonard Lawrence was enabling Dwight to do as he pleased long before Steve left. Steve does owe some blame though.
Sandy Burnam was Assistant Executive Director prior to Dwight. She actually would be an excellent choice for Executive Director, she tough but she had a clue, but she can make more money and less stress by acting as a consultant.
She was deputy executive director, under Steve. She was # 2 in the agency, and a very effective leader.
I can just see Sandy spankin' these TDCJ clowns outta town.... Hell, she was 6'5"... notta one of them would last under Burnham. She'd make her point, and then some.... a very well respected leader in Juvenile Justice. I'd love nothing more than to see Sandy come back! You hit it unibone. That's the one.
Sandy Burnham
She was honest, straight forward, and would answer any question whether you liked the answer or not.
This is something we do not have now and never will as long as these imposter's are "Acting" in their positions.
Hey, Uniboner, 12:53 says if you would state what you mean and not talk in code, if that is what it is as opposed to being someone without solutions, maybe I could understand you. You need to stop running for political office and speak English.
Sandy Burnam is a most amazing woman. She is firm, she is driven by her love of the kids and justice, and she was a hell of a woman to work for. She stood tall, not only in stature, but in morals and ethics, and she taught all of us who worked under her the meaning of "team work", "honesty", and "integrity".
I hope she reads Grits and comes to our rescue!!
I think Sandy left because she could not stand the direction our political puppetmasters and Steve Robinson were taking us.
If she were to come back as ED, it would take her a few months to get the ship to start turning back around, but if anyone could do it, she could. In addition to the other positive comments posted here about her, she has a mind and memory like a steel trap, and she is a very astute judge of character. She truly listens to what her subordinates have to say, makes cogent evaluations of that input and makes decisions based upon as much evidence as she can gather balanced against her vast experience. Even when people make off-the-wall suggestions, I have never known her to denigrate or disrespect anyone.
In a word - Burnam is a leader.
Semper Fi, y'all. Old Salty
Rumors have it that Alex E. wants to come home and help anyway he can. Something to keep in mind...........
Dear Lord, please let it be so! "Now I lay me down to sleep"...Dear Lord, please put it on Alex's heart to give us a hand...we need a cool head and a steady heart to get us back on track.
Do yall remember when Sandy used to shake her finger at you and give you that look? lol! I hate to say it, but I miss that now!
Sandy and Alex. Now that would be a great combination. Talent, integrity and leadership. Could we handle it? Old Salty
Hey Old Salty....stay tuned....this may happen.
We can pray. I first met Sandy when I was a new-hire going through pre-service at CSH. I had heard a lot of good things about Alex long before I ever met him. I got to work with him one time on a project and was really, really impressed. After the conference at which Sandy announced her retirement, I was walking through the parking lot and she drove by. She stopped, rolled down her window, called me by name (I was, and still am a relative nobody in the TYC) and told me to hang in there and do my best for the kids.
Yeah, I would love to see them both back and running things. Old Salty
There's so much negativity on this site, it's good to see someone mentioned positively. I've seen some good comments about Chip Walters, but who else do people think is a good administrator still at TYC?
I was told Tommy Bayes has been doing great work at CO, that he is all over the place. Have not heard about the other ones, Lukowiak, Jeanette, heck Williams did such a great job he was promoted to Superintendent at Crockett.
Anonymous at 8:33 - You're kidding, right? It gave me a laugh even if you aren't.
What's so funny? That J.W. was doing such a good job that he got CSS superintendent? I can't say that's funny at all.
Donald Brooks is a good supervisor at Victory Field. He always strives to do the right thing, and treats people with respect. Before he came to our facility the kids had about zero priveledges. He did a lot to change that, yet he also believes in holding them accountable.
Oh I agree with that as well. Donald, despite his illness, has withstood the test. I pray for a doner to come soon for Donald.
Seriously, if he gets out of TYC, it will probably add ten years to his life even if he does not get a doner. He is in my prayers.
Anon 4:22,
You need help if you think JW is a good Supt. He can't make a decision, he is scared of the kids, and he threatens staff with the "at will" rule if we don't do what he says when he says nothing!?!?!. What an outstanding leader. It really doesn't matter beacause rumor has it that he won't be at Crockett long once Pope's crony gets to Crockett as the Asst. and gets the dirt on JW so Pope go show him to the gate.
According to JW, his new assistant is going to have to run to catch up to him!
Meanwhile staff are sitting on their hands while the kids tear up the place, because they think he he will walk them to the gate if they do a restraint wrong.
But now they can spray instead of restrain.
They can spray only if they have been trained and certified. Very few at Crockett have had the training. The other day, one kid literally tore up a dorm, while 5 staff stood around and watched him. Fortunately, the rest of the kids did not feed in much. The staff all claimed they allowed him to destroy property because they were afraid they would get terminated if they put a hand on him. So they waited until someone could be found who was certified to spray.
If the new Assistant knows anything about corrections, she will take two baby steps and catch up to JW, then he will be history. DaPope will be all over him like the OC that we are spraying on the kids. Best of luck to you JW, better update that resume.
That's too funny, 3:49, but I agree, JW is not long for Crockett. TDCJ has more cronies waiting to get to Crockett, so beware.
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