Scores of youthful offenders are being sent straight into the adult criminal justice system - 246 of them last year alone - for crimes they committed as juveniles.Juvenile justice advocates are blaming last year's 22 percent spike on a reform effort launched two years ago that was designed to protect younger offenders. They say young people who are easier to rehabilitate are being forced into a harsher adult setting that can't meet their needs.
After the Texas Youth Commission sex abuse scandal in 2007, state officials decided the agency would no longer handle offenders 19 to 21 - a move intended in part to protect younger children from older youths.
"It's pretty simple," said Jill Mata, Bexar County's chief juvenile prosecutor. "If we didn't have enough time to work with these kids within the juvenile justice system (before they turned 19), then we were faced with no option but to certify them as adults."
Bexar County certified 28 juveniles as adults last year, a 75 percent jump from a year earlier.
Tarrant County certified 11 juveniles as adults last year, nearly triple the number from a year earlier. Harris County saw a more modest rise in adult certifications since the TYC reforms passed in 2007, from 74 cases in 2007 to 76 last year.
Bill Hawkins, who until last month was Harris County's chief juvenile prosecutor, said the length of time a youth would have at TYC was one of the major factors for him in deciding whether to seek adult certification for particular kids. "When the window was shortened, certification became a more viable option in some cases," he said.
Texas allows juveniles as young as 14 to stand trial as adults for capital and first-degree felonies. Fifteen-year-olds can stand trial as adults for any kind of felony.
TYC ombudsman Will Harrell, who in a recent report highlighted the increase in adult certifications last year, would like to see the age limit restored to 21.
But with key lawmakers vowing to further reduce TYC's already dwindling population - calling the troubled agency a lost cause - it's not clear if there will be an appetite for raising TYC's maximum age past 18.
"We're not going to change anything at this stage," said Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, chairman of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee. "We need a greater sampling before we determine that there's a cause and effect. I'm not convinced."
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Whitmire: Don't change TYC policy on 19-20 year olds for now
Despite a recent analysis by TYC's Ombudsman saying changes from 2007 resulted in more Texas youth being certified as adults for crimes committed as juveniles, Senate Criminal Justice Committee Chairman John Whitmire says the policy is unlikely to change this session, the San Antonio Express News reported yesterday ("More juvenile offenders landing in actual prison," Feb. 23):
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
.jpg)
78 comments:
I would be interested in the offenses committed for of these some 250 juveniles. Most cases I'm aware of involve older, violent offenders, not your run of the mill delinquent. Most also have an extensive history of criminal behavior which makes the local department say, we've done everything we can do. Someone come up with a profile of these 250 kids.
LMB
As far as details on the youth, offenses, see if what you're looking for is in the Ombudsman's report (pdf), which is original the source of the whole debate.
Scott - I just struggled through Will's report. Answer to my question is missing. His stats are very general. Covers general categories (offenses) for which a kid can be certified but no specifics on the offenses the 250 or so were certified.
Any other brilliant ideas?
LMB
It looks to me like every prosecutor and judge in the document says "we are certifying more kids because the law changed" and the numbers in the document support their statements. What kind of sample do you need. No one has reported youth crime being up or more violent. What's the mystery?
7:38 - it would be nice to have the facts instead of generalizations, don't you agree?
The OIO's observations brings attention to an inevitable trend by DA's. SB 103 took many of their incarceration options off the table, so they are probably compensating. Those problem kids who have been too much for the local probation department to handle are going into the State correctional system one way or the other. It it can't be TYC, then TDCJ is still available and has to make room. Unfortunatly, that was not part of the SB 103 plan, but absent any great input from the DA's and judges prior to implementation, that's not a big surprise.
I have a mystery of sorts however. The 19-20 year old debate offered to the media by the OIO, opened the door for commentary on the general fate of TYC as proposed by various legislators, but Senator Whitmire left it alone. What happened to the declarations by Sen. Whitmire that TYC was dysfunctional and needed to be closed. Here comes this great media opportunity for his comments, and all he says is, "not now" to 19 and 20 year olds staying in TYC. What TYC? Some interesting changes have taken place since Sunset finished up its' process. Anyone want to speculate on what is being tossed around in the Leg? Haven't heard anything from Sen. Islett either regarding merger and facility closures. He was pretty strong in his public statements too. The new TYC plan recently released, along with information from EC Townsend on staff reductions, keeps all facilities up and running, but with new treatment mandates. Surely that decision took the politics of the TYC drama into account, yet not a whimper from Sen. Whitmire who demanded at least one if not more facilities, particularly West Texas be fully shuttered. The silence is deafening.
LMB, I don't have any more details on the 19-20 year olds, and have not seen more detailed data than the OIO report, which may be why Whitmire is hesitant to reverse course based solely on its findings.
JTP, It's extremely difficult to read the tea leaves about a merger right now. I could speculate, but that's all it'd be. Clearly Sen. Whitmire wants it. Though Sunset recommended it 6-5, two of those six were citizen members so the majority of legislators on Sunset opposed it, including Lois Kolkhorst who's now on House Corrections and Ruth McLendon whose on the House Appropriations Criminal Justice Subcommittee. Both were adamantly against a merger during the Sunset process, so right now I'd say it's too close to call.
I have worked for TYC for sixteen years now and I have seen the pendulum swing. The fact of the matter is that they always swing back a little further each time, but few things really change. Whitmire has been in the state legislature since 1973, and in the senate since 1983. Watching our new President speak, I notice that his is the only fresh, relatively new face on the screen. These people stay in office by doing what is politically expediant. The question is should the nineteen and twenty year olds be victimized in an underfunded adult system, or should the be the victimizers in an underfunded juvenile program? I don't wish to sound cynical, but does anybody really believe that Whitmire and his ilk really care? Sorry if I sound bitter. Sorry if this sounds like whining. But why do these people keep get to keep their jobs for thirty-five years and sixty-seven hard working people have to go find new jobs in West Texas? Jimmy Carter said it best, "Life is unfair."
GFB-
We called it 2 years ago when they went down this path. The judges were going to certify more as adults, and they did.
I don't know what Sen. Whitmire's plans are, but as must be evident, it's a shame to see that he's not interested in giving children a chance to avoid the harshness to a system like TDCJ and learn from their mistakes. I saw first hand what TDCJ did in TYC when they were here. Problem? Pepper Spray. Smart Allec? Pepper Spray. Off Program? Pepper Spray.
These kids don't learn like that, and many have a learning disability. Ok, no problem, to TDCJ - just pepper spray them. It made me sick.
That's a shame that Sen. Whitmire thinks so little about the youth in Texas. But then again, it doesn't surprise me. He was the master mind behind those big "warehouse" 96 bed units built by TDCJ that caused all kinds of problems with TYC for years.
Someone needs to tell John Whitmire to sit down.
GFB-
We called it 2 years ago when they went down this path. The judges were going to certify more as adults, and they did.
I don't know what Sen. Whitmire's plans are, but as must be evident, it's a shame to see that he's not interested in giving children a chance to avoid the harshness to a system like TDCJ and learn from their mistakes. I saw first hand what TDCJ did in TYC when they were here. Problem? Pepper Spray. Smart Allec? Pepper Spray. Off Program? Pepper Spray.
These kids don't learn like that, and many have a learning disability. Ok, no problem, to TDCJ - just pepper spray them. It made me sick.
That's a shame that Sen. Whitmire thinks so little about the youth in Texas. But then again, it doesn't surprise me. He was the master mind behind those big "warehouse" 96 bed units built by TDCJ that caused all kinds of problems with TYC for years.
Someone needs to tell John Whitmire to sit down.
(sorry I double posted GFB - please delete one and this) WF
The 'warehouse for youth', has been partially shut down, finally. Youth were abused there and turned more into criminals. Way past time for something for the youth, and not just a hideway for employees to abuse tormented, troubled young people.
Right now all they are learning in TYC is how much they can get away with and still get a cookie.
The people that are working there are 100% more likely to be hurt on the job than ever. Look at the injury stats for several facilities and see if it is not going up.
Why are the 19 and 20 year olds being discussed? They are not the ones being sentenced to TDCJ instead of TYC. 19 and 20 year olds are on the back end of a TYC sentence. The issue is that more people around 16 and 17 years old will be sent to TDCJ because they can't spend enough time in TYC to be treated. So talking about "sentencing" 19 and 20 year olds while saying nothing about the 16 or 17 year olds entering TDCJ is missing a huge part of the picture.
And to LMB, if the numbers went up, are you assuming the numbers of serious offenses went up? Why are you assuming the offense demographics changed? They're most likely the same as they've always been. If the numbers of juveniles sent to TDCJ used to be lower, what does your "run of the mill delinquent" remark have to do with anything? Which element in the whole system changed, the offenders, the crimes committed, or the law? All of them? We know for sure the law changed. Regardless whether the other two factors changed or not, the law change will make a difference.
16 & 17 year olds are not going to TDCJ.I read in the Houston Chron.One of the kids was 19 or 20 was locked up for life for Sexual Assault of Juv. she was only 12yrs old.Some of you talk about pepper spray, its just pepper ground up.
Judges and juries must have crystal balls, how else could they know that a 20 year old would never make the changes required in their behaviour in order to return to society?
If TYC and TDCJ were merged, could there then be some intermediate facilities that held offenders aged between 18 and 25? Many of these would be nearing the end of their sentence, so to send them to the lion's den that is TDCJ would be counter productive in the extreme. Yet keeping them with younger offenders is also a risk (to the younger offenders, and to the older ones).
What makes me sick is all the anonymous do-gooders that are still whining and crying about all of this widespread, general abuse. I don't think anyone would dispute that there were terrible things happening in TYC - and still are! Oops, was I not supposed to say that? Is that against the new code?
But if the abuse was so widespread - where were your outcries? And not on a blog?
If I had seen some of the things you people describe, I would have been calling everyone and anyone who had listened. I think most all of you are full of it. It's so easy to jump on the popular bandwagon. Makes me sick!
Townsend has preempted the Legislature in changing the mssion/population at WTSS. Will this stand after the appropriations committee acts?
And where does Isett stand in all this? Let me assure you he is solidly in the camp of Whitmire.
Again, no need to be guessing about all this certification business and what various posters think. Someone (Will) needs to provide the facts.
LMB
First,you are not reading nor understanding in full. You must pay attention to the whole - the entire length of time this discussion has been on the table in connection with the law and in connection with the original sentence. So, let me see if I can paint a picture. Originally (the root and the beginning) a kid goes to the lower court and is found guilty and is sentenced to TYC....and let's say he is 14 when he went in and the MLS (minimum length of stay) is documented as 1 year....but because you have staff that wrote false reports (which was uncovered), the kid wasn't getting his correct and true medications that may have altered any poor behavior that LINKED the to the false report (which was uncovered) and the kid has been extended (which was uncovered) and that same kid as now been 1) missing his med's 2) been continued when he was informed he had only one year 3) been extended with no med's and no explanation and only extended ....and now that same young man is 19. So, he has literally grown up in a system that remains riddeled with major issues, major suspect staff, major educational downfalls and major medical neglect, ARD, special education, and so many other failings....and now that same kid is on a pipeline to the adult system because now he went back to the same lower court (whose original 1 year sentence was trampeled on and disregarded) and this same judge - who has absolutely nothing to do with his "rehabilitation" and a rehabilitation within the same above mentioned flawed violent system hands this distant sentencing judge a msater file of flawed write ups and NOW this kid is sent to the adult system. All these adults a) psychologist b) TYC JCO staff c) TYC educator d) lower court judge e) prosecutor f) his public defender or free world attorney h) orientation unit i) parents/grandparents or foster parents j) UTMB staff and the list could on....but then what happens? Send that same youth to the adult system versus manning up and saying we as a system of the judicial circle have failed. We have failed and failed to provide this youth with the quality or the correction that he truly needed. Instead, then you now send that same young man that started out at 13/14 years of age and is now 19 and send him to prison. It is wrong. The prosecutors and TYC staff Kukendall urge these kids into the adult system because it failed them on the front end. And versus admitting and correcting you have Whitmire (who should be taken off of anything relating to this matter) because they don't want to release the kids because normally the prosecutors have over sentenced, lied or fluffed something. Brady violations. The lower court judge...doesn't want to challenge or even WORK to review the case, the public defender may be overworked, TYC staff...well just read the past to the present, legislature...paper pushers and out of touch...the TYC medical staff...they are a joke and fail to provide these kids with the proper medication, the TYC psychologist....investigate them. Start with the good doctor at the Mart Unit...she is a complete uneducated piece of work, the caseworkers.....don't really know how to be provide rehabilition because they are not certified to do so. The have a bachelors degree and nothing else towards like say the sex offenders. And some of the staff breed the beast of continued drug use (because they use or sell the drugs to the youth) and you have some that breed the beast of continued gang violence (as they hired another youth to attack another youth) this system that no one wants to admit is flawed fosters hate, anger and evil. It hides the unconvicted and continues to harshly convict the innocent, support Brady violators...it gives way to the wrong and damns the right. And this is the system your Senator Whitmire is saying DON'T CHANGE THE POLICY....and I have to ask...why not? You messed up...you correct it. So, now you have that once glimmer of correction and rehabiliation now pushed the youth into an adult system that houses convicted three, four time over violent rapists, violent adult offenders who themselves are uneducated to some degree...so now the stories, the experiences, the lives have now been changed further....FOR THE WORSE. Its a story that will not have a happen ending, it is a story that will only have an ending of a vicious circular cycle of breeding more hate, more anger, more tax payer money down the drain and more evil. Walk down the dark alley on that one.
Post details on those youth certified. Perhaps they committed sever enough crimes that it warranted adult certification. Also, once again these kids more than likely have been in the juvenile system before and whatever treatment provided FAILED. So they had a chance.
Additionally, what services/treatment is provided in the adult system? Let me see they are still youth so they must get education and I'm sure that is not all they get. Why didnt the writer go deeper in the programs and rehabiliation efforts provided by TDCJ in the youthful offender program? PROBABLY, so that the OIO and his PALS (GRITS-Scott, Lisa Sanderg, and Others) can get TYC population increased so they may have a chance to not be sunset.
The fact is if a youth commits a crime of a serious nature (3Gs) you pay the piper. No 40 yr sentences that a kid can do 3 or 5 in TYC and be fixed. Families Dont care for that.
6:10--
I asked TYC folks that very question on this board a year ago, and have yet to get an answer.
Without a doubt the abuses are still happening. And the ones who see it and fail to report it are as guilty as the ones doing it.
Rage
610...Either you are blind or work in a vacuum world. Many people brought out abuses in TYC and others followed it up, including the ACLU, Dallas News and others. If you don't believe it all happened, then you are part of the problem; see what you wish to see and discard the abuses. Have you been brainwashed? Perhaps you should read "Raped by The State".
If 18 yr olds can go to Iraq and Afghanistan to fight for our freedom to even write on this blog, then by God 19 and 20 yr olds can serve time for crimes in TDCJ. It is nothing compared to war!
You are absolutely correct. There is no connection to WAR and TYC. You don't understand the theory about juvenile justice apparantly.
First it was coke county with the bad medical care remember a contract facility, second all the abuse you hear about I realize that not one of thess tyc youth would ever lie, misdirect or fabricate the truth.I would invite any of the commenters here to volunteer time at a TYC facility near you,go find out what TYC looks like now.Yes there are still several systemic abuses and abusers but by RIFing the underlings and not the entrenched superintendents with their own pack of cronies makes small changes not major reforms.The 19-20 year olds need to be back in the TYC system i agree,but then look to the 15,16, and 17 year olds who cant wait to make it to the bigtime (TDC) and give me just one possible solution to the understaffed,underfunded, and nontransparent routine of TYC. I can say it is not "bidness as usual" at TYC any longer! Im sure the Gov wont mind keeping the 19-20 year olds in the TYC budget will he?
tyc has a person teaching this new counseling program across the state without any counseling credentials. what's that about. i suppose this is the evidence based concept that i have heard so much about. IMO tyc really does not care when they do stupid things like this.
To 1:36p.m.,
Not only do I understand about War as I have several family members including my 19 yr old son who have done several tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan...but I also have been an educator in TYC for 12 years. I do understand way more than you know. I am the first to believe in rehabilitation, however, it is "false rehabilitation" that is taking place in TYC right now, and I stand by the fact that these older boys need to go on to TDCJ and be held accountable for big boy crimes. TYC needs to stay "juvenile" for the sake of those youth who really might have a chance at making it.
State law which allows for a juvenile under 17 years of age to be certified to stand trial on charges as an adult, have been in place for several years prior to the age range changes in TYC, (presumably making TYC safer and probably more likely to be in compliance with Youth to staff ratios).
Non-theless, even though state law allows for certification, it needs to be judiciously used.
Certification procedures, if done with integrity, force the courts to review many issues before the certification to stand trial as an adult is made.
Unfortunately, serious criminal acts can be committed by kids who are very young. The difficult balancing act that probation departments, prosecutors and judges face is between justice and treatment, between incarceration and rehabilitation. The TYC crisis has only made these issues come to the fore, it did not create them. TDCJ already had many kids doing time in the Youthfull Offender Program that they got from the counties, pre-TYC crisis. Certification is not new news. What is new is the whole debate about how much treatment and rehabilitation should be provided to a youth before putting him into an adult system that almost certainly will handicap him or her in any attempts at coming back into society as a "normal" citizen.
Right now the scales are tipped in favor of offering treatment options. Making the programatic transitions in TYC is next to impossible, but the attempt is being made. Despite a hostile political environment, despite the difficulty in recruiting substance abuse and mental health professionals, despite JCO shortages, despite financial cutbacks, despite horrible morale, despite a lousy economy, despite internal philosophical divisions about prioritizing security over treatment or vice-versa.
The future recidivism rates will be the standard of success, as has been true for years. Analyzing, (in hindsight), what programatic changes have lead to either increased or decreased recidivism, will determine future funding for more treatment or more prison beds.
As an example of how this has worked in the past, TDCJ, under the direction of the Leg., Gov. Richards, and Lt. Gov. Bullock, instituted in prison drug and alcohol programs in the mid 90's. The programs showed that they had a dramatic impact on reducing recidivism. However, the political climate changed when the Bush administration took over the Governorship, and the programs were reduced to almost nothing. Ten years later, inspired not by a love of treatment or low recidivism rates, but by a fear of skyrocketing prison construction costs, the Madden and Whitmire led the charge with proposals to create "new" treatment initiatives. What happened. Politics. Unfortunatly, the Bush politics caused hundreds of trained chemical dependency counselors to quit the profession and go do something else. Now the programs will have to once again, go through the slow process of getting individuals qualified to work in treatment.
Unfortunatly, Texas legislators are always pandering to the idea that, if it will save us money, we will do it, even if it is not what we really prefer. Focusing on what is best for incarcerated Texans in the long term, never is the "primary" motive. Rather it seems to be, "We'll give 'em treatment because it saves us from spending money on building more prisons to lock their sorry asses up!" So you look like your really being tough on crime!! That way you can say, your not coddling anybody for their potential of becoming a productive Texan.
Short sighted, but it sells very well.
With Juveniles, it's a little tougher for legislators to take the "lock 'em up and throw away the key" approach. Partly because of advocacy groups, the Department of Justice, and because people want to believe that kids are not "hopeless". I agree that we need to see "hope" for Texas' young citizens. Having said that, we also need to realize, that a tiny minority of the children that come into the Juvenile Justice system, for whatever reason, have crossed the line from salvagable by rehabilitation to salvagable by incarceration. It's not an easy decision. Ignoring the reality is easier, but very unwise. Right now, the absence of any clear disciplinary standards for TYC staff to follow with TYC kids, is creating a great deal of resistance to the acceptence of the new CoNextions program concepts. Not because CoNextions is a bad thing, but because staff weren't raised with, and didn't raise their kids with CoNextions concepts. They, rightly or wrongly, disciplined by holding their kids accountable quickly. The forgiveness and hugs came later, not first, when bad behavior occured. That is their "paradigm" for helping kids to have respect for others and accept limits for their own good and the good of the people they live with. If that paradigm is not at least recognized as having some validity at times, then the ultimate success of any new treatment programs being implemented is at risk. It does not have to be "either - or". TYC has a shot at stabalizing and reducing the recidivism rate, and ultimately impacting the number of kids sent to TDCJ because they weren't given the right kind of "treatment", while we had them to work with. There is hope. We need the line staff to make it work.
I have routinely said that whether or not a youth is transferred to adult court, adjudicated with a determinate sentence, or indeterminate sentence has much more to do with the characteristics of the county than the particular youth.
Many "run of the mill" delinquents have done as much or more than many sentenced offenders, they just haven't been caught or are from a county that has resources to tolerate repeated probation failures until they finally give up and then commit to TYC, not transfer to adult court.
I have seen youth get 15 years from some judges where similar behavior in another county, just adjudicated as a lower offense, results in an indeterminate sentence.
Overall we are not talking about a large number of youth but the fiscal cost, (not to mention the increased levels of recidivism for serious crime), of sending each one to prison, rather than TYC, should be reason enough to consider reversing this aspect of SB103. This has completely changed the structure of juvenile justice in Texas.
The decision not to correct this issue is baffling, exposing Whitmire's arrogance in his refusal to consistently ignore juvenile justice professionals and recommendations for best practices.
Up to his ass in allegator haters, John Whitmire... deserves a RAP song.
Let me start (and you all finish):
Yo'-Yo' John - I'm gonna change my name and change my thing - Hey I wannna be a rock star. I'm going to change my name and be a rock star, staring at that bartendender rufusing to serve me... well we all wanna be a rock star, hanging out in the coolest bars, blonds, looking at that evil, .... hey, eeeehya, I wanna be a rock star.....
Rock On John.
The failings of the TDCJ juvenile program are long chronicled. If you actually think what is available at TDCJ as compared to say Giddings you are an uninformed idiot.
We are not talking about 19 and 20 year olds being committed to TYC. That is not possible. What we are talking about is the late 15 or 16 year olds who commit a serious offense, their legal issues are not settled for a year so now they are 17 with less than 2 years in TYC. These are the kids who are being transferred.
The issue is not to be able to keep all youth in TYC until they are 21, just the determinate sentenced offenders.
And as for the ramblings of 8:33, you failed to mention the youth's behavior...refusing to take medications, repeatedly assaulting peers and staff, sexually assaulting peers, faking psychological problems or symptoms, lying to family and evaluators, extorting peers, failing to take responsibility for their antisocial behavior, harboring ongoing sexually deviant thoughts, violence, and gang related values/behavior as contributing factors towards a decision to transfer to TDCJ-ID. And don't say these are the fault of TYC, there are hundreds of youth each year who follow the rules, take care of their business and are paroled. It really isn't that difficult, especially when you have real time hanging over your head.
2/25/2009 8:33am
I think you summed up the entire juvenile justice system in Texas. These poor kids don’t stand a chance. The kids that the tyc team playas are so sacred of they don’t want in their facilities. TDC has a place for these kids who need, really need correcting, and not just kids given up on by an over packed up under funded local juvenile justice system. The kids who need a secure facility for rehabilitation should go anywhere but tyc, whose 120 year reputation of being Texas' state sponsored child abuse and molestation agency is well known throughout the land. Thanks to today's team playas and their system of management, a system of management that is really nothing more than an affirmative action version of the good ol boy system born out of the red neck culture of Coryell county, a system of management that continues to prove its a " very failed " system of management. Dr Bill Bush, Texas A&M History Professor in his recent paper on Juvenile Justice, Protecting Texas' Most Precious Resource: A History of Juvenile Justice Policy in Texas The TYC Era: Between Rehabilitation and Punishment 1949 – 2008, I find an underling theme of tyc is the same old same old Texas training school mentality. A fresh coat of paint , perhaps a change of color, but it’s still the same old idiocracy disguised as the farce of managing juvenile rehabilitation. Unfortunately the results clearly show a managed failing, by whatever program name Positive Peer Culture or DeCon or ConNextions. A strong tradition of failing to protect and serve the youth and their parents of the state of Texas who come to the tyc agency seeking help. Sadly yesterdays good ol boys and today's team playas have done nothing more than manage to destroy the lives of over 100 thousand Texas children and their families while being directly responsible for propagating an exponential increases in crime in our community’s whose only apparent purpose is feeding the state prison system.
Sheldon tyc#47333 II c/s
Wait, I thought Rehab had stopped prison growth. Why would anyone think that 19 and 20 year old would be hurt and not have their needs met at TDCJ. Won't they get rehab like all of the other adults? This is insane and a perfect example of a bunch of people in postions of power using it irresponsibly to destroy an agency they actually knew very little about. What is sad is that people are still on the wrong track Most people have never stopped to consider to consider that maybe TYC wasn't all that bad after all. Some politicians, who know nothing about corrections, with the help of the media, have virtually destroyed TYC. There are a few elite media darlings that have been named experts in the field based on little of nothing and that who everybody listens to. What will it be? Where did anyone think 19 to 20 year olds would go, or anyone else that is a violent or dangerous offender? Of course the truth is that youthful offenders don't fare well in TDCJ. TYC was aware of this and did everything within their power to prevent them from going in to the adult system. You know it is unbelievable how everyone is considered to be an expert on TYC except people that are actually on the fron lines working there. TYC only sent youth to TDCJ after all efforts had been exhausted on them. No TYC wasn't just keeping people until they were 21 for no reason, that is preposterous. From day one at TYC, sentenced offenders and other youth in danger of going into the adult system were given orientation by some very knowledgable folks on how to complete their time in TYC successfully and reminded daily by staff, teachers, caseworkers and psychologists. The overwhelming majority of the staff worked hard to help those kids and I am sick and tired of all the lies and false information. Despite best efforts from all some youth cannot be saved. Even when a youth had to be sent to TDCJ they were not sent so a regular unit. They were sent to a special unit with other youthful offenders. Still the lack of supervision at TDCJ made them fare game for the other prisoners. They get raped at TDCJ because prisoners at TDCJ are not closely supervised like they were at TYC. That is just a horrible reality. No one wanted that to happen. The rules were strict at TYC to protect the youth and the staff. The ten youth to 1 or 2 staff, and staff stting in chairs all night while youth slept was to protect the youth. It wasn't for the adults to get off on a power trip and have their with them. Those staff usually did not last long. My goodness no place is perfect but I know TYC tried hard. It is outrageous to destroy the whole agency because of the Peyote scandal. My goodness look at all of the TDCJ scandals and no one is trying to abolish it. Many people blindly believe that all TYC staff are evil childe moslestors based o no factual information at all because there isn't any, it's just not true. Another belief is that kids were just sent to TYC on their first offense. Wrong, the majority of TYC youth had been on probation numerous times and been given cahnce after chance in the community prior to committment. The major exceptions were sentenced offenders, capital offenders and other violent offenders. Many of people criticize all of the programs at TYC, even school. More false notions. The school had to operate just like all other public schools in the state and group services had to be delivered for about 2 hrs a day or funding could be jeopradized. Suicide assessments were done routinely and the youth had access to psychological services pretty quickly. Those with high mental health needs were seen immediately. Keep in mind that the average TYC youth was not attending school on a regular basis if at all in the free. At TYC they had to go to school and do something. Does anyone ever talk about all the youth that got and get their GED's at TYC. Many of them were not taking their meds correctly if they were on them. They were taking them along with street drugs. At TYC that all stopped. I'll say again problems occurred but I challenge all of those crying foul to step in and do a better job.
Will Harrell is new to TYC and has no background in childcare yet he has somehow become an expert over people who have worked there for years. That makes no sense. He has only generalizations because he doesn't know. Grits is no expert on TYC. He tries, but he doesn't really know first hand. Certainly, not one of tose legislators has even te sligtest clue, yet these are the people placed in charge of fixing it. Well, they've just about fixed it for good. Now the youth and the staff are in grave danger at TYC and the kids are learning next to nothing. No one thinks to question what Harrell has to say, but people will question me and I don't care. I am telling it like it is. For all of you who tink you know better please go voluteer to work at a TYC facility near you. Not jut for a day, I mean for a week or longer. Tat is if any of you are interested in the truth. No body gets to have teir cake and eat it to, no the kids don't need to go to te adult system but you don't want them it TYC either. What do you want to do with them? Again maybe, just maybe TYC wan't so horribl after all.
Sorry for the above errors I was tyoing with no glasses and it's very late.
Remember, regarless of what many of you may choose to believe, TYC did not create youthful offenders. It is just a harsh reality that kids can and do committ very serious crimes. Who knows the right answers? No one does, many factors must be taken into consideration. Judges, probation officers and others must consider many factors when deciding how best to handle youth who continue to hurt others in the free. When the decision is made to send a youth to TYC I know it wasn't taken lightly. Youth rights are it issue but so are the rigts of the public and that simply cannot be ignored. I applaud the staff that oontinue to give show up and give their all everyday. They do this in the most hostile environment under the most stressful conditions. I challenge all of you who have criticised the agency and it's employees to volunteer to work there for a couple of weeks or better yet a month before you say anyting else. I am am surprised that all of you who consider yourselves to be such learned and compassionate youth rights advocates fail to extend the same understanding and compassion to the folks that go there everyday to protect your sfety and well being.
Sheldon, your posts continue to be filled with the same bitter rants, lies, and name-calling. We're taking your word that you were a "state boy" once upon a time, but I'm convinced that most of what you believe you know about TYC in the current era is stuff gathered from news reports and blogs, which tend to be sensationalized and self-serving, respectively.
If you want to help, you'd do well to leave the bitterness to the side for now. Then, if there are people out there who have ideas for pulling TYC out of the funk it's in, they'd be more likely to ask you to participate. If you're just trying to get attention, then march on, Sheldon.
4:52 a.m. offered comments that reflect many of my own opinions. For instance, until the Pyote "scandal," TYC employees believed that we were doing the very best we could with what we had. One of the most absurd of the Kimbrough pronouncements was that TYC was keeping youth past their MLOS for no good reason. Why would TYC staff want to keep a troublesome youth around to deal with every day? The impetus was the opposite: Find a way to help a problem child go home and stay there. But we believed the legislature expected us to follow their rules and our program guidelines -- protect the public and help the kids be successful and productive citizens.
Real cynics (like Sheldon) would imply that all across the agency, TYC case managers and administrators were keeping youth past their MLOS for some perverted or evil purpose. Remember Kimbrough's "this gig" remark? There have been no convictions in Ward County yet. And I know from bitter experience that Texas Rangers are capable of error.
4:52, please keep posting -- with or without your glasses!
XTYC
It seems clear that SB103 failed to anticipate the entirely predictable uptick in certs of 19-20 year olds to TDCJ. Probably needed to include funding for a genuine youthful offender program, frankly maybe managed by a completely separate agency from either TYC or TDCJ.
Of course this would have cost money, suggesting that budget savings were more important than quality programming.
This idea is at least 60-70 years old, and has typically been neglected b/c of expense. Also an old story.
BB
2/26/2009 04:52:00 AM
Don't work for TYC but I have to say that was very well put and for the most part seems right on target from what I do know about juvenile justice and TYC. Excellent post.
4:52 asks another good question: What did the criminial justice experts who wrote SB103 think would happen to the kids over the age of 18 when they were legislated out of TYC? Wasn't it apparent that many would end up in TDCJ? Did they have no care and concern for them? I hope TDCJ is not as bad as the press it gets. I am aware of ALL of TYC's warts, but if I were the parent of a 17-year old headed into that huge, hungry criminal justice system, I would much prefer to have him in TYC.
If Harrell can't have his way, then I think that Whitmire's next priority should be a separate treatment program for 19 to 21-year olds. He could even find space for it in his district and create a win-win situation.
XTYC
02/26/09 9:18 AM.
O.K., here we go again. What solid evidence is there to support the notion that some other agency should manage 19 to 20 year olds? No one, other than totally frustrated current and former TYC staff, has even given them a thought. Of course, no one listens to TYC former or current staff. Truly, most people hadn't given a thought to the 19 and 20 year olds, how would they know to? None of the so called "TYC experts" thought of it . Well, I take that back, sort of, Will Harrell did say that 21 year olds should stay in TYC and he is right about that. He is E.F. Hutton these days, so I am glad he mentioned it. I can't believe Whitmire didn't agree. I thought he was about the safety and well being of juvenile offenders. Surely he doesn't believe that those 19 and 20 year olds are better off in the hands of TDCJ? What folly if so!
About the idea of creating another state agency to handle that population. Does someone have some groovy, far out plan to create this wonderful utopian society where everything is just like beautiful man, PEACE OUT DUDE. Is this the new dawning of the age of aquarious? Sounds great, but totally unrealistic. Just look at the hatred being spewed on TYC over one scandal, one scandal. It was a terrible, terrible thing but it is not fair to brand and go after the rest of the agency because of it. I compare it to a lynching and burning becasue the mindset is the same. Yes, many innocent people have in effect been hanged and much of the agency burned. How is anybody going to come up with a plan to fix it all when no one is interested in the real truth, or willing to be reasonable or rational in any way?
TYC was not so bad, I promise.
Right on 11:40! What would Whitmire do in such a situation? Imagine sending them all to his district. Too close to home of course. It's sort of like Martha's Vinyard and the wind turbines. They were all for huge proponents of them until they were going to build them there. Great idea, butnobody wants them disturbing the pretty view.
Well; all you tyc people need to do is go check out my case number and you will see I was at Terrace school in gatesville. Lies no, I saw what I saw. Bitterness yes, as a group I absolutely loathe you tyc people. Name calling, well; calling the red car red is name calling then yes name calling. I have spoken with a lot of former state boys over the last eight months, you people are still the same no matter the decade of service. I can understand the pedophile is a sick human being and tyc being an attractive place for them to work, but I can’t understand you people who cover for them and/or hid your face in the sand. You with the glasses issue, as a team playa you see what you want to see.
About volunteering, I have been through the training, I have offered many times but you people have given me the impression you are not about to let me anywhere near one of your facilities for fear I would see something I shouldn’t. I don’t think your cover ups will work on me and you people know it. I do not think for one minute that I would be proven to be a liar about anything I have said and will continue to say about tyc, by any of you team playas. I read the anonymous posters who say volunteer, come see for yourself and I say ok, but all I get is a bunch of "punk ass tyc" excuses of why you people can’t allow such a thing. Your afraid because you know I could most likely learn more about your facility in a one hour game of spades on the dorm than you team playas could learn in 10 years of service. I have accepted the challenge, but not one of you tyc people are willing to man up or woman up and have me volunteer, I reason that you’re afraid of what I may see at your little empire of child abuse.
And just to be sure I want you tyc people to know that this bitterness towards your agency, the tyc culture, stems from being in your custody and hearing stories from others who have been in your custody, even recently. It’s nothing personnel against any individual, be it a team playa or someone whose just doing their job. But make no bones about it, as a group I absolutely loathe you tyc people, especial today’s so called team playas. I actually think the kids were better off pre Morales vs turdman than what you team playas are attempting to run today in the name of resocialization. Why, because the dorm men and supervisors, the rotten bustards they were, they were at least stand up men, not sniveling little cowards hiding behind their games, their paperwork, and their lies. A state boy at least knew where he stood with those child abusers from back in my day. When they held up their fingers and pointed at you, you knew it was bad news but at least you didn’t worry about getting more of your childhood stolen from you. The beatings could be shrugged off, but you people today use the tools of mental anguish and verbal abuse that could be deemed acts of terrorism if we were someplace else in the world.
Sheldon tyc#47333 II c/s
Let me apologize to any terrorist out there for comparing you to tyc team playas. Y’all may be cowardly murderers of women and children but to compare you to the home grown atrocities of these less than human tyc team playas is just wrong.
Sheldon tyc#47333 II c/s
I'm not sure what your mission is Sheldon. I believe that you were hurt by TYC, but you are not in Gatesville anymore and all I can see is that you've continued to inflict pain upon yourself alot longer than TYC ever did.
Sheldon - my bet is the reason you can't enter a facility is because you're a felon. Blame the folks downtown, as that was their call, not ours. And you know, your a pretty simple minded little arrogant asshole for lumping us all together like that, because man, you are so wrong. lol... what an idiot...
Sheldon, speak with the knowledge you have and speak with the intelligence I know you have. Second, people you really don't understand. Simply, certification as an adult is not during the lower court. A youth can get be "certified" without being charged as an adult. The lower courts run the wording as such. Let's take for instance a child that was sent at the age of 14 and has a DSO (determinate sentence) until he is 21 therefore his sentence was a 7 years sentence. So, let's say by the time he is 16 TYC decides "he is not doing what they want" (which can be proven by several of the kids that were sent to TDCJ and NOT sentenced as "certified" then they are on their way to the adult prison. So, please be clear of all the different avenues available to pipeline these kids to the adult prison system. And if adults can be innocent and incarcerated what makes you think a child can't? Sheldon, you may be a felon and can't get into the units...but son you have so much to offer...speak without the rage you may feel because of the actions of foolish adults...and you will heard. You are intelligent, and you have the inside knowledge....don't diminsh yourself and act on the levels of those who may have or may even be narrow minded. Beth James
Good job yesterday Willie-boy (Will Harrell) for not allowing Jerry Madden to overtalk you and staying to the point. Sounds like old Jerry was a little frustrated over the claims that more youth are being sent to TDCJ than if SB-103 was not requirement
Stop responding to "Sheldon" he's a puk and gets off listening to you folks trying to justify his rants.
He has no real life and utilizes this blog to make himself feel worthy of response. Get over yourself, the State did not make you what you have become today but most likely your family support and those around you while becoming this person you are today "playa"
Yes, A little too much rage, I have been reading raped by the state again. It’s a shame what you people have become allowing the team playas to run amuck and act the punk. I’m so thankful that I’m not in the system but even more that I don’t have to work for the system. Hay I couldn’t afford the 60% pay cut and a frontal lobotomy.
And yes I admit I get off on burning you people, especially you team playas. I find it comical because in my business I get paid big bucks to ask hard questions, yet practicing that with you people is called a burn. LOL
I would get off even more having this conversation to your face, although I would be shocked if any of you team playas would be capable of engaging me in intelligent conversation in person. And I don’t mean get off like the state boys with Bookins and Hernandez at wtss, as well as other state boys with the rest of you anonymous team playas out there. So wipe that smile off you face and whatever else. I mean it would be great to have a conversation in person to ask questions I’ve had for almost 40 years. And since the same type of state emp is still employed by tyc, its seem like a good opportunity to ask these questions, not to the good people who care, or the sick pedophiles, but these team playas.
The big question I still would like to know what kind of a of person, what pathetic financial shape would cause, what since of entitlement, what culture upbringing, is it that forces you to work in an environment whose 120 year old culture is to turn your back on these child abusers and practice retarded management, while under the farce of resocialization of kids who are referred to you people for help?
Now I realize you team playas may not be educated enough to understand what I’m asking so let me attempt to translate the question into what we used to call state talk, i.e. the tyc counterculture. Whats up wit ya momas home tranin that makes you act a fooool?
And Please, you people should never forget whose running your facility. They are not in Austin, and they are not in your admin office, or watching soaps at the house, they are sleeping in your dormitories. One thing I have gleaned from Randall Chance that if we had the team playas back in my day instead of the rednecks I had to put up with I would have had a much easier time managing the goings on at Terrace school.
Sheldon tyc#47333 II c/s
I don't agree w/all Sheldon posts, however, I do have many years experience in TYC and know am aware of many, many abuses that took place, many w/amdinistrative support. Many youth were kept past their release dates becaise of sorry staf and administrators that backed up their revenge motives against youth. If you were anywhere in the TYC system, you had to be aware of many abuses or rumors that you refused to check out. Please quit the 'it was all lies' routine, since most of us know better. You are only trying to fool the public and perhaps yourself, again. Stop the abuse, fire the dead weights and continue the reforms....stop the excuses for letting our youth down!
So, 10:56 a.m., did you report these "many, many abuses" you say you are aware of?
XTYC
YES, they were reported and by other sources also. STOP trying to act as though abuse does not go on. Either you are really ignorant or just trying to deceive others.
Well, what I want to know is if this abuse you speak of is happening, why haven't there been any arrest? Those OIG officers don't play. So, what are you saying? They're "playas" too? Get Real.
I have to say that Sheldon's attitude is likely justified. I do think however that your rational thoughts about TYC are still anchored in the juvenile brain that was warped by being placed in the 1970's TYC.
You can't believe how many innocent youth their are in TYC and how so few of them have ever really done anything wrong and when they are willing to admit their wrongdoings they are nearly always blamed on someone else. The problem Sheldon is that as compared to your TYC, there is now video, and it is everywhere. So when someone says something did or didn't happen with staff, you can actually check...
On a technical note Sheldon, any pedophile working in TYC would be sexually frustrated, as they would be attracted to prepubescent children, very few of which are in TYC.
Now, back to the topic, sounds like Madden is sore about his demotion and took it out on Will Harrell yesterday. I think it is amazing that both he and Whitmire are trying to debunk the idea that SB103 has not had an impact on increased rates of certification. The prosecutors are telling them that they made such decisions, more frequently. Madden's argument is that certifications are down since 2005. Any ideas why they were higher back then?
10:56, we are off the topic somewhat, but I gotta say that sweeping pronouncements like, "If you were anywhere in the TYC system, you had to be aware of many abuses or rumors that you refused to check out," are unfair and tiresome. I know that in general TYC staff are/were like you and me: If we saw it, we reported it. How is that pretending abuse does not go on?
XTYC
Back to the original topic:
Not one person on here has correctly explained the issue.
In Texas, there are 3 options for a juvenile offender (a person who commits after turning 10 and prior to turning 17).
1. Can be certified as an adult, which means the youth is in the adult system and, if sent to prison, is automatically sent to TDCJ, but placed in what is called the "Youthful Offender Unit" which is at the Clemens Unit in Brazoria County.
2. Given a determinate sentence and sent to TYC, which means he will have a minimum period of confinement (1 year, 2 years, 3 years, or 10 years).
3. Given an indeterminate sentence, which means they can stay with TYC until they turn 19.
It is the youth in #2 that are the issue here. These are the youth that can be transferred to TDCJ in certain circumstances and the ones for which Will Harrell is suggesting the law be changed to increase the age to 21. It is these youth that could be certified as adults but the prosecutor has decided to give them the chance at TYC. The age change in TYC, though, means they may not "serve enough time" to make prosecutors happy and so youth who would have been given a determinate sentence and sent to TYC with the chance to avoid adult prison are now being certified and sent directly to adult prison.
For those who say it is only the Ombudsman who noticed this issue and not TYC staff, you are incorrect. TYC staff raised this issue (as did judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys) before SB103 passed, but Madden's staff weren't interested in listening.
I fully support Will Harrell's position in this - there are youth being sent directly to prison because of the age change that might have been sent to TYC if TYC could keep them until age 21. He is not saying change it for all of them - just for the determinate sentences.
He also is not talking about youth committing crimes at 19 or 20, as some of you seem to think. It is youth committing crimes as juveniles tha the is referring to.
Madden is just showing his tremendous ignorance.
I agree, 10:24. There isn't one legislator who took the time to understand anything about TYC...there really ought to be a way to get rid of them for incompetence. If only politics weren't so driven by...politics (and money). They should have to pass a test about how each agency their committee has responsibility over before getting to create any legislations.
Sheldon the Felon can't admit that's the reason he can't come on our campus.
We have enough felons to deal with, and the "Hells Angel" types are NOT exactly what we'd consider as example volunteers. After all, Sheldon was held ACCOUNTABLE for his criminal conduct way back then. We don't need thugs like this coming on our campus.
He knows what that means. Felons carry those CONVICTIONS with them everywhere. It's a life thing, and that's what paves his sidewalks. Get CONVICTED of a Felony, and walk his path. You'll trip just like Sheldon The Felon.
How many times - SHELDON THE FELON - have you been re-arrested after your discharge from TYC? Be honest. How many times, and how many more felonies? How many more VICTIMS?
Shed some light on it, "Playa."
Again, the peope in charge of TYC have really no idea what they are doing, Yet they continue to make reckless, short sided that effect many people's lives. There is no accountability for their actions what so ever. I can't believe that Ms. Townsend said their would only be 13 lay-offs at Mart. There have already been more than 13 and a few of the employees found out today that they will be announcing more layoffs very soon. This time I think it's going to be JCO staff. They are already short staffed and unable to cover shifts, yet the PA's are in trouble for their staff for failing to meet the correct staff to youth ratio, and for allowing staff too much overtime. They will not even consider allowing 12 hr. shifts. Put a pencil to it, it's simple mathamatics. You can't produce staff that aren't there but they don't seem to understand or to care.
One last thing, and I hope someoe reads this. I have a question. Have any of you heard of a space coordinator?I believe I've got that right. I'll tell you the answer. It's a person who goes around to all of the facilities and makes sketches of office, ool set ups that she think will work best. She is sill employed by TYC and still designing office areas. Could someone please explain why her position is more important that those of direct care staff. I am confounded.
10:24, great post.
I seem to recall several TYC staff, and Grits himself, warning on this site that SB103 might have this effect back when it was first passed.
I too am curious to know the facts behind the statistical argument between Harrell and Madden, but won't have a chance to look into it for a few days (at least).
Even with that, it seems to me it will be hard to quantify the number of certs that might have been determinate sentences, without detailed info on offense categories too.
BB
0537...I worked at most of the main facilities, or visited, and talked with staff statewide. Like the admin. office workers that didn't know what really went on on the campus, perhaps you were in their circle. I remember once the supt got several of them to sign a letter that no abuse went on, made them look like the idiots they were; stating one thing when they didn't know what was going on. Is that your circle? Most staff do not fit in your strange circle and know the truth of inside activities, denied or not.
No that's not my circle. No answer the question. If all this "abuse" is occurring, why no arrest? There are cameras everywhere in those facilities, and those tapes are viewed when any allegations of abuse occur. Still, I haven't heard of anyone getting arrested for physical or sexual abuse except those early on when the OIG came on. Since then, I haven't heard of any incident where an employee has been arrested for abuse. But maybe you know of some? If so, share. But until you can do that, I have no reason to accept your blanket claims that abuse and neglect is still widespread in this agency. If that were the case, I'd expect to see more staff being arrested and hauled off to jail. That hasn't happened as widespread as your claim is. That's a fact.
Do you practice allusions also? Whe the initial sex abuses came out, even the top dogs denied the incidents. Perhaps you have joined that circle? And don't start about honest cops and honest employees. Geeeee. We have all been through that before. Secrecy in TYC is a hallmark and continues to be. Were your blinders issued out of Austin?
Sheldon, if you are relying on the book raped by the state for information, you're not as intelligent as you portray yourself
to be.
I worked at WTSS the whole time the author was employed there. I don't recall one good thing about him but his constant absences and applications for bigger and better jobs he never got within the agency, probably the reason he left so disgruntled.
If there was abuse going on, he is as guility for not reporting it as the ones reponsible for it. He did not have the fortitude to step up to the plate & report them when he says they took place. He waited to trash the place after his retirement money was safely hitting his bank.
The book is not worthwhile reading. While I understand that some abuse has happened throughout the agency and that there was coverup, it did not happen at WTSS during that time.
I, personally, cannot give his book any credibility and neither should you. I recently moved back to Texas from California and cannot believe what has happened to the agency. There were a lot of honest, hard working, god fearing employees at WTSS back then who were dedicated to turning the lives of those kids around. I can't speak for recent events but I can speak for the ones back then. XWTSS
You continue to avoid the question, so I'll take that for what it's worth. Actually, I was willing to admit my wrongful thinking if in fact you had a slew of cases I haven't heard of, but it seems that's not the case. So, all bark and no substance means - frankly - you're just stirring trouble and I have no time to respond to your silly allegations if you have nothing to support your assertions. That is, there have been no widespread arrest to address your widespread abuse allegations. Sorry, I'm not buying. Our OIG is legit. I don't buy they're corrupt as you imply.
The TOP TYC Inspector General was above reproach also; until he was fired for redacting reports. SOS.
07-47///..You sound like one of those Texas folks that attended the sixteen week law enforcement course to get certified and now feel they are experts in law enforcement. You learned just enough to be dangerous to the public, probably. The world is really not just black and white; there are m,any overlaping colors in LE. Hope you live lonmg enough to appreciate some experience and actually earn the right to work in LE. Do you remember which end of the gun the bullet comes from?
9:18 said:
"The TOP TYC Inspector General was above reproach also; until he was fired for redacting reports. SOS."
***********************************
That is quite a claim 9:18; but it's not true and you can't name a valid source either, because it's not true. He left for personal reasons, not professional ones. You're just trying to discredit the OIG for some reason.
I guess the Dallas and Houston news got it wrong, huh? How about the top TYC folks that went along? The more you try to cover-up, the more the public sees that you too are corupt. SOS.
He/she was referring to Bruce, not Ray you idiot. Bruce is a stand up guy, and we'll miss him in TYC. His replacement is an awesome man too, a former Texas Ranger. I guess he's corrupt too huh. You still haven't produced a damn thing to support your claim that widespread abuse is still occurring, so shut up and dream up another story - idiot.
Oh, gee; they mentioned Texas Ranger. All is forgiven. They MUST be right and proper. The last one in West TExas got dumped for leading the raids that wound up costing TExas miullions in the sham childrens raids. But, they must know what they are doing? Get real.
Can yall believe this idiot?
If you are a memebr of the OIG and read and respond to this so often, it is obvious you don't do much work. Typical TYC trash.
Typical trash? Like your book?
No to OIG. They are the most talented though...
Yes to OIO, Independent Ombudsman. Hell'uva a guy,
And yet you still think that way?
Rant...
Jesus - there's good meds and therapy for it all I'm sure, but obviously not in West Texas. Can't you go to Odessa/Midland for that treatment?
Sheldon, your anger towards "you TYC people" sounds extremely narrow-minded and is not accomplishing anything other than lowering yourself to the level of those you obviously detest. You can't solve anything by giving others the impression you are in serious need of anger management.
I probably read ALL of your comments on this blog, and I've been impressed by many things you’ve had to say, but I don't think you realize how badly you degrade yourself when you start bashing ALL TYC staff...as if they were all cloned idiots and child abusers from hell. I have taught TYC kids since 1997, and I have never abused a single one of the kids. In fact, the thought of doing anything other than helping them has NEVER once crossed my mind. This is not just a statement, it is a fact. It may be impossible for you to conceive, but some of us really do care.
You need to know that I am not the least bit angered by your derogatory comments toward me and/or my colleagues; I am only bewildered by them. I personally think you have a lot more to offer the future of TYC than a degradation of the entire system.
In regard to your incessant complaining about TYC, please DO tell us what the ANSWER is for fixing the 120 year old corrupt culture that you constantly speak of. I would not only be interested in knowing the answer to that question, I would be the first in line to help accomplish the mission.
In a previous post, I asked you what you think dedicated TYC “emps” like myself might do to improve TYC, but you never touched on that subject. Contrary to what you believe, there are many TYC employees who are open to suggestions, who only want to help and would NEVER want to harm kids.
In your efforts to be a role model and/or voice for the "throw-away" kids out there (as you put it,) why not stop your continual negative ranting and raving on Grits’ blog. It serves no logical purpose. If you think it does, I’d sure like to know what it is and why you keep doing it.
2/27/2009 09:25:00 PM THANK YOU. That is exactly what I was saying and wrote in the earlier posts. Thank you, so now many of you uninformed will understand how that from the cradle to the prison system is really happening. And yes, Will Harrell is trying to correct it and yes, he did an excellent job in not letting Madden bull dog him over. GO WILL!!!!
Post a Comment