In a memo to legislative leaders dated May 25, Cherie Townsend, executive director of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, said the agency is developing plans for a 24-bed "secure intensive behavior intervention program" at the facility near Mart, about 10 miles from Waco.Grits has already explained why I think that's likely to blowback, including potential litigation based on a federal settlement agreement that's governed solitary confinement at Texas youth prisons since the '80s. Time will tell: They're plowing forward with the idea, regardless.
Eight beds might open by the end of June, with the rest by Aug. 1, according to the memo obtained by the American-Statesman.
The memo also reveals that officials are developing a program "to serve the approximately 10 percent of commitments and recommitments who are responsible for the majority of assaultive behavior" in the agency's lockups.
Another building at Mart would be the site of that 32-bed program, for which Townsend said she intends to seek approval at a late June meeting of the agency's governing board.
Related: See, "Solitary confinement at Texas youth prisons: A brief history." Also, "Violence at youth prisons blamed on lax discipline; structural problems ignored."
MORE (6/4): A common theme in stories by Mike Ward on these topics is the false framing of the question to portray the state's options as a) treat juveniles like in adult prisons and punish with solitary confinement, or b) employ no consequences at all and let the inmates do whatever they want. He offered up another story in that vein today titled "Officials may look to adult prisons to help solve juvenile security problems," focusing on 63 juveniles who've been certified as adults and are serving time at the Clemens unit, where youth are on adult-style lockdown without the type of educational or treatment services provided at youth prisons:
At Clemens, such perks [rewarding good behavior] are unheard of. The youths wear prison uniforms, live in grimy, foul-smelling cellblocks without air conditioning and with chipped paint and graffiti on the walls. They might work in the fields.Ward claims these inmates are "statistically similar" to those in regular youth prisons, but that's not true across the board. Granted, juveniles with "determinate" sentences differ in profile from those certified as adults mainly in their county of conviction. They, like those in TDCJ, are not getting out anytime soon. Most offenders in youth prisons, though, are serving "indeterminate" sentences meaning they can earn release through good behavior, working the programs, etc.. Juvie corrections focus more on rehabilitation because in most cases they'll reenter society relatively quickly. So these are not the same situations at all, statistically or otherwise. Bogus argument..
Another difference is that youths at other lockups can be serving time for both determinate or indeterminate sentences, meaning they can get out sooner if they behave and complete their programs fast. In the Clemens Unit, all convicts have determinate sentences — meaning many won't get out until they are middle-aged.
If you really want to do a valid comparison, it shouldn't be to juveniles in the adult system: Does Missouri have similar security problems to TJJD, for example? That state pioneered the path recommended by experts on Rick Perry's "blue ribbon panel" (which the Legislature mostly ignored) in order to reduce violence. They re-structured youth prison environments, shifting to smaller units to maximize chances for rehabilitation. Their program is widely recognized as a national model. (By contrast, nobody considers Texas' juvie prisons a model for anything.)
Yes, you can stick youth "in grimy, foul-smelling cellblocks," make them work in the fields, and they'll likely pose fewer security risks than those engaged in school and rehabilitation activities, at least in the near term. But what about the "security risk" of sending un-rehabilitated youth back into society? Most youth in TJJD aren't going to be in prison for years like those Ward describes at Clemens: They're moving back (maybe into your neighborhood) much sooner than later.
Last year, Michele Deitch at UT"s LBJ School closely examined the issue of Texas youth housed in adult prisons in a report titled "Juveniles in the adult criminal justice system in Texas," (pdf). That analysis takes on new import as state leaders seek to model juvie corrections on the adult system, but the study cast cold water on the idea:
Housing juveniles in adult prisons and jails compromises both public safety and the personal safety of the youth. A Task Force of the Centers for Disease Control, reviewing all available scientific research, concluded that the transfer of youth to the adult system not only has no deterrent value but typically increases rather than decreases their rates of violence and recidivism. One nationally-reported study found that transferred juveniles who served at least a year in prison had a 100% greater risk of violent recidivism.
Moreover, juveniles housed in adult prisons and jails face vastly higher risks of suicide, sexual assault, physical assault, and mental illness. ...
The CDC conclusion was consistent with findings of prior researchers, who determined that “juveniles prosecuted as adults reoffend more quickly and at rates equal to or higher than comparable youths retained in the juvenile system.” The evidence supporting this finding was so clear that the CDC Task Force took the highly unusual step of recommending that legislators repeal laws and policies that facilitate the transfer of youth from the juvenile to the adult system. The CDC group specifically highlighted safety concerns about the placement of juveniles under the age of 18 in adult prisons and jails.Deitch's report detailed some of the differences between TDCJ's Youthful Offender Program and TJJD (then TYC):
While youth in the prison system’s Youthful Offender Program have access to some therapeutic programming, the curriculum has been severely compressed over the last few years. Vocational training and recreational opportunities are inadequate, according to TDCJ’s internal reports. Only 38% of juveniles in TDCJ are enrolled in educational classes, compared to 96% of juveniles in TYC. And there are so few females in the YOP that opportunities for this population are especially lacking.The report also noted the remarkable and disturbing statistic that juveniles housed in adult facilities are "36 times more likely to commit suicide than their counterparts in juvenile facilities." That alone should provide cause for concern. Further, "Juveniles who are housed in TDCJ’s Youthful Offender Program receive minimal specialized programming, especially compared to those in TYC. Also, the majority of these youth are not in school."
TDCJ has clearly made an effort to offer special protections for this juvenile population, but any services provided are at best an overlay to the agency’s primary security mission. Juvenile facilities, in contrast, offer specialized and intensive therapeutic programming with impressive results, an education-focused curriculum, and a staff trained to work exclusively with this population of juvenile offenders.
How frustrating! We've already been down this path where officials from the adult prison system came in to try to reform then-TYC's approach based on an adult security model. It failed miserably, generated expensive litigation that forced roll back of its "reforms," and set back progress at the agency for years. But no matter ... here we go again. If it's true that history repeats itself, the first time as tragedy, the second time as farce, then it appears to Grits we're now entering the "farce" stage full-on, repeating failed approaches from just four years ago because the pols all want to appear tuff on crime but refuse to either accept expert advice or spend the money to do the job right.
Winston Churchill once said of Americans that we can always be counted on to do the right thing after we've tried everything else. In Texas, apparently we have to try everything else twice.
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66 comments:
duh, about time!! The juveniles are dictating the type of treatment/consequences they receive. Safety and security first!!
At what point might there be some acknowledgement that some juveniles are truly sociopathic and dangerous? I'm all for rehabilitation and second chances when warranted, but eventually the safety of staff and other youths must be considered.
Here you go again:
"Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed." Genesis 9:6
Not an ad-seg - it's a dorm with single cells. It's original intent was to house this type of violent predator. No one fussed about it then. It's like, behave and keep your hands to yourself and you get to join the others in activies. Get violent, you stay in your room. What else do you expect? You want to let the violence just fester like it is where other youth who are trying to work their program are victimized by these predators? What about their rights to be free from physical and/or psychological harm? You never write about them?
Definition:
"Hug-a-Thug"
Piece of shit bleeding heart liberals who cuddle and comfort murderers, rapist and child molesters in a correctional facility.
EX: "Da'Fon, a gang leader with a five page rap sheet of violent acts in his community, sexually assaulted a staff member. A week later Shari bought him a Happy Meal."
10:05
It depends on the goal. If a youth is in a TJJD facility, they are either eligible for transfer because of a determinate sentence - I'm guessing that might fit those you describe as "this type of predator". If that is the case and they act up, ask for a transfer. Otherwise, they will be back in the community by 19.
In those cases, I expect the staff at the facility to supervise and intervene, regardless of the facility. That is the real issue. What is it about the structure of current facilities that make it so that can't happen? In cases of violent behavior, I have no problem with someone going to a single cell for a period of time, and for staff to be on notice about the supervision of that individual at the appropriate time for them to enter the population again.
Your definition:
"just lock em up".
That is an unacceptable policy - based on science - for those who will reenter the community at some point.
If we want to get outraged at policy that will cost the taxpayer, this is the sort of thng that should draw our ire.
I'm all for safety and security, but there has to be a short term and long term plan that coordinate these efforts, IMO.
10:29 continuation
The ultimate goal of TJJD facility, at least my understanding, is not safety and security. The ultimate goal of any juvenile justice system is rehabilitation.
If that changes, it would be a 120 year step backward, but TJJD would no longer be necessary.
You can't rehabilitate them without security. The place has got to be safe before any rehabilitation can take place.
09:43 says:
"but eventually the safety of staff and other youths must be considered."
We have to consider the rights and wishes of both groups. The first group is used to ruling the roost, calling the shots and generally doing what they do best. The agency policies have favored their impulses, however bent, and has allowed them to treat staff as pesky mosquitoes carrying on about this or that.
The other group wishes that the most unruly would just disappear so they could try to rehabilitate the ones who are reachable. Nothing good can happen, this bunch claims, as long as the worst actors rule the roost, call the shots and set the tone.
I agree that a facility must be safe and secure before rehabilitation can occur. A little like Maslow's hierarchy. You have to meet base needs, before you can move towards higher aspirations.
I don't have an issue with making sure those who are following the rules are protected from those who are not.
In the short term, this is appropriate.
The issue I have with the long term goal. I might place someone briefly in isolation for this purpose, but my long term goal would be for rehabilitation of those following the rules, AND those initially not acting in compliance.
This overarching goal, if avoided or tiered for select groups, will result in long term problems.
What is being done on the current unit to work towards this? That seems to be the bigger issue.
It seems as those in favor believe this 32 bed miracle is all that has been missing for the agency.
It is a band aid approach to a systemic issue. How to go about that change? It seems that aligning around the most appropriate response to juvenile offenders would be key.
I haven't seen the plan but it's like the past, kids don't stay in that program forever. They earn their way out by demonstrating control and working the rehabilitation program. In the past, they transitioned back to general population in stages so we could assure they were not still dangerous. For instance, they may go to a group in the general population and then come back to their 32 bed unit. If that worked out, they might go to lunch or dinner and group with the general population. If that worked, they may go to the general population education program, group, lunch and denner with the general population. If they are successful in those stages, it's time to release them and put them back in the general population. However, how long they stay in the 32 bed unit is entirely up to that youth. Amazingly, some never want to leave for whatever reason and that creates a problem.
They did this at Al Price in the education department, and it worked great. It isolated the troublemakers in a separate "alternative classroom" type setting, and it allowed the other classes to proceed without any interruptions, and still got the troublemakers their required education time.
It's my understanding that t5hey want to put all those who are assaulting staff and other you there.
The sad truth is that the predators cause so much problems and require a lot of attention that draws away from the ones that just want to do what they need to do and go home. You are reinforcing the negative and ignoring the positive, and thus the reason I'm all for a unit to address the predators who are making their life a living hell. They have a right to be protected and the way I see it, this intervention with those violent predators addresses that issue.
This should be fun to watch! All the real Security professionals in TYC/TJJD were shown the gate back in 07. I can see it now, Ad Seg/BMP/AMP, whatever the hell ya'll call this thing this time will have some couches and an icecream machine for the kiddos. Oh yes, let's not forget the X-box and PS3s! Ya'll don't have the right folks to run this type of program. Jay, you may wanna call up some of those folks that know these Programs. The ones that created the BMP and/or AMP.
Love your blog, but this is one thing you have no actual experience with Grits. From some one on the outside at face value I see where you might think its not a good idea but you've undoubtedly got it wrong. Being able to us segregation, when used appropriately, can be very effective. The counties are doing it successfully and so can TJJD.
Everyone of those play stations should be pawned with the proceeds going to the day old dollar store to buy snacks for these idiots who have caused this much damage to the facilities we are paying for. Freeze the freaking snacks - I don't care. Better yet, why not transfer those toys to a worthy cause like the mental retarded children. Screw this juvenile justice ice cream. Reminds me of "Blue Bell" back in crockett trying to talk those kids down off those roofs with ice cream. What a joke.
Of all the things that could have happened, this is the last that I would have expected. It is disappointing that we are having this argument once more.
Bill Bush
It looks like the prison authorities at all levels have appointed trolls to respond to Grits with he same authoritarian line that has governed Texas prisons for decades, maybe even since the first prison was built.
It will not change until people of conscience challenge the voices who worship the Law of the Jungle. Those who claim to be followers of Christ, but support the forces of repression had better return to the Bible and ponder this verse:
Matthew 25:45 (NIV)
He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
It seems that it is easier for those who hide under anonymity, to voice support for cruelty. Perhaps, this why in ancient days, the executioner is always pictured with a hood over his face.
You're wrong again Scott. Nobody was trying to model TYC after an adult system 4 years ago. We were simply trying to manage the facilities effectively which I am sre Missiouri does.
It is a small percentage that disrupts everything and poses genuine threats to other youth and staff. If you don't deal with these individuals effectively as real security threats, then you do an injustice to all the other youth and your staff.
I've told you before, "If you can't control it, how can you teach?"
BB
The kind of kid TYC had back in the 70's and early 80's is much different than the offenders they are getting now. As such, Morales v. Turman needs to be revisited because times have changed. I'd rather send one of the violent ones to a stabalization unit than TDCJ and try that first. If that doesn't work, then haul them back to court under new charges and certify them. I've seen the youthful offender program at TDCJ. They have A row, B row, C row and D row, all stacked. It was a wake up call to me. Some of these TYC kids are hell bent on going to the adult prison system - thinking it will be easier to get out. Maybe someone should film the TDCJ program and show them where they are heading. I know- some will still not care and those are the ones that need to go. They have no idea.
"If you don't deal with these individuals effectively as real security threats, then you do an injustice to all the other youth and your staff."
I've told you before, "If you can't control it, how can you teach?"
I agree with that BB. It does seem like they are focused on protecting the rights of the trouble makers and forgetting the rights of the ones who want to go home by doing the right thing. The ones that are preyed on... that seems to be an issue here.
BB, your definition and Missouri's of how to "manage the facilities effectively" are significantly different, in that they're right and you're wrong. Your methods were discredited both in the courts and by every juvie expert who reviewed them. And they likely will be this time around, too.
@10:09, the question is will isolation be used within the parameters of the Morales v. Turman settlement, which is still binding on the state. Is it for "behavior management" or punishment? What's being suggested in the press indicates they're intending to go well beyond the Morales v Turman strictures. And that legal reality trumps, in the end, which is why BB's efforts to re-institute isolation and "spray first" policies four years ago didn't work.
Finally, it's absurd to claim critics of this policy don't care about the rights of youth victimized by other youth in the system. Again, plenty of states manage their juvie systems with less internal violence, Texas just rejected those models so they could do things on the cheap, fire staff instead of hire more, etc.. So here we are: Deja vu all over again. Don't blame me because legislators choose to do the same things over and over again expecting different results then predictably blame bad outcomes on management and youth instead of taking responsibility for their own failures.
Until TYC abolished the old Behavior Management program and the Interpersonal communication. TYC has taken a major step backwards. Violence has increased 70%.If you don't teach staff how to communicate properly with students. How can a relationship be developed with staff and students? Staff are no longer taught when to use the polite approach and when to be direct.The behavior group program is nonexistant.It is a proven fact that when students are taught proper behavior skills they do a great job helping their peers. After all students rather being confronted by their peers than from staff. Writing a program is easy but when the writers are afraid to demonstrate the program to front line staff.How can staff buy into the program. Putting hard to manage kids together in confinement is a sick idea. This develops an unsafe enviroment for staff and students.If there is no behavior management program.How can you meet the needs of kids with unique behavior problems.
Reports out of CO signal that Townsend is filling key vacancies before she leaves. Those appointments should be done by interim ED. The Board should remove Townsend from ED post immediately and appoint Kimbrough. Don’t let a failed leader put key positions in place before she leaves. This agency needs competent leadership in all key administrative positions.
12:51, Kimbrough's already there! Do you really think any posts are being filled at this point without his signoff? Unlikely. There's enough real stuff to bitch about without making stuff up.
Behavior Management Programs (BMP) are not in vioaltion of Turman vs Morales. In fact TYC had these programs all through the 90's prior to the melt-down (Brookins).
As long as their monitored and have structure this is a safe alternative than allowing your more violent youth prey upon the weak. I believe there are some misconceptions taking place based upon the very short time when TDCJ folks were running the show and went afoul with these rules that were in place.
The Missouri Model has some merits but if you look at their types of committments the types of kids committed vs Texas is drastically different. The reported rates of mental health issues in Missouri do not come close to Texas. The state facilities there are not getting the severe violent offenses Texas is. You cannot compare the models until you have the same types of kids. I have toured 2 Missouri facilities and they operate very fine programs but the one I saw that had some violent offenders there had worse issues than Giddings even thought of.
There can be a level system of disciplinary actions imposed on the youth that consistently misbehave up to and including isolating the problem from the youth who are not causing problems. Face it a very small number run the show at the facilities. The snake head needs to be cut off so the snake will die.
You're absolutely right that BMP's don't inherently violate Morales v. Turman, 1:36, and I hope I didn't imply otherwise. But that's not how solitary was being used under Bronco Billy (BB) and company, nor do those settlement terms countenance what is proposed presently by creating a separate ad-seg unit at Mart.
There aren't "misconceptions," they are legitimate fears that the agency will react the same way it did four years ago to virtually identical security crises under the TDCJ crew. After all, the headline of Ward's article today is "Officials may look to adult prisons to help solve juvenile security problems." You say the TDCJ-expat era was an aberration, but that's wishful thinking that flies in the face of what proponents of increased solitary use are actually suggesting, which is much more like ad seg in the adult system.
1:48, that again points to failings by the Legislature, not TJJD management. They consider it too expensive for example to provide adequate mental health treatmment outside the justice system so they wait till a crime is committed, somebody's been hurt or killed, then funnel the kids to TYC.
Missouri has a different population because they've made wiser choices about how to deal with youth who really needn't be in prison in the first place or who would do better in other placements. Here, Texas didn't do that because the Lege wanted to cut spending with reform. And sure, you can say it takes time, but we're five years into "reform." They've had time, and it's been frittered away.
As I've said before, if TJJD is going to move in this direction, it is imperative that they have a clear guidelines to ensure that history doen't repeat itself. First, there has to be a well-thought out, effective plan (program)developed and implemented. Everyone involved needs to be clear on the plan and the goals of the program. Treatment team participation is critical to success of the program and the kids. Oversight (real oversight) must occur. Having working with kids for 14 years, I learned that there will be those kids who can not or will not be reached, no matter how much we try or want to help them. It is foolish to believe otherwise. But that doesn'nt mean we stop trying.
Ok let me ask you this Grits.... knowing we are not getting anymore money or anymore staff, knowing that we are not getting smaller 24 bed facilities, knowing that we have a small sect of youth that are creating 99% of these problems - exactly what would you do under the current circumstances?
RE: 1:54PM
Scott: Have you ever been an administrator of a large organization? TJJD has resources it could devote to enhance behavioral health care services. They choose to waist dollars on nonessential IT staff and excessive administrative support staff. You can’t blame everything on the legislature. Transparency, integrity and accountability can overcome most of the problems that plague TJJD.
Scott,
Don't be ugly! Texas has a very unique history in Juvenile Corrections which is relative to and significantly impacts the institutional culture of these facilities. A comparative analysis to Missiouri is nonsensical. Its apples and oranges.
I encourage you to go visit the Mart facility and look at the physical plant. In 2007, we identified 554 youth who had seriously injured 6 or more people within a six month period. We did transfer some of the most challeging youth to this facility because of the unit's design and its unique security systems, but it was only after we sent these youths and their mother's a letter and gave all each of them the opportunity to stop injuring the staff members and the other kids. Those transferred were not receptive and continued to injure other people. It achieved the dseired result with the vast majority of the youth, but you are correct in suggesting that we transferred some to protect the majority of the people on those campuses.
I want you to analyze the data from July, August and September of 2007 relative to staff assaults, youth assaults, staff / youth injuries, physical restraints, and worker compensations claims. Why are you unwilling to review this data and submit an honest report of what you find?
BB
I agree, give the money it takes to house a mentally ill youth in the state facilities to local services to serve the kids BEFORE they committ a delinquent act. Been saying that for years and no one including current ED listens. Many plans proposed for regional mental health facilities but the only one in Gov office that listened and saw the light is no longer there.
Cricket
Yall need to lighten up. We need better understanding of how these parents feel about their kids. Here is a brief training:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beGphxXzI90&feature=relmfu
One hugh problem that is being overlooked is when the kids are finally committed they in most cases have been before a Judge in their county and havee been on several terms of probation. By the time they are committed it's a jock. They go down with the same attitude they had each time they were in court. "Nothing is going to happen." The whole system needs to be redone starting at the county level.
What's your findings on BB's stats there Grits? You ever going to address that? I believe that's the third time he called you out on the months he listed. Lets hear your take on it.
I recall a time when BB had requested to address the courts to explain his findings and to present his facts - and he was denied. That was about the same time Nedlekoff came on.
As much as you may hate him for whatever reason, he snuffed out the bullshit violence that was occurring back then in short order and in a very short period of time. Order was restored. Kids behaved and kids went home.
BB - Why don't you post these stats you keep referring to instead of making a challenge?
It seems like you know what they are and have some interpretation of why they look like they do.
Are you saying that locking young people down results in lower assault numbers? If so, does that need to be said. That is fine, but has little to do with rehabilitation in my opinion. If you post those stats, I'd ask you to do some further research. Compare the recidivism rates to some non-lockdown era.
1:36 - Are you indicating that the only misuse of power in a youth facility was when some TDCJ folks were involved? That seems like a very short-sighted look at the scope of the issue.
What is ole' BB doing these days? Last I heard he was on the parole board at TDCJ.... doing something with them.
Get in tune and get real - or get out off this conversation grits. Your dem. whitmire has had enough.I'm sure he's been planning for this as you've been picking flowers and smoking it's buds.
You are not even credible on the front bra. It's about to come to a political head and so save your ass. I think they realized what happened... it's going to be a certify game on each incident henceforth and all you liberals are to thank for that bra. We called this 5 years ago too so go look at your own archieves.
What a bitch liberal. But it's coming now....
Simple solution - make every youth a sentenced offender, so if they want to work the program, they can do so. But if they want to assault others, then they can be transferred to the adult system.
1:36 here again
Yes I am saying the TDCJ bunch who came in back in 2007 were extremely incompetent. Let's see TDCJ were ever so happy that those that came over to TYC that when their gig was up they were not invited to come back. The approach was over the top and did not have a clear plan in place, other than ridding the agency with those who had degrees because you felt out of place. The degrees you had were from American Studies International, or some other cyber place that was not credited.
And the sad thing about all of this your girl had a fast track to Whitmires and this still did not save you. So to sum this up, it was a failed experiment and should not repeat itself.
"Chuey"
how does a place that has as many employees as residents have issues with staffing?
Why are there so many different JCO classifications?Does each classification have a different role?
BB, the Missouri comparison is apples and oranges only because the Lege refused to follow advice of experts and instead followed your advice and other TDCJites, thinking you could substitute a raw crackdown for evidence-based juvenile justice practices. Speaking of which, if you want me to analyze data, provide it instead of just telling me to go do research. Otherwise, I tend to agree with Chuey and 7:19.
That said, I will try to go up and see the Mart facility. Maybe it's not "ad seg," but if it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck ...
2:31, the short answer: at this point if they won't spend money to do youth prisons right they should eliminate most of them and divest supervision to the counties.
3:45, I don't "blame everything on the legislature," but legislators would have us pretend it's ALL the agency's fault and they played no role. I find that disingenuous, which is why I keep highlighting that where we are today is primarily a result of THEIR decisions.
8:51, I don't know what this has to do with liberal or conservative. Conservative Rs have controlled the Lege and the governorship the whole time this has been going on. "Liberals" had no authority to impact the process at all. This was a scandal on conservatives' watch and all the "solutions" - both the ones that succeeded like shifting youth to counties and the ones that did not, like spray first, expanded solitary, and keeping big institutions open - were all imposed by arguably the most conservative legislature in the nation, or certainly in the top 3. These simply aren't liberal/conservative or partisan issues.
Grits is right: it is not politics. It is about money. Every Agency wants and "needs" more money. The legs just reacts to what they hear from the "experts". They really do not have a clue to how make an organization work. They sit in their chairs, for the most part, and make decisions. When they do "tour" a facility, it is with a group of people, and just a show. I continue to think we need to keep most of the juveniles at home and only send the violent to wherever. Simplify.
The Mart facility was built with federal funds and the purpsoe behind was for seg, this is factual. That does not mean it has to be utilized for this purpose, but that was the intent.
"Chuey"
First you can't have it both ways, report how out of control these juvenile FELONY offenders are and then complain when they move them IF it's based on the offenders own behavior!
Secondly, please stop dragging out the Missouri model, crap go look at what they do in Rhode Island! Texas is NOT Missouri there are all kinds of things that do not match up with the populations. And I was joking about RI, they are very successful with the 27 offenders last year!
In my view, the 'writing is on the wall' (or the Statesman?). The part of TJJD that was TYC will be replaced with either leave them in the county or send the to TDCJ. Maybe the lege will keep the part that was TJPC - too bad so many of the people that know how to run that part of the system have fled the agency. But that's not until the session - between now and then, Perry's man will be focused only on 'safety and security.
TYC used the Missouri model when Mountain View closed.This model was called Positive Peer Culture.The program is very effective with all type of offenders if all staff are properly trained. Kids that were housed at Mountain View were moved to the Hackberry unit that does not have a fence. While housed at Hackberry. We had fewer escapes and fewer assaults than any of the institutios.We were useing PPC.When Gatesville closed and we moved violent offenders to Giddings. We had the same results that we had at Hackberry. Again fewer escpes and fewer assaults than any of the other campuses.We had the strongest group program that existed anywhere in America. We were internationally respected. The agency's assault percentage was at an all time low. You can check the statics.When the scandal started to be exprored. Central office exec.staff panicked and abolished the agency's treatment and behavior management programs. Staff that were experts on teaching Behavior Manage were booted out of their positions.Treatment Specialists were fired or demoted. Since this happened. TYC has not had a sound treatment program. This why the agency is moving toward control and not treatment.You can cage these kids up for 30 days at a time. But once a person gets use to being locked down. They learn how to do time and then what kind of person will they be when they are put back on the dorms.Mr.Davis is my name.
Thanks 6:51. Don't bother Scott about it anymore 7:19. I guarantee you that he will never do that research and report his findings on what we accomplished during that time frame. Would be too much for him to process. 7:29 - I am selling fruit on the side of the road in East Texas. come see me some time.
Scott,
Veritas Splendor
BB
Mr. Davis -- One would think that, we, the so called SME would be asked what the
present problems are and how to
address them to resolve them.
BB, if you can leave your fruitstand for a moment to provide the data you want me to analyze, I'll look at it. I just don't typically accept research assignments from people who don't write me a paycheck.
Anyway, I remember well that "spray first" made staff injuries decline. I also remember that you were sued and had to stop, so I'm not sure what that data would tell us about how to proceed now. But when you present it, we can discuss it further.
BB,
You and I know the score, but isn't it funny how someone who has never been inside the grounds of a TYC/TJJD facility can stand on his hind legs and bray about he thinks goes on there.
By that logic, nobody can comment on the juvenile inmates unless they have been a juvenile inmate.
Nobody can comment on anything unless they have been that thing.
And presto! No dialogue, no thought, no understanding, and no progress. The argument is so stale it makes moldy bread appear fresh.
All the usual arguments are being trotted out: nobody but staff can legitimately comment; today's kids are so much worse than in the seventies and eighties; etc etc.
The problem, as many people warned at the time, is that cost savings rather than program quality and effectiveness have overly driven the entire "reform" process.
Should this come as a surprise given that the state also doesn't wish to invest in public education, children's mental health services, i.e., the exact things that would help prevent so many kids from ending up in JJ to begin with?
If we won't invest in kids on the front end, when they haven't done anything wrong "yet," why would we be stricken with a sudden attack of conscience and invest in them now that they have committed crimes?
The picture, big and small, never appears clearly or honestly. It would be merely disappointing except that real live people are being thrown into the meat grinder over it.
Bill B.
LOL. Thanks Scott. If I gave you the data, others would only question it's validity. It doesn't matter anyway. I know what most of the employees at TYC accomplished during that 90 day period. Our progress and reforms were halted as a direct result of incompetent leadership, not because I was sued.
For the record, best practices in both Juvenile and Adult Corrections are consistent with systems and policies requiring verbal intervention and other types of force where feasible(to include chemical force) prior to utilizing physical force. When we utilize physical force, people are always much more likely to be injured.
I follow your blog Scott Henson not to be argumentative and/or disrespectful. We may not always agree, but you do great research and the data you provide is very informative for a Criminal Justice practitioner.
My lunch offer still stands if ever I am in the Austin again and not too busy with these cantaloupes and peaches!
Take care.
BB
Bronco, still remember the fictitious bomb threat. All the drama with you Ayo, and the Pope, showing up to suspend me. Class act all of you, if any of this had any merit I would still have this mark against me. Issues like this truly show the integrity of those who carry out acts like this. With that said why would anything you state today have any merit. Are you saying you were just a pawn and blindly carried out the Popes vision?
In TYC the number of kids to staff ratio will never be equal. 12 to one is not a safe ratio. With this in mind who needs to model good interpersonal communication skills.Staff are hesitant to use words like please and thank you. What is wrong with addressing these young adults as Mr. and Miss.If staff don't develope a positive relationship with these young adults.Assaults on staff will increase. If this agency goes back to confinement and spray. A lot of hardend criminals will be created.If staff are the agency's most valuable resource. Why have staff stopped being trained on intervention skills.Staff are haveing to use survival skills because behavior management technique are non existence.There are staff within the agency that could really assist with training staff basic behavior management skills.Why has'nt the agency utilized these skillfull people.A lot of Central office staff are wearing titles but don't posess the skills. DD.
The following quote from September 2007 is appropriate to every dicussion on this issue contained herein, from 2007 to the present, on everything from use of force to behavior management, to just plain running the agency. Until it is fixed, all of this rhetoric means nothing.
"During the period of assessment by the consultant hired to examine the agency’s executive administrative operations, the culture was characterized by mixed value systems, a top down communication system, an attitude of indifference towards subordinate staff and agency customer base, indecisiveness and ‘absent leadership.’"
Texas and Missouri are "apples and oranges" and a "comparative analysis to Missouri is nonsensical"? Can someone please explain to me how the youth of Texas and Missouri are different or require handling in custody by a different method? Are Texas kids bigger, smarter, more violent, more organized, more educated, more manipulative? I ask because if Missouri is in fact more successful in rehabing individuals, any potentially evidence-based program would want to benchmark their methods. So what am I missing? I ask in all seriousness.
I'm not sure if it is an apt comparison to New York either, but they are in the midst of massive reform to smaller facilities. It has been rocky to say the least with a full on push to evidence based practices, and staff revolt at times.
The New York times just ran the following op-ed debate yesterday, June 5 at the following link:
http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/06/05/when-to-punish-a-young-offender-and-when-to-rehabilitate
Mr Davis, if you’re the same dorm man I remember, I can’t believe you are still alive, what with the aids virus and all. If I remember correctly you were part of the small group affirmative action employees who came in the 70’s. You seemed to favor the black punks or the black kids who had homosexual tendencies as staff were trained to say. You put a nice spin on Positive Peer Culture as practiced at the View and Hackberry. The staff training for PPC was about having the dorm man go out for a smoke while the kid in whom group was called had his ass kicked by his peers. This is the culture practiced at Gatesville for decades but after Morales vs Turman it was put into a politically correct package for the courts. This is what got transferred to Giddings and this is what broke down and now had Giddings in the spotlight.
Man you people really don’t know your history.
Shame I would have to take a pay cut to do Cherrie job or I could help implement PPC.
06/06 11:30 The kids aren't any different. It's the program...
The foundation of the Missouri model is an interactive approach between youth, families, treatment center staff and community staff. It takes a caring, personal approach rather than a correctional approach to treating young people. More specifically, the following are the essential elements that make the Missouri Model:
Community Services for Low-Risk Youth
Comprehensive, Group Rehabilitative Services
Strong Link to Family and Community
Staff Provide Services and Supervision
The staff are counselors, not guards. They supervise, implement group and individual treatment plans, provide group counseling and develop constructive relationships with the youth. The counselors work with the same group of youth from their admission through their release.
Staff receive extensive training on how to take on these new and different responsibilities. They all have some college education; about two-thirds have bachelor degrees or higher. They receive intensive ongoing training in working with young people and addressing the underlying causes of young people’s problems and behavior.
Open Dorm Model That Promotes Therapeutic Approach
Seamless Transition and Post-Release Services
Aftercare planning begins at admission. Comprehensive aftercare plans include educational, vocational, counseling and employment services.
Proven Effectiveness
Youth reenter the juvenile justice system at very low rates. According to the FY 2007 Annual Report for the Missouri Division of Youth Services, the recidivism rate during FY2007 was 7.3%, and has remained low over the past five years. The rate referred to the percentage of youth re-entering the division during the fiscal year who had received discharges during the current or previous fiscal year.
Pay particular attention to the "Supervision" section.
Anonymous 6/4/2012 1:36pm its Morales vs. Turdman, Alicia’s name comes first; it’s always the victims name first. And this is about a whole bunch of victims, tyc inmates.
You people running TJJD are simply being told how to do it wrong. And it’s a safe assumption that the people who are telling you people wrong are steeped in idiocracy enough that they think they are in the right. If we the people, and that includes you people, don’t get rid of those lawyers gone politician on the corrections committee not only will the mistakes of the last decade continue to be repeated, but apparently the mistake of the last 50 years will be repeated.
Mountain View State School for Boys was such a facility set up for boys whom staff couldn’t handle in the other facilities. Very few violent offenders, most of the boys had rabbit fever. You don’t jack with the tyc inventory. The intent behind Mountain View was right on, its implementation went bad. The kids that want to do their time and get the hell out don’t need to be bothered by the generational shit bag kids that glorify the thug life. This lack of civilized thinking is generational. Segregate their stinking ass so the other kids can get the hell out of your world. Let that garbage staff that are on their same reading level be their state mommas and daddys until they are old enough to go live at uncle Bobo’s plantation.
At the same time set up an honors school like Sycamore was. This will also help to further segregate the salvageable kids from your population. Reward what you want repeated is good, but Cherrie was enabling the thug life, is that what you want repeated?
Sheldon,you seem to forget that you praised me I stated that TYC needs to go back to teaching the basics of Behavior Management. I was the groupleader on Dorm three. You were never under my direct supervision.You say that you were treated badly at Gatesville. To bad i didn't know you. I would have protected you also.As for the Missouri Program. I visited the institution in 1979.They didn't house violent offenders.Their program was for kids that hadn't killed.At Mountain View,Harry Vorath and his team personally trained us on PPC.He developed PPC. We were trained by them personally for two years.Several of us from Gatesville along with Mr. Calvin the supereintendent of Gatesville attended the National Positive Peer Culture and Guided Group Intervention seminar in AnArbor Michigan. It was quoted that Gatesville's Positive Peer Culture program was more advanced than any institution in America. We housed violent offenders without a fence and we didn't lock our doors at any time.This Safe Culture model was used throughout TYC. The group program existed until 2007.The legislature never told TYC to abandon this program. After our entire leadership staff were fired(executive were fired)some remaining executive staff decided to try and impliment a new program. Brownwood was the only institution that didn't support this progeam.Brownwood had just got the girls back. Giddings was Co ed before the transfer to Brownwood.When the girls were at Giddings they had mastered the Group program. Three of the girl dorms were used as training dorms for the campus. This program was designed to trea anytype kid,violent or non violent.TYC has not had a Safe Culture since this program was thrown away.All i am saying that a lot of people don't know the positive accoplishments made by this agency. We were once looked as a positve force internationally.This program was supported by 4 executive directors prior to 2007. I am pro TYC. I have had the pleasure of training and developing top notch behavior specialist for over 30 years.David Davis
Sheldon you must have wanted to go to Moutain View. You knew that you were classified as a chronic runner.You would receive a Moutainview hearing and sent to Mountainview.You want to make people think that you wittness a lot of abuse. You were not at Mountainview when kids were beat and abused.You knew that if you ran that you would get caught and sent back to Gatesville. You must have really hated your life at home to keep coming back to the abuse you said you received at Gatesville.
Mr Davis, do you remember how well kept the grounds were at Gatesville? Go see how tdcj keeps the grounds now, awful. Perhaps it’s a sign of the difference in how tyc manages compared to how tdcj manages.
I received a below average amount of abuse when in Gatesville; mostly ass whooping by security staff, mostly while hanging on the wall in CIC. Nothing I didn’t deserve. I was initially sent to Mountain View but reclassified and sent to Terrace once my family found out. At Terrace I was an office boy, well connected, ran the store and had family that provided financial perks for staff. I certainly didn’t need any protection. “Holding G by wit is the only way to hold G” as I would say. My last year there I drove the tractor so I could run contraband between the schools without having to pay off the trash haul boys.
Its not that I hated my life at home I liked being in Gatesville, I learned how to run an organization in Gatesville. How’s that for a tyc and me poster boy? TYC couldn’t break my sprit and is why I’m so successful today. I’m still holding G but we call it something else now. If tyc was a normal private school I would be a major financial contributing alumnus. lol
And yes I saw a ton of abuse. The people of Gatesville mastered the art of Schadenfreude and its well practiced today on women.
Mr Calvin, was Crenshaw to me, he had his little sidekick Buckner. Mr. Place was running things for the White boys during my stay; Crenshaw was a token for the law suite and the hillbilly staff to make fun of. The culture Judge Justice sought to shut down was packaged up and called PPC; then presented by colored staff in a minstrel show to outsiders. Timing being what it was back then people bought it hook line and stinker. Meanwhile tyc remained as if Morales vs Turman never happened.
Sycamore wasn’t any more an honors school than Terrace was a shit hole. The bottom line was Sycamore was predominantly White and Terrace was predominately colored. And that’s what deemed them honor schools and shit holes. They knew it was important to separate the more civilized boys from the animals in spite of the Brown Vs the BoE. It’s what you people are going to do now whether you realize it or not. One day this social science experiment in political correctness will be deemed a failure and we as a society can stop singling out a week minded culture that’s easily enabled to behave in a less than civilized manor. Perhaps then skin color won’t divide us down in the animal kingdom of American society.
Good luck TJJD with your latest form of (administrative) segregation. You people are always so entertaining; in a minstrel show sort of way.
It seems that a lots of people like to critisize the way TYC used to be.To me it seems people do this to avoid talking about what is needed now.The treatment department and training department has been stuggling since 2007 to develope a treatment module that meets the needs of our clients.Staff need to request for the program writers demonstrate the group program to them useing the kids. If a program doesnot meet the needs of our difficult kids . Through the program away.Good luck !!!!
A Greek tragedy lacks the Drama of the ongoing saga into the most effective method of rahabilitating at risk youth.
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