See Perry's press release on the announcement.Gov. Rick Perry has named Catherine Evans of Dallas to be the Texas Youth Commission independent ombudsman.
Evans is a past chair of the TYC Advisory Board, a former state district judge and former commissioner of the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission. Her term as ombudsman will expire Feb. 1, 2011.
Perry made the announcement Wednesday.
Under legislation passed in 2007, the independent ombudsman reports on TYC facilities and serious problems in the commission and reviews and evaluates TYC procedures to protect children's rights.
This was one of the best strategic decisions made by the leadership since the inception of the reforms in 2007. The new ombudsman will be objective, transparent and work with the administration.
ReplyDeleteBB
BB, unfortunately I do not share the same view. Look into her decision making skills as a judge - especially those in minority and juvie standing. The only reason he did that was to secure the ending of potential lawsuits but the abuse continues on because the rules and capabilities of what the wardens do and hide is still not bordered correctly. I really want Perry to go away...far far away...and simply leave the PUBLIC service industry...since he fails to do so on so many levels. I do believe he and Whitmire really fudged Will Harrell over and with that move it simply gives strong confirmation of the complete ignorance and failure to change as so hoped, fought for and desired.
ReplyDeleteYes, please send Perry away.
ReplyDelete1400
ReplyDeleteWe agree that the abuse continues, but I do not know anything about her history or credentials. I only suggest that a replacement was in order due to my previous experiences. We all still hope for true reform someday.
BB
Yeah, those in hell hop for ice water, too.
ReplyDeleteOn 9/10/2009 10:50:00 PM BB said...
ReplyDelete"We agree that the abuse continues. ."
The only abuse I'm still aware of is the out of control youth assaulting education staff. This last week, a counselor at Al Price was assaulted and had to go to the emergency room. It's pretty bad when the local emergency room is keeping count of the assault cases it sees on staff at the local TYC facility. I wonder when TYC employees are going to get their own Ombudsman?
The frequent assaults on staff does not fit in with the politically correct way we choose to view the youth in TYC these days. Reality takes a back seat to our political beliefs about that reality.
ReplyDeleteThe school at Pyote, West Texas State School will close this December. WHY is Austin being so closed mouth about it? Unfair to the employees, again.
ReplyDeleteAll I can say is that I am so elated to see that the interim was not made permanent!Kudos to Ms. Katherine!
ReplyDeleteTHE SKY IS FALLING.......
ReplyDeleteto 9:31
ReplyDelete"closed-mouthed" Austin knows too much again. Former employees have a definate, profitable, personal interests in West Texas.
I miss Will.
ReplyDeleteIf Pyote is closed in December then in January the parents from El Paso will be driving O-N-E T-H-O-U-S-N-D M-I-L-E-S F-R-O-M E-L P-A-S-O T-O B-R-0-W-N-W-O-O-D A-N-D B-A-C-K T-O E-L P-A-S-O. We had 98 visitors on our family day a couple of weeks ago. That averages out to 2 per kid. What will it be when they have to drive 9 hours one way.
ReplyDeleteUnless they change the populations Brownwood II only takes revokees with a MLOS of 6 months or less. The families will have to drive t Evins, Gainesville, Al Price or Mart II. The majority of the families can not afford to drive that far or take that much time off of work.
ReplyDeleteJennie Noon said...
ReplyDeleteYes, please send Perry away.
9/10/2009 01:33:00 PM
You can throw in or out rather Moynahan too...................
Anon 1:18 God bless you, you're the only one to respond to one of my reminders in over a year of posting them. Why doesn't anyone care about the parents in West Texas?
ReplyDeleteRAS-I don't know but I feel your frustration. It was bad enough when the youth from that region had to be placed at Evins or Gainesville to receive CD treatment but now they will all be far from home.
ReplyDeleteMany of these youth are committed by small counties that do not have budgets for residential programs and TYC is the first out of home placement. The youth struggle with being away from home period much less 1,000 miles from home. This also puts a huge burden on a facility that is trying involve the family (as required) and keep the youth motivated to succeed with the reality that they will receive little if any visits while they are there.
I realize that this is a very negative outlook but I think we would all benefit if we tried to look at all of the various changes from the staff and youth's perspective a little more.
To 9/10/2009 09:14:00 AM
ReplyDelete"Look into her decision making skills as a judge - especially those in minority and juvie standing."
Is there a website where this information can be accessed?
9:14, looks like you're really familiar with TYC and our "wardens." Why should we think you know any more about Judge Evans?
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