TYC Staff:In a separate email on Monday, Townsend described the Senate's essentially similar draft budget for the agency.
This morning the Legislative Budget Board’s (LBB) House Version of recommended baseline appropriations for the 2012-13 biennium, House Bill 1, was released. This is the first version of a funding plan for state government operations during Fiscal Years 2012 and 2013. As you are aware, the State of Texas is facing a shortfall in revenue over needed government operations estimated between $15 billion to $27 billion for the upcoming biennium. As a result, lawmakers are forced to make some difficult decisions for major reductions to every state agency budget, including the Texas Youth Commission.
HB1 would reduce the TYC budget from $397 million in general revenue for the current biennium to just over $334 million for FY 2012-2013, a reduction of $62.8 million. In all funds, our budget would be reduced from $455.9 million in this biennium to $360.3 million in the upcoming two-year cycle, a reduction of $95.6 million. Obviously, these cuts would have a dramatic impact on our agency.
The reductions occur across the board and would affect every aspect of TYC operations. The reductions were based on three things: LBB population projections, appropriated cost per youth per day in each service category for FY 2008-2011 applied to the population projections, and uniform reductions of 10% to some categories. While we are still working through the details of the bill, some affected areas are immediately apparent:
- Freezes the career ladder – A rider change would prohibit TYC from making any JCO career ladder salary adjustments during the 2012-13 biennium. Our understanding is that a similar limitation will be considered for TDCJ correctional officers. This rider has the potential to significantly impact both recruitment and retention of employees who have the most direct contact with youth.
- Reduces institutional capacity – A new TYC rider would establish a maximum cap of 1,600 institutional beds beginning January 1, 2012, compared to the current budgeted cap of 1,900 average daily population. This morning, TYC’s institutional population was 1,459 youth. The wording of this restriction states that the agency may close up to three facilities to reduce institutional capacity, and TYC would need to report the plan for reducing capacity to the Legislative Budget Board by October 2011. There is no current plan for closing specific facilities; therefore, the plan would need to be developed once the budget is finalized.
- Maintains current capacity in contract care and halfway houses but with some reductions in funding.
- Reduces parole services – The agency would serve a population of 1,160 youth in FY 2012 and 1,220 youth in FY 2013. The introduced bill would result in fewer staff and may impact both parole contracts and the number or size of district offices.
- Reduces FTEs – The agency would be funded for 2,986.8 FTEs in FY 2012-13, down 553.2 from the FY 2010-11 level.
It is important to remember that the bill introduced today is the House’s proposal to accommodate the revenue shortfall and to fund core government services for two years. We anticipate that the Senate might lay out a different version of the budget in its separate bill sometime next week. We are still very early in the process, but HB1 demonstrates the kind of reductions we are likely to face.
- Scales back retirement contributions – The State of Texas will scale back the amount it contributes to each employee’s retirement account from 6.95 percent to 6.0 percent. The employee contribution currently at 6.5 percent will also be reduced to 6.0 percent. At this time, we are not aware of any planned incentives to increase the number of employees who retire before or during the next biennium.
This isn’t easy news to deliver or receive. We knew this would be a difficult legislative session financially for everyone, and I assure you that every state agency today is trying to determine how it will continue to fulfill its mission. I understand this news will likely cause a great deal of speculation, so I will do my best to keep you updated on developments as they occur. The appropriations bill versions and recent LBB reports are posted on their website at http://www.lbb.state.tx.us/Bill_82/1_Recommend/Bill-82-1_House_Recommend.pdf. The TYC section starts on page V-62 in Article V.
As we work through this legislative session, we will respond to the legislature on the impact of the different versions of the budget (until it is finalized). Our focus will be to analyze the impacts in three areas: youth services; employee needs; and the potential ripple effects from reductions to other agencies on TYC youth and on public safety. I encourage you to continue to strive toward excellence each day. I sincerely appreciate the work you are doing.
Cherie
Regardless of whether the agency is merged with the Juvenile Probation Commission, a reduction in force of 553 FTEs is a lot of folks. OTOH, looked at another way, TYC has 3,540 employees to oversee a total of 1,710 youth in its residential population as of November 2010, according to LBB. Astonishingly, that's more than two employees per incarcerated youth! Think about that: Every kid sent to youth prison accounts for employment of two adults. No wonder Sen. Whitmire and LBB see TYC as prime ground for budget cuts.
Cherie punts on the question of which facilities might close, but I've little doubt we'll get a clearer picture of the answer to that question as the legislative session progresses.
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100 comments:
It amazes me that folks don't already know which facilities are closing. From the information I have (source will remain anonymous), CRTC, Crockett, and Al Price) will be closing. In fact, offers have already been made to those counties to assume those properties. All other Units will reduce capacity. Gainesville will handle North and N. East, Mart - Central and S. East, Evins - South, and Ron Jackson - West. TYC is keeping this a secret from everyone because they don't want the staff at the Units that are closing to start running out the gate. TYC has never cared about their employees. If you are at one of these facilities that has been tagged for closing, its time you start looking for a job.
How many TYC employees are making more than $100,000 per year? Are they all in Austin?
There are a few in the field. All salaries above 65,000 should be cut in half. In addition, two other facilities should be closed. Austin should be reduced by two thirds and the entire leadership replaced by outside/new leaders.
TYC Central Office folk came up with that infestation called CoNEXTions which has needlessly debilitated, enervated and emasculated an already weakened agency.
Have you seen the money and effort they are putting into Al Price lately? If they are going to close Al Price, they sure are putting a lot of money and resources in it for nothing.
Since Evins is the pit of evil, close that nightmare also. One of the worst facilities, why keep it open?
Hundreds of TYC employees lost sick time, overtime and were treated with comtempt by the Austin experts. They have no feelings for the employees that they sacrifice. If you are in doubt you should leave on your own terms at the time you need, rathet than be thrown under the bus by Austin-TYC. These folks are hard, cold losers that make eveyone losers. Get out ahead of the slaughter.
Yea more whining dribble from the tyc job corps. Part of me finds your plight amusing and part of me is empathetic. I truly feel sorry for you people but it couldn’t happen to a more deserving group. A group composed of people who get off on abusing children and ripping of the tax payers.
Conextions didn’t emasculate you people, you did that to yourselves when you failed to get marketable skill sets forcing you to make your mark “X” for the gov-ment job corps. Perhaps you like the benefits, the power trip it gives to lord over a group of children and molest them.
You people ought to get some training in an area that would provide you with some marketable skill sets. Obviously NOT corrections. You’ve been around those state boys, haven’t you learned anything? My younger son got a higher starting salary right out of college than tyc upper 10 percentile. But he is an Electrical Engineer. Unless you suffer from pusillanimous, tell tyc to blow chunks, and get a better job. There will always be morons who can’t work anywhere else that like to abuse children and would love the benefits of working at tyc that will take your place. People who would be foolish enough to find Cherry’s dribble encouraging! LOL
Your favorite state boy,
Sheldon tyc#47333 II c/s
MVSSB,GSSB,Ftyc
Sheldon, you're a sick MF. You didn't learn anything from your prison time and you are still a criminal minded idiot, that lucked out in a job. Who did you suck off to get the job? How about your criminal son, is he like you? Probably. It runs in families, as you must know. Fool yourself, but most people know about the real YOU.
Speaking of Evin's, our Superintendent came back to work this Monday after having his knee replaced a couple of months ago and today he was assigned to a Half Way House. What is going on with this?
I agree with Sheldon. TYC employees cried and whined for abolishment and now its here. The CO employees who make over $100,000 will move on to make $100,000 somewhere else. TYC employees will either be jobless or still sitting in the cesspool they created. Maybe then you'll admit that if you had not fought change...your agency would've been a success.
Your work stoppage has caused many administrations to leave. However, now everyone can see that TYC employees are the problem. Let us know how your unappreciated TYC paycheck compares with your future unemployment payment.
Why not title this "TYC bracing for big budget cut while Townsend ramains mute on recent Excutive staff salary hikes."
Over 500 TYC employees will be losing their jobs. At this point, admitting that she gave raises wont save any of those 500 jobs.
No But Townsend and company should be in that 500 count if you ask me...
I was told Central Office wanted the Gainesville Superintendent to stay at Evin's so we could pass our ACA audit next month, so I guess our Superintendent needed to be shelved until the audit takes place. Pretty stupid when you think about it, these auditors will ask questions and know something just is not passing the smell test, but that's why these CO staff make 100k to make these transparent decisions.
TYC has 3,540 employees to oversee a total of 1,710 youth in its residential population as of November 2010, according to LBB. Astonishingly, that's more than two employees per incarcerated youth! Think about that: Every kid sent to youth prison accounts for employment of two adults. No wonder Sen. Whitmire and LBB see TYC as prime ground for budget cuts.
The numbers quoted are correct, however a it might be more informative to look at a particular institution and run the numbers. Are the facilities meeting or exceeding the legislatively mandated 12 to 1 ratio for "direct care staff". How many support staff are necessary to add beyond the correctional staff to support a facilities function. Direct care staff works across three shifts, seven days a week. Most support staff work one shift for five days. The legislative mandate creates a fixed cost that and the minimum has to be met. The rest is negotiable. Also, the total staff number reflects the CO non-facility based staff. The FTE costs is what drives the biggest part of the high yearly cost of incarceration for youths. Is the bang there for the buck. If you look at it from a short term recidivism rate of 75%, the answer is clear. Weather the proposed merger will provide better outcomes is very questionable. What is clearer is the cost savings to the State will be real.
"In fact, offers have already been made to those counties to assume those properties"
I don't think this is a truthful statement. To my personal knowledge, the land which Crockett State School sits on is borrowed/lent land from a family. There was an agreement that this land would return to the family if not used for juveniles.
Sounds like a lot of vacant buildings returned to a family if Crockett is closed. State of Texas would not make money because they could not sell it to TDCJ.
Most of the public is aware that TYC employees are users, abusers, state ripoffs and basically lazy, worthles people. They are there for retirement and care little about youth rehabilation. Get real. To rid the state of these worthless people would be a credit to the overall econony and restore state health and credibility. Rats chew at the basic things that fed them. Lose the whole bunch. Flush.
Most people that work for the juvenile justice system are bigger losers than the youth they supposedly help! Parole, probation and TYC....all losers. Fire them all.
Sheldon your a real ass but you nailed it. No decent person can work at this place with out thinking that some type of pay back could happening to them. We have hurt so many kids and we call you a sick MF. You have done good for your self and by your offspring. That can be a hard pill to swallow for some. Don’t gloat over our demise to much.
Damn, are you sucking on Sheldon? TYC loser for sure! How many youth have you sucked? How many staffers covered for you while you sucked youth, employees and the state? Loser.
First poster does not mention Giddings. Why keep it and Gainesville open? It was mentioned that the western part of the state did not have enough offenders to keep Peyote open, so why keep Brownwood open? Send the girls to Mart & shut it down. In fact just shut it all down and the state coffers will amass much of the needed shortfall.
The two to one ratio ultimately leads to two people watching thirty kids for twelve hour shifts. Grits, I appreciate the forum, even though I think you and Whitmire are the scum of the earth, but you are above Sheldon on the food chain.
7:16pm - good try, but check your facts. You must be a true Houston County citizen - make it up as you go. Crockett is toast.
Sheldon, Grits and scum....which is the worst? Or TYC?
TYC, if it is bad, it is because of the corruption of those in Austin. All I know is that I worked at WTSS for 17 years and 99% of the people were good people and tried to help the kids they were working with. I'm proud to have served and for those who are negative. Be fruitful and multiply, but not necessarily in those words. Randy Foster. Ex-TYC Trainer. For those who served well, I love you all.
Randy, you meant well, but never really knew what was going on. Mary and others blinded your intentions. Your goal was good but never intended to finish with the corruption surrounding you and imposed on others. The praveling slant was against you and the good folks. Adios.
10:20 Thanks. I became very aware of the corruption, but most of the people at WTSS that worked on the dorms were trying to do the job. I know there were a few jerks, but overall, I worked with the greatest people in this state. I was lucking to know all the training specialists, and they were all wonderful people, including Pope's appointees. I don't work for TYC anymore, but I'm not ashamed for having done so. If I could move to Houston to vote against Whitmire, I would. Again. Not anonymous. My name is Randy Foster. Ex-training specialist at TYC.
10:20
The praveling slant? That you Randy C? Try spell check, bud.
9:16pm There are seven cities west of Brownwood with over 100,000 people. Also; it is about 500 miles from El Paso and about 330 from Lousianna. Pyote wasn't closed because of a lack of kids. Whitmire had it closed because they dropped a bomb in his lap that he wasn't smart enough to deal with productively.
You cannot close three units and have all other units reduce capacity. Talk some sense. Other units populations are going to increase, youth are not going to think that what they do in TYC matters since they will imagine that the TYC merger means TYC will close and they will be set free. We have seen the impact of the last era of "reform" on recidivism rates. It will be 10 years before an agency is stable enough to actually evaluate the impact of programs on recidivism, that is if the legislature can stop meddling after this legislative session.
TYC facility populations are going to rise, youth are going to end up staying longer in facilities due to poor behavior related to increased facility population sizes. Recidivism rates will go even higher. Decreases in probation funding will lead to increased TYC commitments. Restricting facility placement to only 1st degree felonies will result in increased 1st degree felons with determinate sentences, all in all juvenile justice in Texas is about to be set back 20 years and most importantly to Texans more youth will end up in adult prison and money will be wasted.
Texas Tribune - Texas Youth Commission Salaries at State of Texas
Check it out for yourself. TYC has about 1,500 students -- about the size of a middle school. How many middle schools have 22 administrators making between $90,000 and $150,000 as well as 96 administrators making between $70,000 and $90,000? On top of that, now add 360 employees making $50-70K.
The ability to maintain a 12 to 1 mandated ratio set by the State creates this many employees, not to mention the one to one for high risk suicidal youth. Then you throw in the fact that legislators wanted the youth to be in regions close enough to their parents and that is why you have this many TYC facilities. Lets be real honest now, why does the good Senator really have so much disdain for this agency? There was a time two years ago when a Pope was running it and he was all the smiles, what has happened since then? Was he outraged that she spent tens of thousands of dollars decorating her office, it was never brought up, makes you wonder?
I don't believe there is a hell, but if I did I would want to believe it is for people like John Whitmire and the guy who got a big check for the Texas Monthly article. For those of you who want to call me a whiner. You know what part of my anatomy you can kiss.
Whine, whine...you are the problem. Can't kiss your bottom since your head is too far up your bottom.
Anonymous 1/27/2011 10:03pm As a tyc emp don’t you get you anatomy kissed enough?
If there is a hell it is reserved for pedophiles and those who protect them that make their mark “X” for tyc employment. What you people do to those kids is unthinkable. That’s why so much energy is spent to cover up your deviancy. I’m totally entertained by your poor career choice, notably fueled by your deviant nature to molest children or your punkish character traits to cover it up and continue to take it. Take it. Perhaps I’ll see you when I’m giving a few bucks to the homeless person on a corner. There is a lot of chatter about you tyc people on the alumni site and we are all happy over you people getting screwed, especially by your own kind. So take it like the punks you are because you know you like it and you can’t do nothing about it. LOL LOL LOL
On another note is it really right for me to make a blanket general statement that all tyc emps are pedophiles or week minded people who go along with that practice. Not any more than you people think all tyc alumni are criminals. You people are just envious of our success and rightfully so having to work in that tyc culture. I’m sure there are just as many tyc employees who molest state property as there are tyc alumni who are criminals. And if the legislature sets juvenile justice back it would be a good thing. Especially if its set back far enough, like before desegregation and affirmative action made sexual deviancy so wide spread and mainstream in tyc. If anything your recidivism would drop dramatically. Not racist just stating historical facts. I know how the ignorant like to defend with the racist card when the obvious is pointed out. Mine your database and you will see proof this trend. That is if you really want to uncover this sickness and improve you agency.
I suppose it would be wishful thinking on my part to expect someone who is weasely enough to make their mark “X” for tyc would have the chutzpa to discuss my low opinion of the trash the state refers to as tyc employees. You know old school style, like when the dorm man would step outside to have a smoke. I suppose I have to settle for anonymous jabs on Grits.
Sheldon tyc#47333
MVSSB, GSSB, Ftyc
Sheldon:
You are truly in need of help. Within the first line, I can tell which ones will have your signature at the bottom.
Can you do us ALL a favor and get some help? Quickly!
Sheldon, you are in need of massive help; but behind you are the TYC idiots and their followers and allowed you to become what you are. Beyond sad. Close TYC. Flush the name. Start with new people, not contaminated TYC'ers and suckups, people new to CJ with clear minds and no documented known losers. Thank you, now do it.
Sheldon, I have no doubt that you were dealt a bad hand. I'm glad you have this forum to relive all of your problems. But you know what? No one really cares. It's your problem. Get over it.
Anyone who compares the TYC population as equivalent to a middle school is an absolute idiot.
I am not saying that TYC does not have too many administrators, because it does, but kids in Austin middle schools don't live there and don't get medical care there, don't eat 3 meals a day there, and don't get treatment services there.
Come on.
Oh yeah, the austin middle school sends all of their behavioral problems to other schools. oops. and all their crazy kids, where are they?
Over the past few years TYC'ers have held themselves up to the public as 'educated, people with deep knowledge' of young people's problems and saviors of those young people. It has been clearly established that this was a false notion and TYC has made most of the people associated with it, more unsuitable to society. It is time to dissolve this undirected agency and start a new direction. Even without lights and no direction, nothing can be as bad as the last few years under the current TYC direction and ill leadership. Is anything less than nothing? Ask and look at TYC.
Sheldon, As an electrical engineer recruited from out of state over 30 years ago to work for a very large electronics manufacturing company here in Texas, I have had the pleasure of working with many engineers from UT and A&M. Your poor grammar, loose rambling thinking and undisciplined writing kinda indicates to me that you are not what you say you are. Sorry.
As for TYC - I have put in many hours over the years as a volunteer with TYC. I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly, so to speak. In my opinion, TYC is badly mismanaged, but most of the employees who actually work with the kids are really good folks who are trying to change lives. The ones who just come for a paycheck and benefits don't last. They come on Grits and whine.
Tis sad that the barrel of apples was contaminated by two rotten ones. 9:37 p.m. your comments hail an AMEN!!
An obvious fraud, if you put 30 years associated with TYC, you show your own dummability and then post here to double your stupidity. Go back on the nightshift...you obvious TYC turd.
The two rotton apples only exposed the barrel of disgust that is TYC. Ugly, abusive and corruptive, a cancerous stain on humanity; perhaps three good apples in the whole state bunch of crap. Like dung in the deep seas, wither and fade away.
TYC is "NOT" Bracing For Big Budget Cuts. If this were to be true then the top administrators would not have received such a nice raise while the have not's continue to get assaulted by these wayward youth.
Has CoNEXTions helped or hamstrung TYC?
Sheldon's a prime time example that no one can change a sociopathic mentality. I once had a TYC parent tell me this after her son murdered her daughter, and I did some research. She's right. There's a lot of material out there on this topic. I think this mother should write a book on the topic and her experience, personally and with her son's treatment in TYC (he really got none folks). TYC said "we lack those funds," yet as this mother pointed out, there were funds to raise the top tier of TYC several thousand dollars a year in salary hikes as the state braced for a 28 b shortfall.
Yall let ole' Sheldon ramble, but listen to what a lady who blogs as Charity has to say because quite frankly, she's right.
How many stupidintents has Evins had since 07? Has anyone made it more than 2years?
Oops, that would be spelled stupidintendents.
TYC stupidintendents are just more pure TYC than the rest of us. Little Eddie at Evins was the distilled essence of TYC. These stupidintendents got into the TYC groove their first year there and became more rotten every year. They attracted into their inner circle those most prone to rottenness and the influenced spread like ripples. That's how TYC became TYC.
Too many troubled youth have been Raped by the State. Just as many employees have also been Raped by the State.
It's obvious the barrel of apples has not been completely disinfected. Let's hope the legislators are perusing this blog and shut the TYC down.
TYC has one of the few programs in the world that effectively work to address youth like Charity's son. Don't believe everything that everyone tells you.
Yeh, look at all the good it has done. Dumb F.
Conextions is the biggest joke for delinquent youth--it absolutely teaches nothing- the youth in TYC would be better off in a summer camp-at least there they'd learn how to build a campfire or pitch a tent--come on- get real--- the youth coming out of TYC now will be worse off than when they went in--Texas needs to look at a corrections program that works-i wish all the employees would walk off- don't kid yourself-The Texas Youth Commission cares absolutely nothing about their employees- at one time they did back 20 years ago
It is time for Scott to shut this down. You people should be ashamed of yourselves. Are you seripusly adults? Several of you have no business being allowed to have any contact with children as you clearly are incapable of demonstrating common decency.
1015: Go to hell. If you dislike the comments here,, then leave here...go to hell.
Wait till the web site with a searchable database of pedophiles of TYC database gets released to the public. How many of you will be in it. Pictures witness testimony your personnel information. You got screwed from the top now you will get screwed from the inside. OIG won’t do anything so we have we have to expose you.
A History Lesson. How typical was TYC Superintendent, Jerome Parsee?
Parsee, as you will remember, was out to fire anyone who told the truth.
Cover-ups and dirty tricks are the norm for TYC. Here is another example of TYC’s dishonest behavior in handling complaints or information they don’t want to know about.
In 2003 and 2004 recommitted youth found themselves on Dorm 6B, the Recommit Dorm at the Texas Youth Commission’s Orientation and Assessment Unit at Marlin, Texas. Many of the recommitted youth had stories to tell anyone who would listen about what happened at their previous TYC unit.
The recommit case worker, Bill Parker, started to notice a pattern in the stories the youth told. Remember these are youth who might not be very reliable when it comes to telling the truth but they were telling similar stories about various TYC locations.
The youth told the recommit caseworker about the availability of drugs, sex with TYC staff, and a few even told about late night counseling sessions with West Texas TYC administrations. Some of the prior West Texas inmates were very specific about how you could get out on your minimum length of stay.
The recommit caseworker started having the recommit youth write about their past experiences at their prospective TYC state schools. When the recommit caseworker had enough material written by the youth to clearly establish a believable pattern he presented it to the Marlin Assistant Superintendent, Melvin Haisler. Mr. Haisler assured the recommit caseworker he would review it with the Superintendent, Jerome Parsee.
The only feed back the recommit caseworker got was a warning by his program administrator, Charles Bales, that Superintendent, Jerome Parsee was out to fire him and he should be careful. The recommit caseworker feeling vindicated by the recent new articles decided to let officials know his story. His email generated quick results. He was contacted by: Faith Campbell, M.A., L.P.C. Chief - Complaints Coordination Section Office of General Counsel Texas Youth Commission Phone 512.424.6235 The very same person Bill Parker, the recommit caseworker complained to at TYC Central Office when the Marlin Orientation and Assessment administration ignored his report and threatened him for voicing his concerns. TYC and the people overseeing the Cover-up, I mean investigation, seem to be doing less than a stellar job of getting to the bottom of this mess. I thought there was going to be outside investigation of TYC. Getting an email or call from Faith Campbell will certainly cut down on the complaints from TYC employees. Complain at TYC and you get fired or run off! Bill Parker couldn’t take the abuse from the Marlin administration so he resigned. Bill Parker worked with the worst of the worst but he always tried to help the young people he worked with to find a new life.
Whatever happened to TYC superintendent, Jerome Parsee? When last seen, he was being held in the Falls County Jail.
FALLS COUNTY, TEXAS – The superintendent of the Texas Youth Commission facility in Marlin was arrested this morning by Texas Rangers. Jerome Parsee, 53, was taken into custody on the charge of making a false report to a peace officer.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit filed in the case, Parsee was interviewed by several law enforcement officers on March 6 as part of a statewide investigation into abuse and neglect within the TYC.
He told reportedly officers that the most serious incident he had seen during his tenure at the facility was the use of force against combative youths.
He also said there had never been any allegations of sexual assault at the Marlin facility.
Over the next few days, however, law enforcement officials received four reports of sexual abuse alleged to have occurred at the Marlin facility, the affidavit states.
Parsee is being held in the Falls County Jail.
Right or Wrong Parsee's arrest was politically expediant... I believe things were "quietly" dropped because last check he was working for the local state technical school.
Just a word on Bill Parker. He was a good caseworker but he could be difficult to work with and how he would address issues often labled him as a trouble maker. While he was correct he could come off as a bit "self rightous" and "sanctimonious." Also, Charles thought the administrarion was frequently out to get him and other staff.
Objectivity was never a TYC strong point...paranioa was. Certain staff often played this off. Such as B. Finerty who had many personal issues and often played off of Parsee's peronal issues bipolar).
It was obvious that reporters were tipped on what was about to occur with Parcee because they were there filming when he was arrested. That was such a joke.
Who cares about Bill Parker? Man that's old news.
Its all still news until TYC is buried. Follow-up on some of the rerrorists would be nice.
What happened to Sylvia Machado? Last I heard the Texas Rangers had her in cuffs.
Sylvia Machado, superintendent at Ayres Halfway House in San Antonio. Arrested March 9, 2007, on a charge of tampering with evidence.
I agree that TYC did it's share of wasting tax-payers money, but it doesn't deserve the trash talk it's recieved here. Ultimately it is the voters in places like Harris County who go to the poles and never pick up a damn newspaper that are to blame.
It has been kept quiet about Harris, Reyes, Nichols, Harrison and Bernard. Are they still waching over young people? Hopefully not.
You people say all the time how those who don’t have a clue about holding a dorm try and tell you people what to do. I wouldn’t expect anyone to understand tyc except those of us who have been in the game. Not the bleeding hearts or your BFF’s in Austin. My harshness towards you dorm men and you matrons is something that you people in the game should fully understand. The us vs them mentality. I will always be a state boy and you will always be the little people who have to abuse kids to feel good about your miserable life in corrections.
I’m just a regular guy, living the American dream. I like posting on Grits to jack with you dorm men and you matrons. Unfortunately, mouthing off to you people in today’s tyc is like kicking a three legged dog on a limited diet. This is my last post bashing you tyc douche bags. It’s not that much fun anymore and I’m starting to feel real empathetic for you people.
Those of you who are trying to help the kids in spite of the culture I’m sure there is a special place in heaven for you just as much as there would be a place in hell for your peers who molest state property.
Remember it’s easy to speculate that tyc produces just as many adult felons from the children who are sent to them for help as it produces molesters of state property from the people who make their mark ‘X’ for tyc job corps
Mozel Tov,
Sheldon tyc#47333 c/s
MVSSB, GSSB, Ftyc
Just out of couriosity, what or how would some of you on here run things. There is all this they are this and they are that...wjat would you do if you ran the place.
If there is a change are going to spend all your time complaining about them or if they dont do just what you want are going to start bad mouthing thier attempts at reform.
I know a pretty tough product comes through the front door, but the end result has been not much better for years now! So any answer besides...go back to what we used to do!
Really what would your plan be?
Actually treat staff and youth with dignity and respect, not just lip service.
Have leaders that espouse true leadership rather than something they read out of a book.
Real consequences for youth when they assault others and rewards when they actually earn it. Consequences can range from added time to sentence, to required anger management courses where youth have to understand their actions.
Do as you say, not do as you please.
Supervisors who yell, demean, belittle, at their subordinates would be disciplined. If it happened a second time they would be subject to demotion or termination.
318: You just scared all the folks in Austin and their institution snooks, out of their pants. Surely you can't be serious. Even if you are serious, they won't take it surely.
What would I do? Operate within the bounds of reality. Just managing to lock up these youth isn't going to fix anything, because they will be out again in a short period of time, without support, and without the means to survive. I would recognize that the ONLY thing that is going to keep these kids out of jail is EDUCATION. A few of these units have great education staff. But, since TYC focuses on incarceration instead of education, education is always put on the back burner while corrections struggles and fails to do their job. You can't control a population that sees no hope for themselves.
@ 1/29 12:30am ~ Thanks for your nice comment. I have written a book about all of this mess and it will be published once my son out of TYC...he will be transferred to TDCJ in less than two years most likely. In the meantime you can read this is you are so inclined....http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=107566599285422
@1/29 4:10pm ~ While Giddings/TYC does have the 'best' program for dealing with violent offenders it is by not means the best program out there. It's just the best in Texas and the long term results are not that stellar. And there are no facilities in the US who have a program to make my son better. He is a sociopath...no remorse, no guilt, no conscience...there is nothing to help him as far as researchers know.
What would I recommend? Close four state schools. Take the money saved and open more community diversion programs. (Still a lot cheaper than high restriction. Create a separate department and program for seriously mentally ill offenders. Open more half-way houses as step downs for those who do end up in institutions. Keeping people, especially youth, locked up in high restriction then turning them loose to almost no supervision is a recipe for disaster. After six months in a high restriction facility, the youth becomes "institutionalized." It is a well-documented phenomenon. Dramatically down-size the Headquarters (Central Office).
OK- we cannot keep the current halfway houses full now and those we do send or off the chain. There will be no money saved if we close even one facility down it will be engulfed by these prudent politicians for more TDCJ prisons.
Can we be real honest, the facilities are not the issue here, how about the programs that we are running at these facilities. You should know this Old Salty since you have been at Crockett for quite some time now.
Old Salty you pose some valid points. The Austin office does need to be down sized dramatically. Too many cooks in that kitchen have spoiled the soup (at tax payers expense.) The right hand does not ever know what the left hand is doing, consequently it became the downfall of the TYC.
8:20 p.m. 2-1-11
With the juvenile population decreasing, more facilities will need to be closed. The programs at the facilities are a moot point now. No one has heeded the complaints from the trenches. It's kinda late to cry over spilt milk.
Brace yourselves and start looking for new employment before it slaps you in the face and you are handed the dreaded pink slip, or get the axe. Even us blog readers can read the writing on the wall from these posts, the media and the newspapers.
Back to 2:48s question--Fire Gutless Cherie and her top half dozen --fire half to 2/3 of all PS's at all institutions. Fire the Dr that got all the money because she doesn't do anything but sign off on UTMB treatments. Scrap Conextions(or whatever) --re-open vocational programs that were shut down 3-4 years ago. Education is the key but most of these youth are way below par in the three R's. Give them something to look forward to--something they can do with their hands that does't take a rocket scientist. And as someone said before give staff AND youth some respect (as well as consequences for bad choices). Safety is a real issue to the boots on the ground. Over one weekend 6 staff are assaulted 3 of them had to be transported to the ER. It is a constant prayer for corrections officers and their families for them to come home in one piece just one more day but they suit up and go to work anyway. Since the HB 10(whatever) mandate the youth like Charity's son are more concentrated and fuel each other's bad behavior. Which causes major safety issues when you have one or two staff on a dorm with 20 youth. Some of whom can't be locked down in their rooms because they have made a suicidal statement and have to be watched in the hall or dayrooms. Force the Old Heads with more than 18 yrs in tyc to retire and do not rehire them so they can double dip. There are several of those back making over 60 k a year. just a few thoughts.
Detect a little jealousy here? No substance.
@2/02/2011 12:37:00 AM ~~ FYI my son has never assaulted any staff since arriving at Giddings and the fights he has been in with other youth have been no more than boys taking swings at one another. Just because he is a sociopath does not mean he is raising hell in TYC. He is in fact one of the better behaved kids.
Also my experience has only been at Giddings but it isn't as chaotic and violent in this facility as some of you seem to think. The biggest problems I see there are the lack of decent rehabilitation and education programs-not youth or staff run wild. Are there safety issues? Sure. There will always be bad staff and bad kids-it's jail.
I would consolidate the campuses, keep kids closer to home in halfway houses or probation, leave one facility open for violent offenders such as my son but closer to a major city so there can be better staff hired, and focus more on education (not just vocational). There are much better methods out there. I can't remember if it's Missouri or Wisconsin but one of those states has set the bar for Juvie Justice quite high and has a stellar program.
Charity, if you know of other programs that are more effective at treating chronic and serious violent juvenile offenders I would love to know where. In terms of treating juveniles with sociopathic traits you are clearly behind on your literature review.
Those states may have good programs. However, it's my understanding that the parent/s have to pay out of pocket expenses to the state during the kid's stay. Don't know the details but it might be a viable solution to our budget woes.
Before 2007 all the other states were coming to Texas to look at TYC's programs. Everyone thought TYC had the best, thought Resocialization was the best. Then when all the mess came down, all of a sudden TYC's programs were mud. Which is it?
The programs were never that good, but TYC was good at disguising and covering sorry programs. It worked for awhile but had to eventually be disclosed as more TYC junk.
I disagree. There were more positive results out of Resocialization than the CoNextions program. Who got paid off for that?
Can you imagine rewarding EVERYONE regardless of their behavior, as Conextions does? Thats where the youth get the picture that anything goes and they still get the benefits as the ones who do right. Go figure.
One should analyze the assaults on staff these past 3 years with a significant lower youth population, in relationship to when other treatment methods were taught at TYC. Basically with 1500 youth in institutions you have more assaults on staff than when you had 4500 youth in institutions, nearly double the assault ratio. Who is pulling the wool over whose eye's.
With CoNEXTions, as with other things at TYC, people just go along and pretend things are fine. TYC, out of guilt, threw out the discipline and rewards bad behavior. Is CoNEXTions dangerous to the staff?
@2/02/2011 09:09:00 PM
I assure you I am not behind on my research on anything when it comes to both adult and juvenile sociopathy and psychopathy...very distinct yet subtle differences in these two personality disorders. I am also up to date on juvenile sex offender and juvenile sexual murder research. There is no program that has shown anything remotely close to success for any of these populations. There is some research that shows limited improvements for limited amounts of time. Hardly conclusive enough to insure your safety.
I know almost everything there is to know at this point about psychopaths, academically and personally. If you'd like to read the current research you are more than welcome to the library I have created in my office on the topic. Block out a lot of time. It will take you days to work through. I've had four years to read as of tomorrow.
You should never assume what another does or does not know. Just saying.
Actually there is a growing literature that intensive treatments for youth with psychopathic traits are quite productive.
There really is little difference between psychopathy and sociopathy in terms of manifestation of disorders, just different proposed etiologies.
You are correct that we have not much evidence to support the long term effectiveness of treatment. Not because we have good data but because there are no studies of programs which have been developed to actually treat psychopathic/sociopathic features in serious and violent juvenile offenders. Just studies of how people with these problems tend to respond to standard interventions. Kind of like treating cancer with aspirin...
Here's a few more ideas: do away with civil commitments to TYC. Mandate that to be locked up in an institution, the youth must be sentenced, and thus eligible for transfer to TDCJ. Create a therapeutic milieu for first-time, young offenders, and a more "corrections" oriented program for repeaters and those who refuse to conform to the therapeutic milieu who are too young yet for prison. I avoided comment in my previous post about the current treatment program because there is nothing new I could add to what has already been said.
then i will enjoy reading all of it when you send me the journal citations...and there are very distinct differences in sociopaths and psychopaths. Have you had direct interaction with them on a long term basis or do you just enjoy reading the research?
Charity...I got something you can study. Give me a call.
Well Old Salty you are correct when you say there is nothing new that you could say about TYC's current treatment program that has not already been said. But I would like to add that this program has been in existence for 3 years and to this day there is no buy-in. The only ones who like this program are those youth who are allowed to assault staff daily with no consequences.
@2/04/2011 11:13:00 PM ~~ Very mature. Your comments showcase your mental capacity well.
As far as comparing programs enough time has not gone by to do so and whomever said you'd have to take into account all the changes the last three years is right. No studies have proven anything about Conextions yet, at least not in Texas. Long term data for Resocialization gives a better picture of it's effectiveness. All this three year stuff is non-sense.
I agree, conextions is a program with limited value with current youth population and trends since the approach that is taught to Corrections Officers reflects basic parenting methods, however there are very little if any consequences for dangerous out of control youth within TYC. The overall concept appears to reward juveniles that at the minimal are very abusive verbally towards their peers and adults and refuse to follow simple directions.
Too bad upper management does not see it this way. They believe Conextions is the way out of the dark ages of correctional control (Resocialization).
And if you get some lower level JCO's injured to prove your point, that's the price you pay. The writing has been on the wall for some time now, the problem TYC has is they just don't understand how to read.
The real truth about TYC programs is that they were both good and mud. It just depends which facility and which programs.
Any program has to be better than CoNextions. It rewards bad behavior as well as good. And you are right, we have numerous staff getting assaulted and nothing happens to the kid that did it for months if ever. If he's not at least 17 he just gets another reward.
I believe Cherie and her group know CoNextions is not working but they don't know what else to do.
Is that the same group she gave big raises to? They should be able to come up with something for all that money.
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