Here are several criminal justice stories I've covered recently on Grits for Breakfast that I thought would receive more play in Texas' mainstream media (MSM):
Texas' Top Narc Testifies
I was surprised that testimony before Congress last week by the Deputy Commander of the Texas Department of Public Safety Narcotics Division didn't receive SOME coverage, but it was reported more widely in Georgia than in Texas. He described significant changes in the focus of Texas DPS drug enforcement implemented after the "Tulia" debacle, giving "end users" no enforcement priority and finding new ways of measuring success.
Ten Percent of Texans Wanted for Arrest
The story about 10% of Texans having arrest warrants (mostly because of failure to pay high fees on common traffic citations) has received wide coverage in El Paso thanks to state Sen. Elliot Shapleigh, but nowhere else, even though it's a problem all over the state. In Austin the figure is 11%. I would have expected MSM statewide to localize this story for their communities, but nobody else picked it up. (See the "Methodology Update" below.)
Do Private Prisons Just Get to Do What They Want?
I'm still wondering why more hasn't been written about possible fraud by the Geo Group private prison firm (allegedly failing to provide contracted services to Idaho inmates in a rural Texas facility), and whether the Texas Attorney General will do anything about it?
Moving TYC Kiddies to Private Facilities
The Texas Youth Commission, which withered under the media spotlight this spring, now only gets coverage when they screw up, like the Abbott and Costello routine over which kids are eligible for parole. But an enormous policy decision - to move kids age 10-13 into private contract care facilities - has received ZERO MSM coverage, and indeed has been mentioned nowhere but this blog since Grits broke the story on July 12. Bidding has been closed for more than a month and the contracts could be let any day. Youth aged 10-13 make up about 1/5 of TYC's inmate population, so this is a pretty big deal.
What do you think is the over/under on when the MSM will finally pick up this story? Kathy says "never," but I think they'll ultimately have to cover it when TYC starts moving small kids to private lockups. My guess on the over/under question is 45 days. What's yours?
Will TDCJ Takeover TYC? Have They Already?
As one after another official from Texas' adult prison system moves into management slots at the Texas Youth Commission, I keep wondering who in the mainstream media will be the first to launch the discussion about why we're putting people with no juvie experience in these positions and whether TYC should be run like an adult prison agency?
METHODOLOGY UPDATE: With reference to the second item above, at the request of a commenter, I called Sen. Shapleigh's office to ask their methodology for calculating the percentage of local drivers with outstanding arrest warrants. Pretty simple: Call the municipal clerk in the town you're looking at and ask for a list of warrants on a given date (or just a total, if you trust you're getting good data). If they won't give it to you, file an open records request.
Then you're ready to make the calculation: Total arrest warrants is the numerator (X). The denominator (Y) is the most recent population estimates from the census. Then X/Y gets you the percentage in that jurisdiction who have warrants. (N.b., to do it countywide you'd have to include ALL municipalities and the JP courts - might be easier to start by picking the biggest town.) Crunch the numbers yourself then try to get your local media and politicos to do something about it.
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48 comments:
I want to have my own Arrest Warrant Project in Kaufman County?
How does one come by such information? FOIA/Open Records Request?
If the MSM won't pick this up, I think Grits Readers should try and gather this info in their county and post the results.
We in the public don't really care. The new Harry Potter book is out, and another attractive white lady is missing. We need more stories about homosexual rape, then we'd have something worth looking at. Who cares about civil rights violations, injustice, and corruption? It's boring.
Grits, Are you ever going to write up what happened at the Austin TYC dog and pony show? Also have you gotten any response to the questions you submitted?
The answers are "maybe" and "not yet." The pieces on the contracting were following up on leads I got from the State of the Agency tour, but I got sidetracked on writing up my notes. I'll try to get to it, but it really was a dog and pony show. On the questions, Hurley said to submit them for possible inclusion in a forthcoming FAQ being developed, and it hasn't come out yet. Best,
2 emails from this genius that definately cleared things up for me. I am glad that we are meeting CO expectations and that all staff are thorougly confused.
How do you say: WTF!!!!!!!
From: Billy Humphrey
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2007 9:21 AM
Good morning. I just read a report indicating that staff were confused about our direction regarding utilization of force. This is to be expected. My concern is that the report indicated staff at certain locations were spending a great deal of time counseling with youth who refused to comply with legitimate instructions. This is our initial response to a confrontational situation, but it is not reasonable to spend an excessive amount of time counseling a youth who has been given an order and becomes unreasonable and / or combative. Please be reminded, part of the stress within our workforce is the clear message from us indicating we are going to stop fighting with these youthful offenders. Nevertheless, staff must be properly trained and understand professionally what their options are and what we expect. Hand restraints are the next progressive response once verbal intervention has failed. When a youth has been involved in an altercation or otherwise creates a serious disruption, the application of hand restraints in itself usually prevents an incident from escalating. While you teach this to your staff, insure they understand what we expect as well in regards to proper escort techniques. We do not drag, carry or pull youth by their applied restraints from one location to the next. The right or left hand is to be strategically placed on the lower tricep just above the elbow during the escort process.
Please share with staff and forward any feedback to my office. Marty Martin is incorporating this data into our training literature.
BSH
AND CHECK THIS ONE OUT!!!!!!!!!
From: Billy Humphrey
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2007 9:21 AM
Good morning. I just read a report indicating that staff were confused about our direction regarding utilization of force. This is to be expected. My concern is that the report indicated staff at certain locations were spending a great deal of time counseling with youth who refused to comply with legitimate instructions. This is our initial response to a confrontational situation, but it is not reasonable to spend an excessive amount of time counseling a youth who has been given an order and becomes unreasonable and / or combative. Please be reminded, part of the stress within our workforce is the clear message from us indicating we are going to stop fighting with these youthful offenders. Nevertheless, staff must be properly trained and understand professionally what their options are and what we expect. Hand restraints are the next progressive response once verbal intervention has failed. When a youth has been involved in an altercation or otherwise creates a serious disruption, the application of hand restraints in itself usually prevents an incident from escalating. While you teach this to your staff, insure they understand what we expect as well in regards to proper escort techniques. We do not drag, carry or pull youth by their applied restraints from one location to the next. The right or left hand is to be strategically placed on the lower tricep just above the elbow during the escort process.
Please share with staff and forward any feedback to my office. Marty Martin is incorporating this data into our training literature.
BSH
Sorry, but I was so confuddled I posted the same thing twicw, same thing twice. Boy, is there plan successful, plan successful. Oh goody, look, no more searches. Yippee!!!! All the contraband a hoodlum could ever want.
From: Billy Humphrey
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2007 11:54 AM
This communication is to serve as guidance for facility administrators in reference to search and entry procedures at our front gate areas. TYC staff do not have to be searched each time they enter the facility. We will continue to require all visitors / volunteers to pass through our metal detectors and / or submit to the hand-held wands. Effective this date, staff assigned to any facility will only be subjected to searches on a random basis as directed by the facility administration. If pat searches are performed during these random, scheduled searches of staff, we must insure that those performing the searches are the same gender as those submitting to the searches. This also applies to any pat searches conducted on visitors / volunteers who enter our facilities. Under no circumstances should a staff member conduct a pat search on a person of the opposite gender. This does not apply to random / routine pat searches of our youthful offenders.
Everyone entering / exiting the premises must be properly identified by presenting the appropriate identification to correctional staff assigned to the control center. Please make sure we have sufficient staff assigned to these critical areas.
Contact my office if you have any questions.
BSH
Why on earth would they stop searching staff? Unless they *want* contraband brought in.
Yuck
Grits:
On these posts you have about fraud being committed by GEO and the AG of Texas should do something about it? Well, it's not fraud, legally. They don't pretend to do programs and then not do them. Idaho is aware of what is happening. They won't even pull the contract, much less file a criminal complaint. GEO is not able to hire people to do the programs in the rural areas. Granted, it's because they don't pay enough, but there's nothing criminal about it. And the state of Idaho is just as much to blame for not forcing GEO to live up to their contract, or terminiating it. At any rate, I hardly see where it's a case for the Texas AG. It would be an impossible situation, even if the AG office cared.
Don, according to the AP report, "Idaho sent an inspector to Texas only once [in the seven months between August 2006 and March 2007]. That inspection found major problems, including virtually no substance-abuse treatment, and a complete lack of Idaho-sanctioned anger-management classes and pre-release programs. There's no evidence the inspector's recommendations were followed."
So as I read that, Idaho thought Geo was providing services, discovered they weren't during an inspection, and then Geo didn't follow the recommendations to live up to the contract. Idaho surely should have done a better job monitoring the contract, but if Geo accepted payment for services that weren't provided, I don't see how it's different from any other service promised, contracted for, paid for, but never performed.
Hey! I know where TYC will house the little ones! Why, on "Kid Nation" of course!
No, not "Kid Nation"....it'll be more like "TDJC 'R' Us"...oops, wait...I think it is already is!
Oops again...I meant TDCJ not TDJC
IMHO the reason MSM doesn't pick up on TYC stories is that prisoners don't buy anything from MSM advertisers.
The incarcerated are invisible members of our society, the MSM can easily ignore their plight.
Prisoners and their families are mostly poor and consequently powerless in this capitalist country.
Sex, drugs and rock and roll sell papers. The only reason TYC got any coverage at all for the Peyote scandal was that there was an element of sex.
It is the job of the courts to protect the legal rights of every citizen, even poor and inprisioned ones.
Unfortunately, the invisible prisoners rights and needs are far too easy for everyone to ignore.
2:39/2:42, I've got plenty of feedback for that Humphries! Where do I get a copy of that administrative directive????
Grits, answer this question.
I have worked at Al Price and recently have seen the Superintendent, Assistant Supt., Principal, Asst. Principal, Business Manager, Director of Security, three Maintenance staff walked off the campus. And what do we get?
A Director of Security from San Saba as our new Assistant Superintendent, and a Superintendent from West Texas who came to us today where he has been in the Assistant Superintendent job for 6 months.
I'm all for benefit of the doubt but come on do we really want this facility to continue to fail. Putting these two men in positions where they have no idea is reckless. We have found shanks on campus, two youth were shanked this past week, we are not safe.
Is this the intended consequences of our elected officials?
Your elected officals could care less. That's why you need to get out the vote. TYC is worse off today than it used to be. Nothing simple as that fact... thanks Cheuy, Whitmire, and Madden. You've proven youselves once again. WORTHLESS.
First, can I just check that by MSM you mean Main-Stream Media? Otherwise I have no idea what it means!
OK, next, Joe Public doesnt care about anything that doesnt immediately effect them. If they have no loved ones in TYC/TDCJ and they dont work in any of the agencies, then they are only concerned with their own jobs, healthcare, church and what they do at weekends. The secretive culture you have over there (particularly in TX) means that still people dont tell neighbours or friends if they have a loved one in prison/jail, so the topic isnt a hot one for dinnertime discussion. And because of that, they have little idea about how to challenge the system, or what to do if the agencies overstep the mark (or even how to recognise when it happens).
The media is only concerned with sensationalism because that's what sells. They are unlikely to run stories about "this is what could/will happen if things dont change" but will wait til the thing IS happenning because it makes better news. If you want things to change, you have to be more visible in other areas.
Well, I don't know if this qualifies as "mainstream media" but I am with an independent production company working on a documentary about TYC. We've talked a good bit with incarcerated kids and their families, and are always looking for input from TYC staff, too, especially frontline staff. If anyone is interested in being interviewed, or wants more information, you can e-mail me at tycmovie@yahoo.com.
If Billy Humphrey is over all of the institutions and halfway houses, then why do we still need the administrator of halfway houses?
So that person can do the work and he can enjoy his Vacation Job.
Just an FYI on Steve Robinson(TYC)
Published: July 24, 2007 12:33
The Huntsville Item newpaper
Jay Ermis Managing Editor
For the fourth time since 2000, Walker County residents could see a reduction in the effective tax rate.
Also Monday, the court:
• Heard presentation and workshop by M.G.T. of America Inc. concerning jail issues - Alan Pollock, Senior Partner for MGT's Criminal Justice and Public Safety Practice,
Gary Johnson, Senior Associate (retired TDCJ Executive Director),
Steve Robinson, Senior Associate (retired TYC Executive Director),
Wayne Scott, Senior Associate (retired TDCJ Executive Director).
Just an FYI
More TYC Heads Roll
Seven officials at the Texas Youth Commission facility outside Beaumont were notified today that they would be terminated, just a day after three top officials at the jail were suspended.
Agency spokesman Jim Hurley said the seven employed at the Al Price Unit were given notice because, "We have no confidence in their ability to manage."
He said he could not go into specifics.
Agency officials paid a visit to the 312-bed juvenile jail last week and discovered young offenders milling about on a rooftop, unsupervised.
** Agency Officials saw this?????
The seven employees incude the principal, assistant principal, business manager, purchaser as well as maintaince staff.
Suspended with pay yesterday were Kim Fowler, superintendent, Stephone Coward, assistant superintendent, and David Cunningham, director of security.
Lets see... 7 + 3 = 10 !!!!
FYI..... about Mickey Neel, who was recently hired by the Texas Youth Commission as chief of staff.
Another Cozy Arrangment? San Antonio Lawmaker Again Makes News
Rep. Robert Puente swore last month he'd give up all business dealing with his long-time buddy, Marc A. Rodriguez, a water lobbyist who frequently appears before Puente's House Natural Resources Committee.
"I made a mistake," Puente told the Express-News when news broke of his cozy business dealings with a pal who represents water interests before him.
Puente, D-San Antonio, may have severed his business relationship with Rodriguez but he hasn't severed his ties to the Rodriguez family.
Today, Puente confirmed rumors that he's turned over his Austin apartment to (drumroll)
Rodriguez's mother-in-law,
Mickey Neel, who was recently hired by the Texas Youth Commission as chief of staff.
After uttering an expletive when asked about it, he said: "The apartment I gave up at the end of the session. She took over. She's paying for the apartment."
Puente deflected questions about the arrangement he has with Neel, except to say that she was not directly paying him for the unit at the State House on Congress Apartments.
Asked whether he would reclaim the apartment when he (presumably) returns to Austin for the 2009 session, he said: "If it's available. If she stays until I need it."
Puente was clearly not happy being the subject of so much scrutiny.
"When does this end?" he wanted to know. Stories like this, he said, "fan the flames."
As we've reported, Puente has taken big steps to separate his personal life from his public office.
After the unflattering news stories hit, he divested himself from a $140,000 land partnership with Rodriguez and bought back a house he sold at a profit to Rodriguez for the purchase price of $70,000.
It's a start. But he remains under a magnifying glass.
(photo: Rep. Robert Puente, 2005, AP/Harry Cabluck)
Posted by Lisa Sandberg at July 20, 2007 02:04 PM
Comments
This man has got to go. He has lost sight of where his private business interests end and the taxpayers' business begins. The worst of it is, he still doesn't seem to have a clue. Maybe these kinds of ethical lapses are just par for the course among the corrupt Craddick cronies he has curried favor with.
Posted by: Clean House at July 20, 2007 03:47 PM
I have spoken with many of my fellow JCO staff at the Texas Youth Commission San Saba Unit and Marlin Units and believe most of us will go to work for TDCJ rather than stay with an agency that has little or no respect for us.
The staff from TDCJ that came down and spoke with us were positive and answered questions. This could be a front on their part but at least it's better than what we have been getting at TYC, "NOTHING".
Not one of these staff from TDCJ asked us to be on a committee or submit our questions so they could be answered later on. They took the time and treated us as if we were wanted. I hope TYC can find the staff to fill their vacancies because come September 01, 2007 we are moving on.
Grits: Back on the Idaho and GEO situation. As I mentioned before, I worked in programs for GEO at the Littlefield facility, where most of the 400 Idaho inmates have been since last August. Idaho receives daily reports on classes, attendance, programs, etc. They know from minute to minute exactly what is going on and what isn't. They also came more than once during those months. And the Warden at Dickens County was fired, after all. As I said, I'm not defending GEO; much of the criticism is deserved. But the state of Idaho is not being deceived. Geo explains to them the difficulty of hiring professional personnel, which is true, and they let it go. It is their responsibility to enforce their own contract. GEO is a bottom-line oriented company. They are publicly owned and very much interested in the dollar, above all else. The facility at Littlefield had at least a minimum of the required programs, and Idaho was generally pleased with them. Granted, GEO could do a little better if they paid better, but try to get a certified teacher to work at a private prison in Spur or Littlefield Texas, or an LCDC. GEO deserves a lot of blame, but they also deserve accurate reporting.
Grits for Breakfast, I really admire your work. It's almost too scary for me to read about this -- I thought being trapped in FL was the worst fate a person could suffer. That thing about warrants for ten percent should be criminal. If people can't afford to pay their fines they should not be held up for them as though we now have debtors' prisons.
grits you're AMAZING !
Thanks Don. I'm certainly not trying to be unfair, I was basing my comments on what's been reported in the press. Your added information is helpful. But I still wonder about this: "Geo explains to them the difficulty of hiring professional personnel, which is true, and they let it go." That doesn't sound kosher to me. Why isn't Geo's contract fee reduced by the amount the programming was supposed to cost?
Also, the media reports seem to contradict the assertion that Idaho was informed "daily," though you're more likely to know than an AP reporter if you worked there. Maybe it's just CYA, but Idahoans are saying to the press they did not have that data.
Any other detail you can provide on Geo operations, Don, please do. I appreciate you keeping me honest.
And to Vox - thanks so much for the nice compliment. I needed a pick me up today. :)
To Grits: Scott, all the comments about why no MSM response seem accurate. Would you consider this proposal: having Grits published in two small local papers near a TYC facility, using your info and/or selected comments, on an op-ed page? With a suggestion to go to grits online for additional information or comment? Some stories do get picked up by the big boys if they see it in print.
Scott: I agree with you and have since we started this discussion that GEO's contract per diem should be reduced by whatever is being paid for programs that are not available. But it is up to IDOC to do that. The Dickens County facility apparently did go for months without any programs, but they were ostensibly looking for people to work in them. They posted openings on their web site and ran ads. I don't know as much about Dickens County as I do Littlefield, but GEO policy is the same. As I said, we did have programs at Littlefield, and we were tied into a network with IDOC contract monitors and education people. IDOC gave us a format to report daily attendance to all programs, with the names and ID numbers of individual inmates, just like a public school reporting to a monitoring agency. IDOC was getting into trouble themselves after the stuff hit the fan over the escape and suicide. You hit it on the head when you said CYA. There is no way that they didn't know the status of the programs at both facilities. The AP report interviewed the fired warden, and quoted him saying he couldn't get funds to do anything. That is not true. Why could the Warden at Littlefield get anything he wanted but the one 100 miles away couldn't get anything? The AP report was apparently trying to cast GEO in the worst possible light, and let IDOC off the hook. Why, I don't know. There has been a lot of negative publicity about GEO and private prisons in general, and as I said, much of it is deserved. But I will say this: I have worked for TDCJ, and I worked for GEO. If I were an inmate, I had 10 to 1 rather be in BCDC at Littlefield than any TDCJ facility I have ever seen. The place sparkles, and inmate morale is better than I have ever seen.
It is rumored - because we have no fact - that CO must fill all superintendent and assistant superintendent vacancies by 8/1/07. Because there is a "big superintendent meeting in early August." So they are trying to put whatever is out there in the facilities - of course after they have laid all any and all experienced leaders. Look at Al Price, as mentioned above - although Fowler was an an incompetent idiot and needed to go! Look at Crockett! They have a CO idiot in charge that needs to go too! Where is someone that REALLY gives a damn.
Lets not forget the lack of professional supervision at McFadden Ranch.I hope CO see's this and realizes that for such a small facility we have such turmoil here! Give us a decent superintendent or shut us down!!! It is just a matter of time till we make the front page of the DMN or Star Telegram...we have such racial tension that it is a dangerous place to work...can't somebody help us?????
Spearshaker, I'd be happy to do that - who'd you have in mind?
Grits:
I will write to your address with a phone number and e-mail of managing editor.
Great idea spearshaker! Keep us posted on those newspapers.
It seems like McFadden Ranch comes up one way or another on every one of these blogs. Quite frankly, I'm getting a little tired of hearing these folks air out their differences on Grits. Get a life, people! This is not just about you!
Thank you 12:04...I brought this up on another blog...and was told (obviously by McFadden folks) that I should just skip over their arguing if I didn't like it. That would be just fine with me if there weren't so much of it!!!
I'm glad someone else besides me is also tired of the childish McFadden arguing. It's so rude!!
12:04 and 4:39 ( if you are not the same person)many people vent on here about numerous facilities. Why don't you stop trying to "control" everybody and maybe you would live a happier life. My guess is that the only people complaining about McFadden comments are the people that are being complained on. What I find annoying is people trying to take away others civil rights. Ever heard of Freedom of speech? So, no need to keep telling people how "rude" they are. Just don't read it or ignore it.
thank you 11:11! I know that the people who wrote those comments were indeed McFadden Administration. See, they think that if they can make us think people are sick of hearing us, we will just stop writing. But this is fair warning to Cooke and all her flunky's, we are not going to stop! So, Cooke, keep parading around and being sweet as pie to us and hope we forget about all of the bad things you have allowed to happen at McFadden.It ain't happening! You would think that after being suspended after trying to interfere with investigations that she would have learned her lesson and stop trying to control us, but she hasn't.Charma is a real bitch, ain't it Cooke? You are making a fool of yourself! We all know that you should have been fired for your participation in covering up the sexual abuse. You have fired a whistleblower, you have lost 2 of our JCO V's because they won't be a part of your dirty work, you have covered up abuse by a staff member with a criminal record. Whats next Cooke? Tell us please! Are you going to have Lee bring in some more of her buddies as volunteers so that they can touch the boys and then tell them not to tell us staff? Like I said before. Charma is a bitch.
All our superintendent did was allegedly use the mail system in the wrong way and she is still out! How does this happen that somebody like this Cooke person can keep their position? It is a double standard!
Don't stop posting Mcfadden employees! We all want/need to hear what you are going through up there! Its great to know that people are still standing up for right in this messed up TYC system.People from every facility are on hear argueing/complaining and you don't see any of their administartors on here trying to keep them quiet.We were not born yesterday, we know the people that are bitching about the childish behavior are really the ones who created the problem. Keep up the complaining Mcfadden, hopefully somebody will see this and fix it for you!
well just got an email that Lara Foronda is out! Hmmm? Where will Lashbrook hide now? They are coming for you Karen!Oh, and I sure hope Cooke kept her boxes packed, i hear she is next! Justice will prevail!
I am anon 12:04 and I am not the same person as the one who posted 2 days later before me. I am also not an administrator, nor have I ever been to McFadden.
What I object to is all the personal attacks and the bickering back and forth between what it seems like are the same people, saying the same things over and over and over ad nauseum.
5:55, that is why I live in america. Here, you are allowed to say what you want, when you want to. If it bothers you so badly, please don't keep responding about how childish we are being. We employees of McFadden will continue to post complaints until somebody hears them and does something about them!Since you have never been to Mcfadden, or so you say, you have absolutely no room to complain about anything anybody says about it. Work there for a week and tell me then I have no reason to complain!My guess is you are one of the sneaky bastards that hides in the office and looks at this website talking shit about the people you have fired and gotten rid of! Stop trying to control us Cooke!
555 Why don't you complain about all the people from Crockett on here attacking others? Or the ones from Giddings? Or Al Price? Why don't these bother you just as much? Because from what i have seen, these people attack far more people then the McFadden employees. Why is Mcfadden so personal if you have no interest in it?
7:15,Thank you. Isn't it sad that people that have never met Cooke can see right through her?
THe folks posting about the other locations are not saying the same things over and over, and for the most part they are not calling each other out on the blogs. You all have made your point - you don't like Ms Cook and the people who support her. We all get that. Some JCO VI there is inappropriate with kids and is still there. We get that also. What else is new?
Sounds like 8:28 should look into some type of therapy for anger management....just can't seem to get over it.
Tell EVERYONE that you know ( and don't know for that matter)!!
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/TXDRP07/petition.html
~Many thanks!!!
Tamara Shippy
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