Departing Youth Commission conservator Ed Owens ducked today's House Corrections hearing due to a family emergency, but TYC has finally produced his long-awaited conservator's report. It's now posted online on the agency's website.I haven't read the full thing, but this line jumped out at me:
"During the period of assessment by the consultant hired to examine the agency’s executive administrative operations, the culture was characterized by mixed value systems, a top down communication system, an attitude of indifference towards subordinate staff and agency customer base, indecisiveness and ‘absent leadership.’"Uh ... do you think? That's quite a statement to make about your own management as you're skulking out the door!
The report also includes this document giving the self-reported status of implementation of the State Auditor's report from this spring.
UPDATE: After an unusual overnight delay, the archived video from yesterday's House Corrections Committee hearing is now online.
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52 comments:
The illustration should have been the ostrich with its head up its arse.
Grits,
I just scanned the report, and unless I've missed it, there is practically no factual evidence, either anecdotal or statistical, to support any of the assertions made.
As far as I can see, it is merely a statement of desirable policy goals and a declaration of where TYC is in progress towards achieving them, but without any evidence of those claims to progress.
Prove me wrong, someone, please.
Bill Bush
In the words of the "Pope" I'll have to get back with. Let me check with my staff. I could be wrong but if so I'll follow up with a report!!!!
This is sad, after how many months in this position and still clueless.
Nothing this woman said was credible. So full of "I am," "I will," and "let me check my notes."
At least the ombudsman is hiring people according to TYC policy and not bringing in all his cronies. Will, dude, we respect you for that!
I think many of us agree that Will Harrell is a respectable guy. I dig all those guayaberas, too.
It was ironic for him to lay out the proper way of hiring people. I bet Pope chuckled to herself, "ha! what hiring policies?! Sucka!"
What TYC Needs is professionals who have worked with juveniles prisons, not someone who only talent is playing up to get promotion. As a TYC employee and having direct meetings with Ms. Pope I have seen her lie on three diffrent occassions. I am quiting TYC becuase I can't stand the lack of integrity, and lying to feather there own bed. I was lucky I found a job, but I know other's who are stuck there becuase they have families to support.
Dear 7:37pm,
Many of us are desperately trying to follow suit. But jobs are hard to find. Please wish us luck.
I'm sure the three times she lied, it was because she didn't check her notes before she spoke! Let's get real, she's lied at the hearings and she will continue to do so! Soon, she will not be able to keep up with them! I don't think those reps fell for one thing she said!!! At lease, let's hope that had that much sense!
Man, I don't know. I am worried about the state of the Lege, and the state of the State that the Lege governs. Looks like they fell for her crap hook, line, and sinker. Please get out and vote the fools out of office.
Yeah, I just read the report. Basically it says, "I created a bunch of BS positions (i.e. regional directors) so I could hire all my buddies from TDCJ that don't know crap or give a crap about juvenile justice". In addition, the ever so wise Mr. Owens goes on to say that "we are trying to comply with SB 103, but I am getting the hell out of here since we haven't been able to, nor do I have the leadership capabilities to get us in compliance". "Therefore, I am leaving it in the incompetent hands of Ms. Pope who will further screw up this Agency." "abiabiaibia That's All Folks".
I agree. NOT A DAMM THING IN THE REPORT. real smart guy. good thing he did not show up today.
JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
COMMITTEE:
Operation & Management of the Texas Youth Commission
TIME & DATE:
10:00 AM, Monday, October 29, 2007
PLACE:
E1.036 (Finance Room)
CHAIR:
Sen. John Whitmire and Rep. Jerry Madden
Well I guess the Superintendent at Mart Unit II will be in the hot seat next based upon this quote from the Waco Tribune, "Currently, officers have to work overtime to meet the standard at the orientation unit. At the second Mart unit, which operates as a long-term stay facility, the ratio is closer to 16 to 1, Superintendent Curtis Simmons said".
This is not what the Pope said in her briefing yesterday Mr. Simmons are you not a "Team-player", have you not learned the way to survive in todays TYC is to lie and go along with the leadership?
Another interesting piece out of this article is how Braly the Superintendent attempts to sugar coat or put a positive spin on the length of stay at the orientation unit Mart I. She states youth will only be held for 30 days unlike in the past up to 60 days because they want youth to adjust sooner to their new environment. What she really means is we want the youth out of here quick because we do not have the capacity to hold youth and do a good job of assessing youth to ensure they get sent to the right facility that would meet their needs.
The agency's focus should not mirror TDCJ and push these youth out like a bunch of cattle with shoddy assessment but rather proper assessment and services to ensure youth are moved to campuses where their needs are met.This is just another step and more lies spewed to the unknowing public.
So yet another hearing will be held on the 29th? What's the point? These legislators already have their minds made up about the situation.
I, too, am thankful I found a job outside TYC. I am writing a book about my experiences there, and would not mind including some of the other insiders experiences as well.
Dwight Harris was not a bad guy, he just was indecisive and left all of his operations to his second in command, who should have never been give the job.
Da Pope and her continued lying needs to be brought to the committee, repeatedly, like Chip Harrison's continued employment with TYC was brought up to The former Acting Executive Director. (I have been gone long enough to start forgetting names,)
It won't happen because the committee wants to sunset TYC and it's mission. Those rich bastards believe in throw away people, and that the throw away condition begins at age 7.
The Texas House of Representatives
There Are No Archived Broadcasts From Yesterday To Today.
Whers is yesterdays hearing at??
I hope these elected officials know what they are doing to their chances of being re-elected in the future. I, for one...am going to make sure I vote these idiots out of office unless they show us some sort of change for the better....and soon! These control freaks need to know who is REALLY in control here...VOTERS!
POPE:
There is zero tolerance for retaliation, it is now a crime to do this via legislation passed.
TO ALL EMPLOYEES THAT FEEL THIS IS HAPPENING.......WAKE UP.......AN READ THE MEMO!!!
5:06 OF THE HEARING YESTERDAY
Everyone needs to start a little advertising in the local news paper and show who is doing this, maybe we can get someone to run for office who can see what they are doing?? Hell its worth a try they need to be stopped,,,wait a miniute somethings wrong here...
I would encourage all of you that thinks TYC is as screwed up as ever, to cast votes for anyone other than the incumbents in any State level race even if it crosses party lines. I am a conservative Republican, but after Gov. Goodhair's moves, twists, and turns during the session in regards to TYC, I am rethinking it. If nobody is running against the incumbent, write in somebody, anybody, the guy that carries out your groceries, a loyal TYC staff that is having to deal with this crap, anyone. Surely anyone can do a better job than our current State leaders. If we all do this, it will make an impact.
I think we are on to something here! If we all band together ( there are MANY of us) and held a protest or a demostration, you better believe we would get some action!!! WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM!!!! We have an enemy....and he is in AUSTIN! VOTE OUT PERRY!
Maybe he'll appoint a great new Conservator who will appoint a new Executive Director. Should I hold my breath?
I attended a workshop this past weekend regarding community involvement and one of the key issues discussed was the community taking ownership of their problems. If we can band together with our communities, we really could make a turn in the next elections. There is much passivity (is that a word even?-I hope so, I don't want to be accused of no writing comprehension) out there in our communities regarding TYC, but people are aware. We need to work with our communities and make some real plans for how to make our voices heard when election time comes for these fools.
I have not heard anyone blog about Ms. Popes comment that all staff will wear black slacks and black shoes. She did say TYC would but the shirts, this means you will need to buy your own black slacks and black shoes. Does TDCJ supply this to their staff or do they have to pay out of their pocket??
Yes, I heard her say in so many words that the staff at TYC needs some tweeking on how they dress now. I heard something about the length of staff's hair and facial hair.
Now the question will be, Is she going to wear this garb and those in CO? What a waste of Tax Payers money.
If you want people dressed better then check the dress code at the gate and send those home that can not follow the rules. TYC has always punished all for others wrong doing.
I believe that if a company requires you wear a certain kind of clothing to come to work that is considered a uniform, they have to pay for it.
They will not pay for your shoes or pants, just the shirts.
They seem to be forgetting that were are supposed to a kinder-gentler TYC that is promoting rehabilitation not retribution. The adult system uses the uniforms to form a distinct line between the staff and the inmates. With kids, they need to see you as a regular person, NOT an authority figure worthy of their aggressiveness. Putting the staff in polos is supposed to make it easier to tell the staff from the youth. This is funny since the cameras are all in black and white and the phases wear polo shirts! Maybe some day our "leaders" (used loosely) will get a clue...
Maybe when we get new leaders. I wouldn't count on the TDCJ leaders ever getting a clue.
The point I was trying to make in earlier blog directly relates to uniforms and the correctional mindset of our current leaders. On one hand they state they are for the youth but they want JCO staff, Case Work staff, and everybody else in uniforms to convey we are in authority presence.
Give me the old YAS days and that leadership any day compared to what we have today.
How long are those 3 shirts suppose to last staff? How nice they will all look after a few washing and drying. Not to mention those that can not get them to fit correctly. Can't wait to be as sloppy looking as they want us to look.
12:48 I agree with you. But the real facts are we will never get them to see it. One way or the highway.
I don't know how long they are supposed to last, but remember that the shirts are STATE PROPERTY! I don't know about you all, but on days 4 and 5, I am wearing mine inside out:)
Has anyone actually received the shirts yet? And are your staff wearing them? Ms. Pope informed the House Cmte. that the shirts had been delivered on 10/12. We haven't seen them yet? Just wondering if this was another one of her tall tales.
You are to be issued three shirts, and then (Ha! Ha!)if you leave TYC, you have to return the shirts. Also, there were none to try on so you had to just guess your size.
On our campus the shirts have arrived but have not been given to employees yet.
From what we're hearing, the vendor pulled a fast one and sent a less quality shirt than the samples they provided and it's currently being looked into by Central Purchasing as they kept the samples for which the award was made. Some crooks out there pulling a scam it seems.
Cmon People,
Keep in mind the big picture! How many of your last postings have regarded minor details? Don't let yourselves be distracted. Forget about the shirts and remember Pope's deplorable leadership!
Dear Pope: do not delude yourself into thinking that the masses are mistaken. It cannot be the case that hundreds of us are wrong about you. We are right and you are wrong. You have run afoul of integrity and decency. Your tactics will not persist for much longer. We are embarrassed to work under your leadership! If we did not have families to feed, we would quit right away.
I would simply point out that in my prior guest blog post here on Grits, "The Lessons of Mountain View," I stated that uniforms were singled out for criticism during the Morales case of the 1970s as a symbolic, albeit minor, concern.
As many of you have observed here, uniforms were believed to convey a correctional rather than a rehabilitative approach. Back then, guards wore outfits that were compared to Texas Ranger uniforms, complete with boots, cowboy hats, and Mace.
Although polo shirts are a far cry from that sort of uniform, it is another small sign that the new leadership is intent on turning back the clock at TYC even further than did some of their predecessors, whose correctional mindset helped create the scandal that put the Pope regime in place to begin with.
Keep in mind, though, that the Kimbrough conservator report called for the introduction of uniforms to differentiate the staff from the kids, which he thought would improve security.
Bill Bush
Everyone needs to get together on this one and either march at the Capitol or like what we are planning to do is putt out billboards with the facts so people will see what is going on with there Tax Dollars... Did anyone feel the word set up on the Pyote Incident last week ?? Sure smeels funny as well as too many Important people out of TYC are starting to ask questions?? mAYBE THE pOPESTER IS FIXING TO GET SLAMMED...
Mr. Bush I agree that uniforms are not the answer. The issue that Mr. Kimbrough had when he was the conservator was in reference to a security camera and trying to figure out if he was looking at youth or staff.
The youth at TYC wear polo's and the camera's/screens are in black and white. Once again if you look at a screen could you tell the difference?
This seems to be the ongoing confusion and inept leadership TYC currently has in place. They have subjected staff to wear Wal-mart florescent vests (lime green) for the past several months and continue to foster nothing but contempt for anyone with any real experience.
Her comment that staff were either illiterate or corrupt if they could not understand the OC memo after the lawsuit. The memo should have read TYC will adhere to the old GAP.97.23 Use of Force, but that would to simplistic.
The wearing of the TYC dress code (polo's and black pants-shoes) is the next step toward TDCJ corrections. They do not understand the human connection and have no clue in regards to treatment just what they are able to gather from what few that are left in Central Office.
I keep praying that Madden and his committee see through the lies and falsehoods and put this agency back on track with a true leader with some juvenile justice experience but the hope is fading quickly.
Pyote was a setup and any other person at any other facility should be prepared to have the same happen to them. The record will eventually show the truth and maybe justice will be served.
Unfortunately, Pyote has not been the only "set up". What about Al Price and Crockett? This is the "surgical removal" that Mr. Kimbrough referred to. There will be more. It will continue until most, if not all of the Supt. and Asst. Supt. that were in TYC prior to the takeover are gone.
Has the OIG been informed of the illegal activities of any of these corrupt TDCJ transfers? If not all employees that have knowledge need to start turning them in. Any e-mail or violation of the settled lawsuit from the OC pepper spray needs to be forwarded to their attention.
Furthermore call your representative, I know this seems futile but it will have an impact. Make sure you can back up what your saying. Also, I am sure Representative Darby from San Angelo Texas would be all ears on any reliable information about the Popes Administration. The only way to overthrow a tyrant is to move to the roof tops and start yelling.
OIG is a joke. They are in Pope's back pocket.
Maybe Stan D. should step up and say what's really going on. Maybe he should call Pope's hand with the lege. Stan should see to it that Davis and Hollis are reinstated. C'mon Stan, do the right thing for once.
If Ed had ducked a hearing or a meeting at WTSS for a family emergency, Ayo would have reprimanded him. He's the only one authorized to do things like that!!
Anyone know where a copy of the Pope-o-gram Dimitria kept checking for facts when questioned by the Lege and she didn't have an answer could be had? I've never seen her as stunned as when the reference to closing WTSS on page 12 was brought to light. One would have thought she had just had the wind knocked out of her. Her tone and facial expression said it all. Just like a SW Airlines commercial..."Want to get away?" And by the way Mr. Madden, did she get back to you that afternoon with the answers she was unable to supply, like she said she would?
Of course she did, during pillow talk later that evening, she gave him all the answers.
No, no, it's Elmer, get your facts straight! Madden is just a representative and he better not forget it! Remember??
My bad, I got my crooked Legislative members mixed up. What I meant was when Elmer got his Legislative member taken care of later that night, she also gave him all the answers.
So glad we got this taken care of, to put into the recordbooks, it has to be correct, not corrupt! Or corrupt and not correct? This is so confusing!
Iworked for TYC for 8 years and left because of the inconsistency in the program and the lack of the appropriate amount of staff per youth. TYC was running staff shortages to suppliment money in other areas and this caused a loss of control in the units. I worked at Marlin and it was run efficiently but when I transfered to a regular unit I saw that the students ran the facility. I was counciled for writing too many 225's for bad behavior even though I work the proper steps. The students said TYC was a joke and it was. The institution gave us tools to have discipline but would under mind the authority of the Juvenile Correctional Officer on the floor by tearing up the 225's or telling the staff they were writting to many 225's for disciplinary actions. If the student misbehaved and the steps were worked properly then the offense should be recorded on the students record. The staff on the floor had nothing but a radio and a phone and sometimes there weren't enough radios to go around. A staff was left on the floor by herself with 27 felons, and you can call them students, but they all had felony records, with nothing but a phone and the students tore the phone off the wall. What should she do then when there is no communication? The staffing and lack of support of the staff on the floor was TYC's downfall and that is why the students are running the facilities instead of the STATE OF TEXAS.
I was on the floor with 27 students on late night shift and was assaulted by two youth. If there would have been the appropriate amount of staff hired to work the floor it wouldn't have happened.
TYC is workable if the administration and superintendents and assistant superintendts would do their job and back up the officers on the floor with the students. Sending one person back to the dorm with 27 students to do a behavior group is dangerous to the staff and no one should ever be alone with that many youth.
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