Welcome to Texas justice: You might beat the rap, but you won't beat the ride.
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- Blawg Wisdom
- Evan Smith, Editor-in-chief and publisher, The Texas Tribune
- The Austin Chronicle
- Emily Bazelon, Slate
- San Antonio Current
- Conor Friedersdorf, The Atlantic
- Erica Grieder, The Economist
- Pamela Colloff, Texas Monthly
- Doug Berman, Sentencing Law & Policy
- Marie Gottschalk, author of 'Caught'
- DallasBlog
- Scott Medlock, Texas Civil Rights Project
- Solomon Moore, NY Times criminal justice correspondent
- Donald Lee, Texas Conference of Urban Counties
-Attorney Bob Mabry, Conroe
- Corey Yung, Sex Crimes Blog
Tommy Adkisson,
Bexar County Commissioner
- Dirty Third Streets
- Texas Public Policy Foundation
David Jennings, aka "Big Jolly"
John Bradley,
Former Williamson County District Attorney, now former Attorney General of Palau
- To the People
Contact: gritsforbreakfast AT gmail.com
45 comments:
I hope they do their research. Joseph is not the "victim" that he seems. Check with local law enforcement and investigators and they will tell you that none of his allegations proved true, and that he is just using the "victim" role to get attention.
Perhaps those of you that feel that way should ask Emily if she'll interview you for the documentary. There's no better way to get your version of the "truth" out there than to speak it yourself.
Indeed, I do hope anyone who really wants their version of things noted will contact me at tycmove [at] yahoo.com.
We do investigate all of the allegations that each youth makes to the extent possible in cases that are as much as five years old and may not have been properly investigated at the time. I can tell you that medical records from both TYC and local hospitals bear out that Joseph received extensive injuries on multiple occasions, including a broken jaw that had to be wired shut. I'm sure we can all agree that for a minor to receive these sorts of injuries while in state custody is troubling. One's personal opinion of the individual's personality and motivations are really quite irrelevant.
Justin AND Joseph??? Awesome. I'm only surprised "Ricky" wasn't in line to get on camera, too. *LOL*
Current leadership has to be happy with those subject choices, it certainly supports their position/motives.
If that "Ricky" is from the Austin area and Hispanic I am also surprised.
Actually, I don't see how that any person's "personality or motivations" are NOT relevant. Both of these lead directly to credibility.
I certainly agree that a broken jaw and his assorted injuries are greatly troubling but does not mean an automatic assumption of guilt on the part of the state or staff involved.
I find your statement "troubling" and certainly causes me to question any conclusions you might draw.
But I have long had my doubts about investigative journalists ability to get "facts" straight and not put a "spin" on the evidence to sell a story.
I certainly agree that a broken jaw and his assorted injuries are greatly troubling but does not mean an automatic assumption of guilt on the part of the state or staff involved.
What are you implying, that the kid broke his own jaw to play victim? Maybe he paid someone to break it! Or maybe he just got what he asking for and God bless the person that shut him up.
Off topic here but all of you should know, one of the reasons JCO's and other staff in TYC don't get much sympathy and attention from Joe Public anymore is THEIR insistence on playing the role of victim, or martyr. "I'm so wonderful, such a hero, I took this low-paying thankless job to selflessly help these poor kids because noone else will do it, I'm saving society, and you're certainly not tough enough to do it and blah blah blah, so on and so forth.
Well, most people are sick of all the bitchin' and moanin'. Noone forced you to take the job and keep hanging on. If you'd spend as much energy looking for another job as you do crying over OC and black (not jeans) pants then you'd already be employed elsewhere. In fact, if you were typing a resume instead of blogging you'd be way ahead of the game!
I say wait till the film comes out before assuming you and yours are going to judged guilty...
Joe Q.
Enough with the implications already. If you know something against the credibility of those persons, post it, email it to the writer, or shut the hell up. At least the kids had the huevos to put their names with their stories. Do you?
Joe has a distinct advantage over those who know the truth - we cannot, by law, reveal anything that he or his mother have not already revealed. He knows that. I'm just hoping that TYC does not decide to settle his case. Let him tell his story under oath on the stand in Federal court - then, stand back and be prepared to eat crow!
Emily,
Congratulations on getting the site up and running. Looks like you have found some good subjects to profile.
To those who are sniping at Emily here, I very much doubt the film's goal is to make staff look bad. Other documentary films have been made on juvenile justice in the past decade. I highly recommend the films "Juvies" (1999) and "GirlHood" (2002), both of which profile kids in the Maryland system.
Those films portray kids and well-meaning staff trapped in a prison-like, bureaucratic, mass custody system that undermines almost any possibility of rehabilitation.
Bill B.
I was not "implying" anything other than I found her comment in my "professional judgment" troubling and shows some bias on her part.
My experience with "investigative" reporters (not on the receiving end, just as an observer) is that their stories often show a lack of bias and fair reporting.
I'm a Joe Friday and want "just the facts." However, personality and motivation can be relevant to an investigation.
Your also wrong to assume "joe q" that I am a JCO or work for TYC.
For the record, I did not make the comment at 4:43 pm and would not assume that "Joseph" is using the "victim" role.
Also, I hope that Emily can provide a fair, balanced, and factual account but call me jaded and skeptical. Furthermore, if she wants to encourage people to open up and talk with her then she should choose her text more carefully!
It's true - juvenile court records (and CPS records) and the records of youth who are committed to TYC cannot be released to the public without the written permission of the youth, (or his/her legal guardians, if he/she is still underage.) Therefore, youths and their families can say anything they want to the press, and the juvenile authorities cannot respond with any specifics to counter the claims. Families can pick and choose which records they want released.
The long and the short of it is that if a kid wants to down-play his offense in recounting it to the press, there is nothing that juvenile authorities or CPS can do about it. No one can "set the record straight," so to speak.
If he wants to make claims of abuse, only those TYC investigative records, or parts of same that he wants released can be released. Furthermore, the results of criminal investigations are confidential unless a grand jury indictment is brought. So, if a person makes a criminal complaint; if the criminal investigation does not result in an indictment, the criminal investigation is sealed - even if the accused were completely exhonerated.
Now, given the publicity Joe and his mother got, with a State Senator making a major issue of the claims on the Senate floor, is it rational to believe that his allegations were not thoroughly investigated by law enforcement agencies outside of TYC?
However, the records are not automatically sealed from law enforcement authorities. Therefore, if a juvenile offender were to enter a job that required a security clearance from the government, the FBI, NCIS or contract investigative agency would have access to the records.
The Merchant Marine requires its recruits to undergo the same background checks as the Navy and the Coast Guard. Thus, they would have access to a recruit's juvenile record.
Think about it. Old Salty
Dallas Morning News Article on google about the oc spray court agreement.
Emily,
If corruption, abuse and neglect are something you need for your documentary, might I suggest you do an open records search of all of the medical neglect, abuse charges against McFadden Ranch, In particular with students that have left recently...I believe you will find quite a bit of material there.Ask about students J.G and D.C and CS. Maybe you can expose the crimes that TYC wants to bury so badly.
Emily, Your documentary is excellent. The "credibility" of a youth, that was incarcerated people is not the issue here. The issue is to expose the gaping wholes of injustice in the system. No one has ever said these kids, operative word, KIDS - were the picture of perfect...but they are "in the image of Jesus." Whether behind bars or not - no one deserves to be raped, receive a broken jaw, get assaulted, get anything but "do their time." I know the JCO's and staff, some of them do try to do their job, but hiding and allowing wrong because they are inmates....is not what we as American, we as people and we, as TYC workers, or we, as parents of any incarcerated person should desire to be about. I can accept the claims of Joseph Galloway, I can accept the claims or allegations of any of the children...but through this whole mess...I have yet for TYC to say "We are apologetic - we are correcting and we stand before you broken but with a promise to fix." At least these kids and families have been transparent with "My kid is in TYC for sexual assault or murder or whatever." I have even heard a parent say she had been incarcerated...but that does not mean these harms or injuries to these kids have not happened or exisited or still are happening. Let us not be divided by slamming Emily, she is exposing 4 kids and their trials in TYC and if you are reading in TRUTH....they all actually shake hands in story and valadation with the other kids of their story. Four kids, four stories, and yet different campuses and different jail times...and yet the same stories. Instead of slamming and attempting to cover up and call these kids victims....let's call them survivors and pray they are move on in life with success and the documentary to expose the hurt and harm so it can stop.
WERE YOU FIRED FROM TYC DUE TO A PAST CRIMINAL RECORD?
If you would be interested in joining a class action law suit against TYC please email your contact information to firedfromtyc@swbell.net . Your information will only be used in relation to a class action law suit against TYC. The class action law suit will be on a contingency basis requiring no money from you.
11:09 am
Of course the credibility of the youth is an issue.
My problem with your "kids" statment is that many of these "kids" are teens and young adults who have committed, in many cases, adult offenses.
My experience with people, in general, who call the youth in TYC "kids" is they tend to excuse and rationalize away the youths behavior forgiving them of any responsibility of their actions. This mind set might work with a few youth but many are hardened and streetwise and only view such beliefs as "weakness." Often these staff end up serving their own interests not he best interest of the youth.
On the flip side, those who view the youth as "criminals" tend to be punitive and justify abuse...
Both views are wrong...
The "youth" of TYC should be treated as young adults who need mentoring, guidance, and accountability (not a white washing of their offenses.) No youth or adult for that matter should be subjected to abuse, neglect, or humiliation under any circumstances...but that doesn't mean that a "youths" credibilty shouldn't be considered when investigating the veracity of his/her claims.
Please, wake up to reality!
Emily,
I have to say this and I hope that no one on this blogs takes it in the way it was NOT intended.
I have listened and watched the video's on your website of these now young adults. I have heard them talk about how they were abused and mistreated in TYC and all the hell they have been through.
What I would like to hear from them is a discussion on how they think their victims felt at the time they were the abuser.
How they would rate their abuse on a scale of one -ten with the pain they caused their victim.
Why do they think that the abuse they claim to have recieved at TYC was so much more important than the pain they caused their victim.
Why do they think or the public thinks that they should have been treated like Kings because they assualted someone? Is jail suppose to be a hotel with room service and new clothes and a credit card to buy what ever they want? I thought jail was to punish someone for a crime taking away the free world privege for one to learn he has done wrong.
Is their victim suing them for this pain and agony? Is the victim telling their stories on how they were abused? Are they getting their 15 minutes of fame and fortune?
I am not saying that they deserved this and I don't want anyone to think that. But have they learned from the alleged abuse they proclaim? Has it made them understand what they did was just as painful to others.Did all of this really happen and did they instigate the abuse that they claim that was just bestoyed on them for nothing? That is really had to believe.
Sad but true as in any jail, gangs are there and TYC does train to watch for signs of gang activity and does its best to stop it as in the adult system. Its part of jail life. One reason might be that most who join gangs end up in jail.
Turning this around might be tool that could stop them from reoffending in society, maybe? But its really not all about them now is it? But the public is just hearing about how bad they were abused. I am asking the crime is acknowleged that got them to TYC in the first place. I did read in the begining you do state the crime, but the person in the video does not say how he has learned or how he realizes that his victim must have felt like he feels now about his abuse.Its all about them and that is what just really gets to me.
This hit me as I was pulling into the parking lot of TYC this morning after viewing the video's last night. What about the victims, they never talked about how they must have felt.
Well stated, 7:02.
I had great hopes for this documentary. I am disappointed. The assumption seems to be that what the kids are telling really happened. Some of us know that in at least one case, none of what the kid said is true - but we are prevented from providing specifics because of confidentiality laws. What a travesty!
I think it would be completely fair and just to get both sides of the TYC travesty story. get some former (since current employees are under confidentiality gags) employees to do the same kind of documentaries. i have seen these employees and youth suffer at the mismanagement of legislature, administrators, central office and so on. although some of these youth's stories may ring true i have also seen some of these same youth locked up in tyc.. assault, stab injure & disrespect employees that get paid very minimal to deal with these types of offenders. I don't completely take to heart all allegations these young men are claiming however I don't dismiss them either however we should get the other side of the stories. not all jcos or employees of TYC are monsters some actually care about what they do and try to help these youth in trouble. lets be fair and not just take bias to these ex-offenders and put a spin on it.
2:29 - it is not quite so simple as having ex-employees give their side - the confidentiality of juvenile records is not just a TYC policy, it is the law. An ex-employee who divulged information about a specific youth would be subject to prosecution. These kids know this, and are counting on it to guarantee that the truth will not come out.
What some of these youths are counting on is for TYC to settle their lawsuits out of court. If the case goes to court, they will have to swear to their allegations under the penalties of perjury. I am intimately familiar with the details of the investigations into the allegations made by one of these youth cases, and I guarantee that one does not want to do that. Once it goes to court, the evidence can come out, and anyone who lies on the stand can be charge with perjury. I, for one, really, sincerely hope that TYC does not settle. That, I am afraid, is a forlorn hope.
I hate to see staff and youth behave as if they were on opposite sides here. I'm surprised that some folks assume since we are looking at the system from the point of view of the youth, we are therefore "against" the staff.
Our question is, what are the factors that created an environment in which young people under state custody were harmed, and, have those factors been alleviated or do they persist?
An environment that is dangerous for youth is dangerous for staff also. An environment which is safe for youth will be safe for staff. At least, that seems to be the consenus among the judges, policy analysts, attorneys, activists, and yes, TYC employees, who've given interviews for this film. (And, yes, I'm open to talking to still more employees, so go ahead and contact me if you have something you want to say.)
The video clips are of the boys, and the boys will be the focus of the film. Because, after all, the welfare and rehabilitation of youth is the mission of this agency. Right?
Yes, to rehab these kids is the purpose but you can not do that until they admit to their own guilt in the situations that they encounter. To stray from that and put blame on others is far from making them ready for society.
I think we are losing site of this with these kids for news. It seems to most this is about the kids and you stated that the focus would be on them.TYC is not as bad as these kids protray it to be. Everyone that works at TYC is not evil and did they ever mention the good people that work there or tried to help them? They may have and I may be incorrect. But please protray the good as well as the bad. Bad makes better stories and that is what all will remember, no one remembers the good.
I am wondering how long it will be if not before that these kids will reoffend. I hope for society that they never do. They already have victims out there that are not getting their fame and fortune off the crimes that they committed against them.
wow ya'll must be seeing something i am not. all i saw was a couple of minutes of a couple of boys stating what they said happened to them. doesn't say they are guilty or innocent either way. doesn't say all staff are evil, either. some of us are a tad defensive maybe?
anyway, ya'll must have seen the movie already since you got your minds made up. please show me where i can see the movie so i can have my mind made up too.
fl
I don't think we have our minds made up, just voicing opinions for helping with the documentary. I think that we would like to see this as reality instead of a one sided story.
Nothing is being said that is to be taken in a spiteful way or against Emily for writing this story or at lest I am not.
Some people seem to know some of these kids. I just personally do not want to see TYC protrayed as a evil place and all that works there. I think as a rule of thumb we do help most of the kids and most of us try our best to find a way to get thru to them. We do care. There are bad apples on every tree in the orchard but that does not mean that all of the apples are rotten. That is part of life on this earth.
TYC provides or tries to provide kids a better way of life and some get it and some don't. Some even in the worst situations have it better than they had it in the home enviroment. No we should condone the alleged treatment that these kids are saying that happen to them. I am not disputing that fact. There is always more to a story that is being told and that is what needs to be told. If these kids were treated as bad as they say they were, then the courts should punish those who abused them as well.
typo. I meant to say should NOT condone the alleged treatment
Emily,
These kids lied to you. Plain and simple. I know the stories of two of those youth, and they lied. They didn't just deceive, or lead you on, they outright lied. They lied about their overall situation, and they lied about the abuse they claim happened to them. Unfortunately, neither I nor anyone else can give you the facts because their records are not releasable under the law. Believe me, I would love to show you the proof about two of these kids, but I cannot. I keep hoping that their lawsuits will make it to court, because then we can bring out the facts. And the facts are overwhelming, well-documented, and provable. I only know two of the youths featured here, but I can tell you that one of them is one of the absolutely worst sociopaths I have ever met. He is not typical of TYC youth. He is a true, down and dirty, predatory sociopath. All of that particular individual's allegations were thoroughly investigated, not just by TYC, but by outside law enforcement investigators. None, I repeat, none of his allegations were true! I have dealt with literally thousands of kids in TYC, and I have met very, very few who were really evil. One of your poster boys is one of those very few. Old Salty
Well, Joe Q. why do you assume it was a staff member who broke his jaw? Did it ever occur to you that maybe he made a racist challenge that got answered by another youth before staff could intervene? One punch can break a jaw.
Well, let me assure everyone that we don’t think TYC is an evil place. I personally don’t believe in “evil” places or “evil” people.
However, just as it would be naïve not to understand that the youths in TYC have committed real crimes, it would naïve not to acknowledge that real abuses have taken place there.
I spent the last few days going through five years’ worth of investigators’ reports from the security unit at Marlin. I’m thinking of one JCO in particular who had nine confirmed abuses against him in one six-week period of 2005. (Three more unconfirmed.)Given that investigators are quite conservative about confirming abuse – generally only when it has been caught on camera or is corroborated by multiple witnesses with identical stories – this is really quite staggering.
These confirmed abuses were not instances of a guard taking down an out-of-control youth and accidentally injuring him. I am talking a six-foot tall man throwing a handcuffed 15-year-old the floor, slamming his face into the ground, and kicking him in the mouth. For one example.
Even more amazing to me were the five other staff who covered for this JCO, lying even about events that were clearly caught on tape. The abusive JCO eventually resigned. Those that covered for him may still be working for TYC or in some other position of responsibility with young people. Maybe they are somewhere right now, supervising your kids.
So while we may all have our own personal opinions about the youth in this film and whether they are telling the truth, and personal opinions are fine, please don’t tell me that the kinds of abuses they are talking about have never happened.
Anyway, I am not interested in pinning blame on individual staff. I am interested in how a system developed where this sort of incident could routinely take place. I want to know if last spring’s reform legislation has actually created a system in which this kind of incident will no longer take place, or at least not quite so often, or quite so casually.
I know there are many, many wonderful staff at TYC who are doing all they can for the kids under what must be the most trying of circumstances. Unfortunately, in all honesty, the focus of this film will not be on them. I could not in good conscience make a film like that, given the state of this agency at this time. If I did make that movie, then you would really be calling me naïve.
Also, please bear in mind that you have seen, like, 12 minutes of footage, out of 62 hours we have shot. That’s around .03%. Please, be patient.
Best,
Emily
Also, Salty, I'm going to call you out, because I've always respected your posts, so if this is your honest opinion about this individual I want to heed it.
There are plenty of ways, in the anonymous world of the internet, that you can point me where to look, if you are really so inclined, without having to tell me your name or anything about yourself.
You know my email. It's not hard to get an anonymous email account. Write to me and tell me what you think you know. Tell the the dates of the incidents you have in mind and the kinds of documents to look for. I have all sorts of avenues for getting hold of obscure documents. So if you are serious, let me know.
Think about what, Old Salty? That kids who have been adjudicated delinquent have the ability to provide their own perspective on what happened? Or, that a youth who is a sex offender will not be able to find a job, even in our armed forces b/c the offense follows him wherever he goes? You seem to be saying that at least Joseph will "get his." I find the idea that there is some fundamental "truth" out there that Emily & her crew are responsible for finding out laughable and frankly, juvenile. In an institution with around 300 youth imprisoned and almost as many staff charged with their care, there are countless versions of what is "true."
Similarly, I find the idea that youth incarcerated at TYC are somehow beholden to be honest, respectful, and completely exemplary in their dealings with staff who are often anything but to be a joke. Your notions of good and bad, right and wrong, are simplistic.
I am particularly disappointed in you, Old Salty. As a former Marine, who no doubt was up to his elbows in actions that many would view as horrific, you especially should appreciate the fact that perspective is everything and that life is made up countless shades of gray.
Every one has a perspective. No one is a neutral observer. Get over it.
I know this blog is intended to share views and opinions, but if I might...I would like to share MY story of my short time at TYC because it has deeply saddened me and truthfully, shaken my soul to its core at some of the incidents that have occured at the facility that i worked at. I went home many nights, wondering in this day and age how things like this can happen without recourse. Why nobody was being held accountable.Why these children were being allowed to be abused...and it was covered up. I cried on many of those trips home. Emily said that she doesn't view TYC as an evil place or the people as evil. My opinion sharply differs from hers....as I HAVE witnessed evil. I have witnessed hatred and the worse treatment I have ever encountered as a result of speaking up against the administration. So many laws were broken, so many policies were violated and to this day....those responsible remain in place. I am not saying these children were perfect, far from it...they are criminals. But if animals were treated the way that I saw these kids treated, something would have been done. Kids were being molested by volunteers and staff members...and I couldn't do one damn thing about it!!! I called the hotlines, talked to the rangers, people covered up for each other and threatened the youth involved more time if they spoke up. I hate the fact that I am no longer there, because I know these abusive situations continue....and they have no voice anymore to help them. Because of my actions, the Rangers removed staff and volunteers that had been involved in some of the abuse, so I know I made a difference...it just haunts me to know that the people that allowed this abuse to continue for so long are still in charge.
I know that many of you are tired of hearing about Mcfadden Ranch, but just because it doesn't involve hundreds of kids...doesn't mean the ones sentenced there don't matter, they are somebody's son's, brother's, grandchildren. Don't forget about them Emily....they need somebody's help.
What's your point, 4:19? You obviously don't know anything about pedaphiles or sociopaths. I made a point of saying that I have met very, very few evil kids in TYC. I'll add that most of the kids who are classified as sex offenders in TYC are not pedaphiles.
I happen to believe that the overwhelming majority of these kids can be helped.
Emily, it not a matter of protecting my identity - it's a matter of law. I cannot reveal to you anything in private that I cannot reveal here. If you have a way of legally obtaining access to investigative reports, I suggest you look to get them for a youth who made numerous allegations, and is now one of your interviewees that is on this website. I cannot even mention his name, although 4:19 seems to think he knows to whom I am referring. Old Salty
Salty, my faith in you is slipping with every comment. MANY of the youth in TYC for sexual offenses are what you would call "pedophiles", that is to say, these underage youth have engaged in sex acts with other underage youth. Who do you think a 14-year-old would be molesting...an adult?
I'm not excusing it. Sex offenses have to be dealt with. I just don't know where you get your information that most TYC sex offenders have committed some other kind of offense.
i find it interesting the 'confidentiality' doesn't prevent folks from calling an individual a liar, a sociopath, evil, a psycho, a predator, and a pedaphile, but DOES prevent them from backing their allegations up with anything. The law sure is convenient sometimes, isn't it?
The law is to protect the youth and allow them to begin again with a fresh start. However, if any of these youth were to take TYC to court then the restrictions on confidentiality would be lifted because the agency would and staff would have the right to defend themselves. In such a case some of the youth in question might not be comfortable with some of the documents released.
So 2:21 it is not a matter of convenience, it is the protect the youth and his future, have a problem with it talk to your legislature!
11:31 Perhaps you should go to the DSM and read the definition of a pedaphile. Your very comment about underage youth having sex with another underage youth, indicates that you do not understand sexual offenses. If these underage youth grow to maturity and still have a sexual fixation on children, that is a different story. Then, they should be classified as pedaphiles.
I might add that some of these kids who had underage sex do maintain a deviant sexual response towards children. Most of the ones I have dealt with do not. (The operative word is "most".) There is a very good reason why children cannot be diagnosed with personality and character disorders until they reach maturity. Childhood is a developmental process, that means their personalities are still developing. With children who have committed sexual offenses, we need to do everything we can to impact the developmental process in a positive way. (It starts with confronting the offense itself).
Ah, but it is easier and cheaper to just lump them all into the same basket and call them all pedaphiles. But then again, it is easier and cheaper to lump all these kids into one basket and call them criminals. After all, they did commit crimes, so therefore, they are criminals, right? If so, then we don't need a separate system for the kids, put them all in TDCJ and be done with it.
I fear that is exactly what is happening. Old Salty
Emily,
Are you actually filming in any TYC facilities? Or in juvenile court or JDC? Just curious.
Bill B.
Bill,
TYC has been very helpful about allowing us to film in their facilities. We were allowed to shoot extensively in the Marlin Orientation unit before it closed, and were given a thorough tour of the new orientation unit at Mart. We've been allowed to visit kids at TYC facilities, with prior parental permission. We do sign an agreement before we shoot that we will limit filming of non-participant kids, to protect their privacy. The staff who've helped us with all of this have been extremely professional and courteous.
We've also filmed at a county-run boot camp where one of our subject is currently held.
So far, we have not been allowed to film any court proceedings, although Judge Meurer issued a standing invitation to sit in on her court some time, sans camera. I hope to do this, if I get time. Should be really interesting. Judges are generally pretty strict about cameras in court rooms, for understandable reasons.
Emily, when you finish the film, I hope you will be careful to use terms like "allegedly" and "he says," when talking about allegations from students. I know a small portion of the history of one these boys, too, and I think you are stating an unproven (possibly DISproven) allegation as fact. Please educate me on when such qualifying terms should be used in a publication. Thanks.
The news media is a very powerful medium that often has a strong influence on public opinion, often regardless of the facts.
While it is essential to have a free press in a democratic society it is incumbent on those in the media to report facts as dispassionately as possible. Otherwise, you get a twisting of the truth that becomes propaganda rather than good news reporting.
Emily, I hope you provide an accurate and fair an balanced account!
As someone who has worked within TYC for many years I am truly dishearten to see what the context of this documentary is. From reviewing the blog as well as the website it appears to be a venue to find and point out the worse there is within TYC. And I don’t disagree that there are some horrible things in TYC, with the past administration as well as with the current administration. However, it does not appear that this documentary will include what was and is right. There have been thousands of youth go through TYC over the years and many of those youth have become productive, successful individuals. They have gone to college, join the military, had families, found successful careers, etc. and many of them contribute their success to their time spent in TYC. It saved their lives. However, I accept as a society what makes news and what people want to hear are the negative things, just look at what we read in the newspaper and see on the news everyday. Who wants to hear about the good things in our world, it is not news. If you want to include a different perspective search for those successful youth they are everywhere in our communities.
I know two of these kids, and one of them invented all but one of his allegations. One thing did happen to him, but the facts around that incident bear absolutely no relation to the story he tells about it.
The other youth conveniently leaves out some highly significant facts about his situation, and carefully avoided mention of the hard work his caseworker and IPC went to in order to get him set up on his first release - and how he blew that one as well as how he blew his latest release.
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