In the Austin Statesman today ("Texas Youth Commission investigates leaks") Mike Ward reports on an inquiry into who released information about the troubled agency to Ward for a previous story.
TYC Public Information Officer Jim Hurley contacted me before I'd even noticed the piece! He wanted a chance to emphasize that the internal investigation was not invasive and only focused on whether anyone gave personal information about individual TYC youth to reporters. I'd like to believe him, but it's hard to tell from what we know.
It's not inconceivable to me that TYC higher-ups are spending their days chasing down leaks instead of fixing the agency. Lately they haven't appeared to have their eye on the ball, to put it mildly. One supposes they're focused on something.
Grits commenters in the past some have sometimes said that supervisors would scan the comments here trying to identify who said particular negative things about them. I've never confirmed it, but the complaint has been registered several times.
In addition, early on after the Pyote scandal broke and I began covering TYC more frequently, I received a warning from someone inside TYC that the IT department could identify which individual computers had been on Grits from the IP addresses on Sitemeter. In response I closed Sitemeter to the public. I don't want TYC administrators to have that information because it limits free speech and dialogue that contributes to solutions.
That said, asking someone whether they spoke to the press is a different matter than retaliating against them for doing so. It's one thing to ask if a conversation occurred or to inquire about the contents of such communications, but it's another entirely to seek to prevent them. Whether or not it's true, trying to identify who wrote this or that comment or uses such and such a pseudonym gives the appearance of seeking to retaliate.
I also find it odd that some witch hunt might be launched over what somebody said on the newspaper, when TYC employee commenters on this blog routinely rip the TYC administration a new one in much harsher language than in Ward's article. Hurley told me he has left a meeting at TYC, gone back to his desk, then checked on Grits only to find a commenter had already accurately reported on the blog what happened there! (Now that's grassroots journalism!)
So why would the two people who talked to the Statesman get in trouble, but not the dozens who comment on Grits?
Maybe neither are really in jeopardy, or perhaps both are. Jim Hurley assured me that there's no witch hunt, that they're encouraging communication by staff to the outside world. The folks who spoke with Ward are not in trouble, he said. And as for Grits, Hurley said he considers comments on this blog have been for the most part a positive thing and promised TYC would never retaliate against people who left their opinions here.
If TYC higher-ups were trying to intimidate this gal it clearly backfired; they're the ones on the business end of a bunch of bad press. Whatever the real backstory, maybe the incident will put an end to such foolishness.
What do you think - has anybody heard of TYC employees facing retaliation for something said to the press or on this or another blog? Let me know in the comments.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
.jpg)
97 comments:
The Statesman article says that the investigation started after the newspaper found out that 70 youth who were scheduled for release would not be released. If that is the case there is nothing in that that would be confidential youth information since there is no identifiable youth information in that statement. The fact that a set number of youth are not going to be released is not covered by confidentiality any more than TYC paroles X number of youth per month or that TYC is going to release Y number of youth because they "have exceeded the length of their sentences."
An investigation into who released confidential information on a particular youth would be legitimate (the news article does not indicate such a release.); however, the only way the present information release could be traced to a particular TYC employee is if the employee was stupid enough to confess or if the media or the legislators violated their word to keep the source confidential. A telephone record of a TYC employee calling a member of the media or the legislature is very circumstantial. (I doubt in this age of cell phones anyone would be stupid enough to use a state telephone.) I would bet Mr. Hurley's telephone records disclose frequent calls to the media and legislators. By what has been disclosed of the investigation's methodology that means Mr. Hurley is the guilty party, which probably is not the case.
I agree with Mr. Madden that TYC could better utilize its resources solving other problems.
Howard A. Hickman
Yes, And after the current "riot" at Crockett more institution level managers will probably be hitting the pavement via escorts out of the facility.
All that is happening, the retaliation, the mass firings only exemplify the gross incompetence of Mr. Owens and Ms. Pope. Both of whom should have never been give the jobs they have.
Pope should have NEVER been given the position she is in now... but isn't it temporary or acting to begin with??? She has her head so far up the crap channel that all hell is busting loose around her. She is limited in scope and vision and is NOT doing the job that she should be doing! That is why there is a mass exodus of outstanding and NEW personnel. She MUST go!
Did we indeed ever find out for sure if POPE made the racial Statement that Quote " TYC has been run by a bunch of WHITE good ole Boys" and they need to go first"? In a managment meeting. Mr. Hickman or Henson can you all find out if she really made this statement?
I think there is a investigation try to find out who leaked to the media which employees were going to be fired.
How can tyc argue that those employees were given due process if it was a foregone conclusion that they were going to be terminated before they were even given the chance to tell their side of the story.
@5:40 - How am I supposed to know?! I never heard any source for that unproductive line of attack.
5:45
There is a 3/21/07 Statesman article that states per TYC's favorite senator that there was a list of positions whose occupants were to be terminated.
Bill Bush probably knows some of the national people on the Blue Ribbon Committee. Maybe he can ask one of them if they recall the alleged White Good Old Boy statement by Pope.
I think we are maybe blaming the wrong people on the TDCJ takeover at the top. When Ed Owens and Dimitria Pope first came on board, they did not seem to endorse a wholesale clean out of the top talent in TYC. Then, I saw the video of Mr. Owens attempting to present his rehab plan to Sen Whitmire's committee. Whitmire jumped down his throat and told him he did not want to hear his plans, he wanted to see action. He then proceded to pound the table demanding to see heads roll. (It was quite a spectacle.) That was on a Tuesday evening. On the following Thursday morning, all those walking papers were handed out.
I think they did the only thing they could do under the circumstances - they hired people they knew to replace the ones run off. Who are the only people they knew in the corrections field? Their TDCJ colleagues. Voila -there we have it - a serious problem created by the resident Senate bully.
I think we can expect that even the brightest, most reasonable people in the world, coming into an almost entirely different environment from where they had worked for 20 or more years, would have been bound to make some poor decisions. This is especially true of those who came in knowing all the answers - but they are not all like that.
I think we who are long-tenured TYC professionals need to look a bit at our own reactions to these folks when they came on board. In general I think our new TDCJ transplants felt like they were entering hostile territory. Rightly so, since many of us, myself included, were very angry and bitter over the termination of people we knew and respected.
Whether we like it or not, things are what they are and IMHO we need to do what we can to try and make this thing work. If we take a truly professional approach, perhaps our new handlers will come to develop some level of trust in us. (I am preaching this to myself as well as to the rest of you.) Time will tell. Hang in there everyone! Old Salty
I think Madden is a funny guy. First, he raises all kinds of hell when we are slow to prosecute on criminal activity occurring in the system (Brookins/Hernandez). Then, when a different sort of crimes occurs where kids confidentiality rights are violated, he says we got better things to do. Humm. Makes you wonder if he or one of his staff members were copied on that e-mail that had all those names and committing offenses on it. That could have very easily been the case.
As a former employee, for some time now, I still hear about the little comments that staff, including administration, have said about me. So called "friends" have called or emailed, attempting to find out what I have said and report back to an administrator. Why such an interest in me? Sounds like a guilty/paranoid mind seeking to be cleared.
6:52
I also saw that meeting via the internet and you are correct, they ripped him a new one that day. I still have that visual and I also heard them tell him Heads are going to Roll.
In my opinon most of the distrust has come from the unknown. We are not and were not kept informed on our fate or mabye our fate with the agency. We are still not informed on what is going on in the agency. I think this has greatly added to the distrust of our new leaders and attitudes of staff. Maybe they will correct this and decide that we too are a part of this agency and begin to tell us what direction we are headed. If our jobs are at risk, then let us know to plan accordingly. I think everyone would rather know than to worry everyday about our futures.
We find out important happening from reading newspapers, ect. and this information we should already know about. That I believe is the biggest mistake they have made since the takeover. If they could change this practice, then maybe attitudes would change greatly.
Do not believe Hurley's assertion that the investigation is innocuous. If anyone is discovered to be "leak", he will be terminated. Do not expect a mere write-up.
Employees can now be terminated, ostensibly, upon any whim by senior management. There is no longer any "due" process, as an earlier commentator alluded to.
One characteristic of an incompetent manager is that she is easily threatened. And one who is easily threatened is one who will tighten down the screws on any dissenting opinion. This manager will “kill the messenger” rather than address the actual issue outstanding. It’s easier to stifle someone’s voice than it is to resolve the underlying grievance.
So much for “transparency.” [By the way, Grits, where is that FAQ you were promised? Still holding your breath?]
I am surprised that Grits’ blog has not yet been blocked by the IT staff (at the direction of Pope, of course). Technologically, it’s easy enough to block the site. I predict that this measure is looming. (Fellow employees, don’t be stupid enough to post a comment from work. Post from your home.)
And what of Hurley? Grits recounts an exchange with Hurley: “And as for [the Grits blog], Hurley said he considers comments on this blog have been for the most part a positive thing and promised TYC would never retaliate against people who left their opinions here.”
If those comments are so positive, why not implement some sort of open-forum WITHIN the facilities and CO? Why relegate the discussions to a blog? This is the new management’s responsibility, and NOT the responsibility of a blogger.
And, my fellow employees, don’t let yourselves be fooled: Hurley is attempting to cull you out so that you can be punished. CO WILL retaliate against the one who “leaked” the information. Have you known this new administration to be a merciful one?
And Grits, to address your query regarding why someone would face retaliation for speaking with the Statesman yet escape it when posting to your blog: It’s cuz your blog isn’t that important yet. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great vehicle for catharsis. It’s the equivalent of a virtual parking lot, where smoke-break gossip abounds. I just don’t know how many big shots are reading it. In other words, it’s not that threatening yet. But keep up the good work!
Signed,
ReVamp
It is time for the TYC people to take their agency back -- at least in the sense that Juvenile Corrections professionals need to run the Juvenile Corrections agency.
This is pure crap that the likes of Pope and Owens can even begin to make comments about "white good ole Boys" (Dwight Harris is black, Chip Harrison is black, Chester Clay is Black, Eric Young is Black, Ray Brookins is Black, and a number of key officials in the old heirarchy were black men and women.
The total ignorance and childishness of this "administration" is humiliating to the professionals who work in TYC.
It is time someone removed them and sent them back to TDCJ where they belong.
Dear Old Salty at 6:52pm,
I work in CO. Hence, I do not comprehend the challenges faced by the staff in the field. I cannot fully relate to many of the specifics cited by those folk.
But I do have one advantage over those staffers out in the facilties: I see these new managers in my hallways, in my parking lots, and in my cafeteria. I have sat in with them on a few meetings. I have met them personally.
Please, do not grant Ms. Pope and Mr. Owens any slack regarding the complexities of their newly-gotten positions.
Oh, boo-hoo for them! They were thrust into a hostile situation, with a demanding senator who continually pressed them for action!
Keep in mind that these people were already gainfully employed in high-ranking positions within TDCJ. Nobody held a gun to their head to assume this new responsibility. When they were offered these new jobs, they jumped at the chance to make a name for themselves and gain a higher rank.
They don’t blush when they accept huge big paychecks on the 1st of the the month.
So please, don’t have any sympathy for them. They could have easily declined their appointments, and they can currently resign from their positions as soon as they realize they are not qualified for their new positions (my fingers are crossed).
Signed,
ReVamp
The by-product of all this bickering and incompetence at the top puts a chilling effect on the operations at the facilities. The kids are forgotten. When this happens, all hell breaks loose. I wouldn't be surprised to see more suicides or a homicide or two amongst these kids in the very near future. When the cat's away, the mice will play. If this happens, Owens and Pope share the blame.
I have it on good authority that at least one CO employee was suspended and almost terminated for releasing info that they were not officially 'approved' to send. There were other reasons given for the suspension, but the 'leak' played a significant part.
This was over a different news story, so it isn't related to the current situation, but it sure leads me to believe that it is certainly possible/probable that such an investigation is taking place.
I am sorry but all this crap about "looking at our own reactions" to the new administration is offensive. Yes, they did come into a hostile environment and hopefully it will remain so. They knew what they were walking into and every move they have made has served to foster an ongoing distrust and lack of respect for their illegitemate leadership.
They aren't going to tell anyone they are losing their job until they can afford to do so. Their is no interest in the TYC employee, only keeping institutions functioning until TDCJ employees can be moved in.
During his pep talk about pepper spray Bronco Billy was asked why all staff weren't going to be given pepper spray right away. His reply, you can't make that significant a change right away, you initially have to start making changes among leadership. These people are not idiots. I can't believe i said that... They are idiots but they know what they are doing when it comes to institutional cronyism and politics. It is their world. Adult corrections is a haven for heavy handed, intolerant, and oppressive management. It has come to TYC. Their plot is not short sighted or short term. It is being implemented to weed everyone out who is not willing to just stand by and keep their mouth shut while they steal our watermelons, even though they say they don't like them.
7:51
No way. We got pepper spray now. Everything is going to be fine. We can just sit on our ass and watch them. We won't even need to talk. Just get their attention, make eye contact, pat the old pepper spray attached to the belt and smile.
And don't forget, there will be no problems with assaults. Especially after we send the bad boys and girls and their parents a letter telling them to behave or they will be in big trouble.
I guess this was Bronco Billy's bright idea after he learned you can't transfer general population, violent A's and B's to prison...
There was a direction from my department head not to talk to any reporters or members of the legislature. There is a personnel policy indicating that only knowledgable persons will talk to the media et al. There is no direct communication from top adminstrators to TYC employees. How is this different from what we've had in the past? Fear of retaliation? How about fear in general? When will we be able to deliver for the kids in our care and the public who expects us to make a difference?
Old Salty, your belief that by being professional one can earn the TDCJ people's trust is misplaced. I learned in the CO that these people are not willing to do anything with TYC people except use and abuse them. Merit will not be recognized or appreciated by them. Promotions will not come. Sound advice will not be listen to. TYC people and will always be third class citizens who will always be the "untouchables" - not even fit to polish their boots.
this should be interesting to "Grits" the new double standard for new versus old is when old staff violate existing policy they are terminated at will. When new executive administrators violate existing policy they dismiss it as all policies are currently under review. I'm sure this one won't hold up in civil court. Readers should begin to be able to provide plenty of examples of this in the very near future.
Whitmire said for heads to roll but he didn't say, at least in public, that those heads should be replaced by TDCJ cronies. Apparantly it's legal under conservatorship to hire without posting, but there's a reason agencies not under conservatorship have to post and interview: to have the best opportunity to hire the best person. But these leaders apparantly don't even care about that. And the more they do that, the more they are alienating the real TYC employees who work where the rubber meets the road.
well Grits,guess that means we are next... All i have to say is, they know where to find us...!
www.thebackgate.com
P.S.
any good lawyers out there looking for a big settlement?
If one person fears retaliation, then does retailiation exist? Is retaliation the act or the idea that such an act could occur?
This week Ms Neal had no problem role playing how to fire some one when asked about what it means to be an at will employee. Of all the things she could have said or role played in response to the question about "at will", this was her response to that question. She told us that she has actually had to do this 9 times since she has been hired at TYC. Additionally, she seemed quite proud of her idea of being very direct in her emails.(smiled and in a joking manner as she talked about it)
The demonstration of power and control, is not the only component of effective leadership. It is just powering and controling. Management by fear and control does not equate to trust and respect. Trust is not taken or gained by force. It is earned and given. Effective leadership also means gaining good faith from your followers. If you want persons to follow you on uncharted territory, you need your followers trust and faith in your abilities. not intimidation and fear of your leaders. due to trust, The populace will act in good faith even when the leader is absent.
Back to the original question of retaliation.
Does retaliation exist?
If a boat sails into the water and does not hit an iceberg, then does that boat have an iceberg problem?
If that same boat happens to be the Titanic and hits that iceberg, then does that boat have and iceberg problem?
If (one person)sails into TYC and fears retaliation at TYC, then does TYC have a retaliation problem?
Retaliation is the use of power and control to get intended results of compliance.
I am careful of what I say at TYC, I know others also feel the same way. We watch what we say and what we do for fear of retaliation and our jobs. We do not feel our leaders trust us or have faith in us. Remember that role play and those emails?
Whether retaliation has actually occurred or not, while TYC is sailing in this sea of ice crystals, We do not have to hit any of the icebergs for the problem to actually exist.
Hitting an iceberg would just confirm what we know is already there.
another shot of vodka is badly needed
p&p
Let me clarify my previous post. 1. I am not defending any of the imports from TDCJ.
2. I am putting specific blame on Senator Whitmire for the unjust treatment of many fine TYC employees.
3. I hold that we do have a responsibility to the agency and to our calling to give our best for the kids.
4. I am not guaranteeing that if we act in good faith and professionally that our new handlers will come to trust us (I am not a complete polyanna). What I am saying is that we will never know if we don't try it.
5. We have no idea of the abuse these folks have taken privately from bullies like Whitmire - but we do have the streaming video on the Senate archives as an indicator. There is also significant evidence that Whitmire and his cronies had a hit list.
6. I have heard conflicting reports from people I know and trust in CO about Ms Pope et al. I have met her myself and she struck me as being very nervous, and not comfortable answering questions.
My final point is that even if all these folks are completely evil, (and I don't think they are) or stupid (some of them definitely are) if we all give in to negativity, then the ultimate losers are the kids. Semper Fidelis means, "Always faithful." To Marines, that means that regardless of the adversity of the situation, we are called to always be faithful to our mission. I think that is a good policy for TYC employees as well. Remember the mission. Semper Fi. Old Salty
I understand that bad things sometime happen to good people.
What disturbes me is when good things happen to bad people. Like these new leaders getting high paying jobs.
These new leaders have had enough time to start making a change for the better. I've seen no sign of it and I doubt they're going to ever get the job done. What a complete waste of time these last few months have been. Nothing accomplished that I can see.
The only person left to stop this train wreck (Ms. Pope becoming the Commissioner) from happening is Governor Perry.
Do you feel better NOW??????
Hope you sleep good for the next two years under this leadership.
If you are investigated or harassed by administrative investigators or OIG for reporting violations, be sure you file a grievance. Even though the grievance process will not resolve the problem, when you sue the state it is required by most courts. Follow the grievance process all the way, until there is no further steps that can be taken. Do not back down on the grievance process, even if administration says it is not required. If the grievance is resolved, prior to going to court, be sure the resolution is put in writing. If the agreement is not enforced, continue the grievance process.
State and Federal laws give public employees extensive rights for reporting violations. Be sure you get the person's name and document the date and time the incident took place. Harassing an employee in an attempt to cover-up an incident is ILLEGAL.
Remember if OIG or administration are involved in a cover-up or official oppression, you can always report the violation to the Texas Attorney General's Office, or the Travis County DA's office, who have statewide jurisdiction on matters like this one. There is nothing TDCJ or TYC can do if the violation is reported to another government agency, including the state legislator. It sounds to me like someone is violating § 39.03 Official Oppression Section (2). Texas correctional administration who are covering up things are going to find themselves on 60 Minutes, in the court room, and hopefully in TDCJ wearing white. The state legislator, media, and citizen of Texas are sick of hearing all the lies, that is why TDCJ and TYC are under legislative oversight.
Texas Statue on Official Oppression
---------
§ 39.03. OFFICIAL OPPRESSION. (a) A public servant
acting under color of his office or employment commits an offense if
he:
(1) intentionally subjects another to mistreatment or
to arrest, detention, search, seizure, dispossession, assessment,
or lien that he knows is unlawful;
(2) intentionally denies or impedes another in the
exercise or enjoyment of any right, privilege, power, or immunity,
knowing his conduct is unlawful; or
(3) intentionally subjects another to sexual
harassment.
(b) For purposes of this section, a public servant acts
under color of his office or employment if he acts or purports to
act in an official capacity or takes advantage of such actual or
purported capacity.
(c) In this section, "sexual harassment" means unwelcome
sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or
physical conduct of a sexual nature, submission to which is made a
term or condition of a person's exercise or enjoyment of any right,
privilege, power, or immunity, either explicitly or implicitly.
(d) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
-----
Ronald Earle, District Attorney
Phone: (512) 854-9400
Fax: (512) 854-9695
509 W.11th St
Austin, TX 78701
------
Texas Office of the Attorney General
(512) 463-2100
Office of the Attorney General
PO Box 12548
Austin, Texas 78711-2548
greg.abbott@oag.state.tx.us
------
If contacting the people above doesn't work call 60 Minutes.
CBS News
60 Minutes
524 West 57th St.
New York, NY 10019
EMAIL: 60m@cbsnews.com
PHONE: (212) 975-3247
Scott et al: is it just me or do the job postings at Central Office seem a little strange? I realize that this may just be the impact of so many at once, rather than spread over months or years as people retire or move on.. but 3 HR positions at Group 16 (supt's salary level)... a contract attorney and a contract director. The postings are public, so let me know what you think. Also note that the Director of Security (at least 4 and possibly 6 openings) not longer require a degree... no change in salary, but a staff with a GED now qualifies for the same salary as a Program
Specialist, this just after TDCJ time started to be counted as experience for TYC JCO positions. Wanna take bets that most if not all Directors of Security will be coming in from TDCJ?
Grits, We at McFadden have been retaliated against for speaking up on your blog.I believe your blog has even been used as evidence in a termination grievance! So much for freedom of speech, even as anonymous bloggers we ( god forbid) might share views against the administration, and we get reprimanded. We have all learned to keep our mouths shut about posting on here, thats for sure. We even had a fellow co-worker say he called you trying to get you to tell him who was posting on here...can you say paranoid? So the answer to your question, YES!! We are being bullied into not speaking out here or any other place. I would think that this is a clear violation of our civil rights, but I have seen what happens to co-workers who speak up on injustice at McFadden and I have a family to support, so I suppose I will just shut my mouth until somebody finally hears my plea and helps us...I feel like I will be waiting for a while.
Hey Ronnie; whatever happened to your prosecuting the central office redactors and cover-uppers? I was told your office has asked KOSA TV newsman Mike Barker not to call anymore.... If you do not have enough to prosecute, so be it, we can accept that... but not letting the public know reeks of the same coverup mentality that created this mess.
11:39, Please tell us why the hell Lisa Cooke is still in her position then????? She was suspended for trying to control the students at McFadden ( which she had her "cronies" cover-up for her) They sure didn't ask ALL the staff! Then she straight out goes after a whistleblower, fires her, attacks her character to all of us staff and uses her as an example of what will happen to us if we open our mouths! This sure in the hell sounds like official oppression to me! But what do I know, I am just lowly JCO staff...
11:44, I noticed these postings today and also one for 3 regional managers. The regional managers' job description is wordy and sounds like a mountain of stress. If you are hired, they apparently want you be reponsible for everything that happens in the facilities within your region. It also comes with surprisingly low end, mediocre salary that requires extensive travel. I don't how anyone in their right mind would want a job like that, especially now with the direction we're going and the staff & management shortages across the state.
Concerning retaliation:
The recent closings of Marlin and John Shero (San Saba) were known about to the dynamic duo (Owens and Pope), yet they chose to attempt to keep it secret. UTMB was informed via email with the note attached not to tell any TYC employees.
At the same time a John Shero teacher printed up the text of HB1 and left it at the facility. Shortly afterwards Dr. Nance, former superintendent of education sent a message encouraging administrators at the top and in the facilities to go ahead and inform the line staff of the impending closures. She then resigned. She never made it clear that her resignation was to avoid retaliation or because she was threatened. But it is obvious that one, or the other was there.
Until the atmosphere of retaliation and secrecy is eliminated once and for all, This type of behavior will continue to occur. TYC hasn't changed a bit since all of this started. The grievance process continues to be absolutely useless and administrators are still being protected by CO.But when this all comes to light, hopefully heads will roll.But I believe that will include quite a few people so that is probably why it hasn't happened yet. But you had better know that once all of the empty positions can be filled, they are on their way out!
Old Salty, those of us that are tenured employees of TYC have remained faithful to the mission for years. Don't insult our intelligence. What we have not been faithful to, is the inane incompetance of our leaderships, past and present. Retaliation is now at its worst, becoming at will employees has given the leadership the tool to fire us on the spot to keep us from speaking our minds or exercising an independent thought; they don't particularly want to hear. This is now prevalent in central office as well as the field. Someone needs to throw us a life jacket if you want to save the sinking ship.
TYC has survived, not because of the suits, but in spite them. The field staff keep the agency from going totally under, although under the present leadership, we are pretty close to a diaster of yet unknown proportions.
You can only blame the legislature and the governor for the political games being played at the expense of many good employees, former and present. They should have the courage to admit the utter failure of revamping TYC and the appointment of unqualifed staff to run the agency.
Pepper spraying the youth, is not the soludtion. When they have the first allergic reaction by a youth or employee, the law suits will be enormous. This is what happens when egos are so hughe that the advice of tenured juvenile corrections staff is ignored and not welcomed.
The facility employees have witnessed so much in the field, from racisim to favoritism, retailiation to termination? Nothing has changed, it has only gotten worse!!!
I blame the former superintendent of West Texas State School, who was promoted to Central Office amidist the sex scandal, which he claimed he knew nothing about, for the mess we are in. He promoted all his cronies, (qualified or not) and protected them. Does it sound personal, you bet!! I witnessed it!! This is the very thing that the legislature needs to put a stop to!
So Old Salty, speaking for myself, I remain loyal to the mission and have for the past 25 years. Has the agency remained loyal to me, heck no! At least at my bank, they know me by name.
As I mentioned above, TYC will survive because of the field staff who give everything they have at each of one our facilities!!
As far as the tranparency thing goes, one can only laugh. We are not stupid, we are just not in positions to make policy or agency decisions!! Some of by choice and some of us because we did not pursue a degree! Not having an degree does not make one an idiot, as we have witnessed by the degreed idiots currently in leadership!
No, I am not a disgruntled employee nor am I a former one. But if the leadership ever figures out who I am, I may be gone for excercising "freedom of speech."
Whitmire, Madden, Hinojos, hope you all sleep well knowing what a good job you have done!! When finding out who leaked information to the press became more important to the current leadership, than revamping TYC, I guess we can rest assured it's a "job well done" and done and we can look forward to many moe years of a rewarding career; I'm sure this will improve our staff turnover.
Old Salty, the TDCJ crowd has been in power for nearly six months. Are you better off now than you were seven months ago? Are your fellow staff members better off now than they were seven months ago? Are the youth under your care better off now than they were seven months ago? Is the juvenile justice system better off now than it was seven months ago?
What makes you think anything is going to improve in the future with the same TDCJ management in place? If the TDCJ management had a clue, they would have listened to and used the TYC staff who knew what they were doing, instead of abusing them and hiring their cronies.
Just an FYI - nothing to do with Leak.
Powder causes lockdown
By Linda Stewart/For the Times Record News
August 11, 2007
VERNON (Special) - Emergency personnel were called to the Texas Youth Commission facility several miles south of here Friday when suspicious white powder was found in the mail room.
Wilbarger County Sheriff Larry Lee said three cadets at the facility received mail containing the powder. He said three employees came into direct contact with the substance. Two of them suffered minor breathing problems. All three went through a decontamination process at the facility and were taken to Wilbarger General Hospital for evaluation.
Lee said they were taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure.
The facility for teens in trouble with the law was placed on lockdown. About 100 cadets and personnel were affected. The sheriff said none of the cadets came in contact with the substance, but were included because of possible contamination through the ventilation system.
Beside the sheriff's department, Vernon fire and EMS, the hazardous materials command, Texas Rangers and FBI from Wichita Falls arrived on the scene. The haz-mat team from Wichita Falls was called to determine the nature of the substance, but no findings were released.
Lee said his department would conduct a criminal investigation into the incident.
To the person who asked if I know anyone on the Blue Ribbon panel: I do not. I am familiar with some of the members by name and background, but have never met any of them.
Bill Bush
Anybody have any idea what's going on with the 19 & 20 year old sentenced offenders who are STILL in TYC?
Novy is on the "Blue Ribbon Panel".
3:11, Novy organized the Blue Ribbon Panel and chose the participants. Reports in CO after the Blue Ribbon Panel first met was that it was an out of control circus with the participants trying to redo the Texas juvenile justice system nstead of coming up with a replacement for Resocialization.
Retaliation does equal Termination. It almost happened to me if I had not took a stand and hired an attorney. We still have crooked and corrupted JCO VIs' and JCO Vs' as well as staff who are still working where I work at. I had a run in with the Program Specialist who is no longer there(supposedly hit/slapped a student)who used her title for power and control on staff and students. The program specialist used her title with staff by terminating them and students by making their stay longer than necessary. Yes, she used intimidation and her threats on anyone who went against her. She treated you like an inmate when you are investigated plus she did not even tell you that you were under the investigation. She as well as others who are at the same level or higher try to dictate your life on who you can talk to and what you can and can not say. I told her that she couldn't nor will she ever tell me what I can or can not do. Well, you can see that this was not going well. When she pushed; I would push back. Yes, I have a family to think about but is it really worth all the headaches and suffering to have to put up with all the B.S. I really don't think so. I also blew the whistle on the dorm's two lead staff as well as the things that were going on but I was made to look bad. The Program Specialist at the time before the other took place was notified about the things that were brought in to the facility as well as having to file a grievance for the Prgram Specialist(S.D)sending the AM JCO V to my house to get me to come to work. You know how it goes: I confronted the JCO V at work and it escalated to the JCO V writing a false statement(after I told him that I had wrote a grievance against him and the program specialist)that I had used profanity towards him while there was a witness who wrote that I did not use profanity against him. The witness even stated that the JCO V provoke me into responding back to him. These corrupted people are good at getting others who are on the same team who are wanting to get rid of staff of their dorm to write exactly or almost the same statement of everyone elses. Well, I did hell going to the dorm every night wondering when I am going to be called to the office or to the admin's. office for counseling or another write up. You would think that having been there for awhile that there was never any problems then there are. Why, because I knew they were breaking policy and the JCO VI was allowing it. IF anything was questioned then the answer would be because that's how Mr. Steven's ran his dorm. Well, Mr. Steven was fired and was no longer on the dorm as the JCO VI and the current JCO VI was still following his methods. This is good one when any staff question about how they run things on their dorm. When you let them know that it's not in policy; the JCO V would respond by stating its a written directive from the Superintendent or her Assistant. Then you ask to see it or to be given a copy for file and their answer is by changing the subject to somthing else. Where is the local policy because nobody has seen it so it doesn't exist. Being under tremendous amount of stress and under a doctor's care, I took some time off when I got back I had to see the program specialist. The programs specialist put me on probation and on PM shift for talking about the situation that had happened to me on the dorm to the two staff that I had seen at the store. One of the staff told the PM JCO V and was instructed to write a statement. Also another staff who had came up to me while once again I was at the store told me that they were planning against me and to watch my back. This staff also wrote a statement against me but didn't write what she told me. Then I got suspended w/pay and not allowed on the premises following a week later receiving a letter of recommending termination because I had asked one staff why would she write a false statement and she stated that she received a call from the JCO V AM to call the Program Specialist. Well on the paperwork that I have received through Open Records Act stated that she went to the JCO V on PM about the conversation that had taken place at the store. So in other words this staff lied to me about not going to them first. So now almost everyone on PM shift writes either exactly or almost the same as what they were instructed to write. One of the students saw a female staff on PM showing the JCO V her statement if this sounded good to him. So yes, I know that if you are not in the click to go along with what they want you to say or write then be prepared to have a fight on your hands. Which in my case I did because I brought up to a Program Specialist(D.A.) that the JCO V was sexually harrassing a staff on his shift by asking her out repeatedly and she refused repeatedly. When she was asked about this she denied it and made me look like I was trying to start something. Not only did she told mel but also told another female which she worked on late night and stated this to the JCO V. The JCO V stated to her that she could and should write a grievance as being the 3rd party to it. When she was questioned about it she lied and stated that she did not say that and that it was me. So as of today I have nothing to say to these people who have done me wrong and done wrong to other staff as well. But I will continue to stand my ground and I still have my attorney. I am tired of being afraid and not taking any kind of action when they try to make you look like you are the disgruntled staff and wanting to cause problems. Well, there wouldn't be any problems to take care of if they would take their staff complaints a little more serious. But I leave this for all to wonder: If the JCO V is still bringing in his burrito and sharing with the youths to get information(bribery;extortion), or still looking up other youths(boys) information for the other youths(girls) on dorm which the girls are allowed to go in the JCO VI's office. Also is he still writing up false 225s on the girls like he did with the boys. The JCO V on PM: Does he still have screwdrivers in his backpack(navy)which stays on the facility in the houseparent office or the JCO VI's office. Does he still buys Equate Dandruff Shampoo, insoles for state shoes or erasers. Does he allow his other staff who has been there for a good while to bring notebook paper for the youths. Does she still bring her needles and thread, colored markers, paint for drawings and glitter. Are they still giving the youths popcorn or the empty bag for them to lick the butter out of it. What about the Kool-Aid that is allowed for them to have. Is staff still giving them pizza and nachos. Well, we will never know because they will always cover their tracks.
Hey VFCC staff, what's going on out there? What was that powder that someone sent those kids? What's the latest on that? Has anyone changed mail procedures? I haven't seen a directive on that yet?
At McFadden, the administrators and other staff are blaming and naming ex-staff for the blogs. Typical dysfunctional family, always finding a scapegoat. These people have even gone as far as saying that the FBI is investigating the blogs and "so-n-so" will be arrested. Since when is blogging a cyber crime?
It appears that it could be possible that some of the staff at a particular residential facility may or may not have a guilty CONscious.
Go away McFadden. We have enough problems in high restiction than you wannabes can ever imagine, and I for one am sick of hearing your problems at the "ranch." Close to Dallas/Ft.Worth - don't like it, then go. We have huge security problems in TYC "high restriction" institutions. We recoginze, as a whole I'm sure by now, you don't like your superintendent and others above. We got that, so harp on it? If they haven't gotten rid of her, what makes you think it going to happen by blogging on this site? You must be bored. I bet the fact is, you represent about 5% or less of our employees, but bitch about 95% of issues on here that aren't security related. Get real.
Anon 9:59 - you pretty much made my point. The Governor and the Legislature are to blame for this mess. And don't think for a minute that Owens and Pope et al are not running for their lives. Just go back to the Senate archives and watch the videos of Senator Whitmire's hearings - especially the "I want heads to roll" session. It was disgusting.
All I am saying is that no matter what they throw at us, we need to keep our eye on the ball. You and I have been around this agency a long time. We are all frustrated as hell, and with good reason. I am just encouraging everyone not to get so caught up in our anger that we forget what we are supposed to be about. I am preaching to myself as much as to anybody else. Old Salty
THANK YOU 7:50!!! You said it best to McFadden.
&:50-Old Salty....you made an excellent point as well.
Only somebody who is trying to control peoples views (Cooke, White, Lee and Hetrick) would be worried about McFadden complaining.You are all idiots and can threaten us or tell us nobody wants to hear what we have to say until you are blue in the face!We will continue to complain UNTIL somebody hears us!STOP TRYING TO CONTROL OUR RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!!You are making yourselves look like idiots, everybody complains about people and facilities on this blog, nobody else is telling people to shut-up..we know its you!! Pretend its not all you want! We know you have criminals working there and SO DO YOU! So keep it up....until you are walked out in cuffs!
Oh and PLEASE..bring the FBI on!!! I am sure they will be much more interested in how certain staff members did not get fingerprinted when it was required, or maybe how you have a certain staff member with a criminal assault record watching the students, or could it be the car theif that is JCO VI there??What about how certain events have been covered up? You all know what I am talking about, right? PLEASE..get the FBI involved!! Maybe a few polygraph tests and we can get to the bottom of this for once and for all! Not everybody can be controlled like TYC!
Just an FYI for any TYC employees out there looking at this site at work, they will catch you and they will fire you! Its happening! Oh, and grits, please correct me if i am wrong, but I don't believe I have seen any blog posting on here that would get anybody arrested by the FBI, Is this more of TYC scare tactics to control what we say?
I do not believe that the First Amendment has been repealed so any talk of an investigation by the FBI of this blog is stupid. As long as there is no child porn or engaging in terrorist activities, there is next to nothing that would authorize the FBI to begin any investigation of any blog.
Howard A. Hickman
9:35, here's my thoughts about that:
If they fire everyone that is reading Grits, who would be left to show up for work? Are they going to train someone 300 hours evertytime someone reads grits? I don't think so. Besides, if someone at CO would let us know what is going on more often than every 6 months, we wouldn't be tempted to find out by any other means.
Amen to that!
Thanks Howard! maybe you should tell Ms. Cooke that this is America and not some communist country, we were specifically told not to access Grits for breakfast at McFadden and I am sure if she had her way she would try to control us at home too!
To the person from McFadden who said a comment in a Grits post was evidence in a termination hearing, would you please email me privately at shenson@austin.rr.com to give me as much detail as you're comfortable with about why you think that, or ask the terminated employee to contact me?
Indeed, if anybody ever faces overt retaliation over something they wrote on Grits, please let me know. I'm not sure what I can do, but I'll guaran-damn-tee you I'll raise some hell over it. (Be forewarned, though, they probably are within their rights to ask you not to READ blogs at work, IMO, though I'm not a lawyer.)
Howard, my assessment is the same as yours on the legality of an FBI investigation. I can't even imagine what that'd be about. Nobody's contacted me, that's for sure, from TYC or the feds. Why aren't they investigating Evins, for heavens sake?
On the FAQ - I'm now told by Mr. Hurley next week. He said they tried to finish it by Friday but he wasn't happy with the product.
Best to all,
It must get pretty lonely when McFadden ranch employees understand that they can't hang with the big boyz.
It's like O2 starvation.
grits, you have email.
I don't understand why Mc Fadden is still operating at this point. It seems that history repeats itself at this facitily. Lets review shall we, 1.staff attempted to "warn" the administration about sexual misconduct at the facitily, but these warning was ingored. 2. A student reported sexully misconduct to staff members. 3.staff members done their jobs by reporting the misconduct to the administration (which cover up the abuse) 4.after law enforcement (Ag, Ig, Texas Rangers)conduct their investigations, staff members are then written up and one fired (to make certain employees "the fall guys") 5.Certain admimistration staff was suspended (ms.cooke) and her accomplace (karen lashbrook) secretly investigated certain staff, and continued to retaliate against them. Staff wrote grivences and none of them was found credible. 6. ms cooke is reinstated to mc fadden only to cover-up more abuse by staff. this time a supervisor (ms.lee) let a youth "suck icing from her finger" the excuse or statement was made "this act of affection was innocent" 7. all employees at mc fadden was notified by e-mail that this supervisor would be on vacation for a number of weeks. (i smell another cover-up), and again after another thorough investigation this supervisor (ms.lee) returns back to work from her alledged vacation. PEOPLE DO WE NEED TO SPELL THIS OUT FOR YOU, The present leaders at mc fadden are sick and the TYC is once again covering up abuse. im ashame to work for a facility or an agency that CONTINUOUSLY cover-up abuse and has VERY WEAK POLICIES in place. I HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT CRIMINALS are still employeed at mc fadden AND IF THIS IS TRUE AND THE TRUTH COME TO LIGHT WOULD YOU NOW BELIVE THAT THERE IS A MAJOR COVER-UP IN PLAY. There is no way that certain criminals are still able to work in TYC unless they are using alias names or did not give their finger prints. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE. IM TELLING YOU THAT MC FADDEN HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND THIS STORY WILL ONE DAY MAKE WORLD NEWS PEOLPLE.
Old Salty at 7:50, thanks for your comment. Because we have been around for so long, I trust that we are mature enough to perform our jobs without allowing our frustration to affect it. I get rid of some of it by commenting, just as so many others do, in hopes that someone that can change things reads our comments.
Freedom of Speech is a wonderful thing and our right to express our opinions is even more so. We are all in this fight together. To make TYC a good place to work without fear of retaliation or getting fired because we chose to exercise it. Our place of employment shoud be conducive to working without any fear of losing our jobs. The lege has made a terrible mistake in the placement of TDCJ administrators as juvenile correctional leaders and they need to correct it. Then we can move on to correcting the ones in the field. There are still many left who like to rule by intimidation and retalition. Our work is cut out for us. No one should give up, there is safety in numbers and if we divide, we will fall.
Let's hear it for the McFadden cheerleaders. What a bunch of drama queens.
If drama means telling the truth about a situation that continues to occur, then yes, thats what we are.You can put us down all day if that is what you want to do and make people think we are just a bunch of whiners. Keep up all of your comments trying to discredit us.As hard as you try to, you will never be able to take away our rights.
Thank God for scroll buttons.
I knew when Cooke threatened us with the FBI that she was full of it.Grits,I agree the FBI should be investigating Evins. We have an Evins guy at McFadden with a real colorful past. But they are invetigating blogs. Right.Another lie from the Mcfadden idiots.
TYC admin doesn't care what sites you visit from home or anywhere other than work.
They do care about what sites you visit at work. It is misuse of government equipment to visit sites for non-work purposes (that includes Grits, but isn't limited to Grits).
Misuse of government equipment is a valid reason in termination for cause proceedings.
So just be smart, read Grits and comment on Grits on your own time, and there won't be a problem.
8:27. I agree with your comments. But to be fair, firm and consistent, shouldn't this apply to ALL employees equally? We lost an employee this week ( he was terminated from McFadden for accessing a website from work that contained some inappropriate things)But we have staff members that continue to not only read and post on here AT work, but do their banking,pay bills,send emails to friends,we even have one long time employee that visited an adult friend finder website while at work, and he is still here!So, in all fairness shouldn't this rule apply to all and not just the few who speak up against wrong doing?
Of course it should. But to do that, they would have to monitor ALL computers access to ALL sites, and no one really wants that.
Unless you are really abusing the system, or they suspect you are accessing inappropriate sites, they don't just routinely monitor what sites every employee visits-- and that's a good thing.
However, if they are looking for reasons to get rid of someone, this is a really easy way. Most employees visit personal sites and read/write personal emails from their work computers.
So just be smart about it and don't abuse the privilege (and it is a privilege, not a right to access the Internet from a work computer).
That gets the reward:
http://www.jibjab.com/view/120780
My problem is why are we nit-picking at the good employees, but leaving people found guilty of some very serious criminal charges in positions to monitor these youth. Where is the justice in that? I remember our JCO VI telling us that she would only be employed for another month after our fingerprints were taken. She freaked out saying she had a long "rap sheet" Well, did she show up and get printed? Hell no! "special arrangements" were made for her! I would be willing to bet those arrangements consisted of somebody else getting printed for her or her just trying to slip through the cracks. Either way, she shouln't be around those kids.The guy from Evins either, he was removed from there for attacking a kid, has a "rap" sheet of his own and a hair trigger temper, but lets get rid of the guy visiting websites.Idiots!
lol! that video kind of sums it up. Too funny!!!
The use of computers is governed by PRS.01.31 which states, "State property is intended for use of conducting state business; however, personal use of certain information technology resources is not considered misuse of state property within the limitations provided in this policy. Personal use may be permitted as long as such use:
A.involves minimal additional expense to the State unless otherwise restricted;
B.does not impede the agency's function by interfering with performance of official TYC duties, operations, and normal work activities;
is not for private commercial purposes;
C.is performed on the employee's or non-TYC employee's non-work time;
D.does not violate standards of ethical conduct for employees or non-TYC employees; and
E.does not damage the reputation or credibility of the agency.
Howard A. Hickman
If people attacking the people blogging about McFadden would spend even half the time listening to their complaints instead of mocking them or calling them names, I would think that many problems could be solved, instead you play "I know you are, but what am I?" We are not in Kindergarten here. A facility is only as good as its leader. That explains why so many complaints by McFadden employees I would assume.
I thought the topic of discussion was the leak to the press, not whether or not McFadden has good leadership. Quit frankly, I agree with previous post. Take that excessive crying elsewhere.
Did anyone consider that the leak to the press may have actually occurred outside of TYC? That list was sent to TDCJ so what makes anyone so sure that the leak came within TYC? I saw that the OIG questioned some TDCJ personnel. My guess is that DPS' cyber crimes unit has been involved. It'd be interesting to find out who did it. We'll probably never know.
While we sit and tell McFadden to shut up, stop crying, I can only imagine that may be exactly what was being said to the staff that did the same thing at WTSS which started the spiril down for TYC. We just need to replace the players with Ms. Cooke and Ms. Lashbrook. How you can loose one Superintendent who ran a great program who stood up to Ms. Lashbrook and her negativity and retaliation and keep one who covers up. We all see what happen to Ms. Lashbrook's other favorite from Ayres House, the one who she is crying over how she was done soooo wrong for tampering with evidence.
I would not be surprised that the leak came out of the legislature of the governor's office. I know for a fact certain TYC/TDCJ administrators don't do anything without checking in and report every action to the legislature and governor.
I understand the agony McFadden employees are experiencing. However, if they are true, report them to the hotline number you were given. This will result in an investigation. If not, write your lege members until they have no choice but to investigate.
The article clearly states that the woman under investigation for leaking confidential youth information to legislators is Sandy Pickell with TDCJ parole. I don't think this will hold any water, since legislative staff have privileged access to what are otherwise confidential youth records. Howard, can you speak to this?
I think they should polygraph certain Madden staff. His comments in the article made me wonder just what he knows. Let’s see how they like that polygraph. But I'm just dying to know who did it, but even if they know, they won't tell us or make a big thing about it, unless of course, it's one of us. If that's the case, whoever did it will be publicly chastised, humiliated, and terminated. That won't be the case if it's one of Madden's folks.
Why is it that every time I think of Madden, I think of "Leave it to Beaver?" What is my unconscious telling me?
"and Jerry Madden, as the Beaver." That's his new name. Henceforth, we shall refer to Madden as the "Beaver." Man law.
Legislators have a special right of access to state governmental information and have used it frequently in securing information from TYC.
Howard A. Hickman
Here's why the Beaver is a suspect:
House Corrections Committee Chairman The Beaver, a Richardson Republican who is co-chairman of a special legislative committee overseeing the Youth Commission overhaul, said he was not happy about the investigation.
"They should have better things to spend their time on," The Beaver said in a phone interview from a legislative conference in Boston. "They should be worried about fixing the problems out there, not about who's giving the Legislature information. ... It's important for people to continue coming forward with information about problems, so those problems can be corrected."
Leave it to Beaver.
Someone should look into why POPE was buried at TDCJ. Something to do with state jails and illegal actions? Demoted from director of probation division to a "do nothing, never seen or heard from again division" that didn't receive any funding from the lege this year? (And Ms. NEAL -- her protege and accomplice in crime?)
Wasn't Pope's RED Division zero-funded by the leg this session? I don't see it in the TDCJ Org Chart.
Oh stop the creative thinking! You guys are nuts:
First there was Sponge Bob
Then there was Elmer
Then there was The Mr. Ed Show
Then there was Da' Pope
Then there was Bronco Billy
Now we have The Beaver!
I'm just wanting to know who will earn the title "Gilligan" in this outfit! Too funny guys!!
Well the Skipper is none other than Gov. Good Hair and GIlligan is none other than his hatchet man/special master Kimbrough
cept. in this case Sponge Bob as first used at Evins was meant as a racial slur. where's the humor in that?
I don't think Sponge Bob was a racial slur, I think it had more to do with how he dressed and looked, hiking those pants up and his physical build. He did look like Sponge Bob.
If someone looks like an ass, guess we just call them hole. Now that's funny.
No, we call him Patrick. He kinda had a big ass.
Ok so who has a big ass that needs the Patrick title? It has to be an implant, or someone who has infiltrated us.
Name your Patrick.
Houston Chronicle article today
TYC plan to use pepper spray on inmates draws advocates' ire
Mr. Hickman, I have a question about employees still employed by TYC with prior criminal records ( not felony) but according to policy can no longer be employed at TYC. Whats going to happen to them? any idea?
Guess who leaked to the news? It came inadvertantly through a global email to all employees and ended up in Mike Ward's hands...or so the CO scuttlebutt says.
If that PO's everybody then dig this: Teachers are fixing to get OC certified.
Oh Yeah!
Where's your homework boy?
I, HUH.
PSSSSSHHHHHT
You better have it next time boy!!
Yessa, yessa, Toby be a good boy and have it right away!
Oh what a tangled web we weave; when we practice to be lead by a group of stupids!
The email was from Bronco Billy and Mr. D.
Post a Comment