tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post117312239198097367..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: New TYC chief threatens employees?Gritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-79749290970152706082012-08-25T21:34:24.866-05:002012-08-25T21:34:24.866-05:00Really helpful information, lots of thanks for you...Really helpful information, lots of thanks for your post.Penelopehttp://www.mariettaga.gov/redir.aspx?url=http://www.theguildedpage.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1173240933513476532007-03-06T22:15:00.000-06:002007-03-06T22:15:00.000-06:00Scott, Did the TYC board get info on this and w...Scott,<BR/><BR/> Did the TYC board get info on this and when? Why is Perry not listening to the Lt. Gov. ? Sounds to me like Perry is covering up still. I'm just the avg. Bexar and if I see the problem here with Owens, Kimbrough and Perry then all in the know should be outraged. TYC employees may I suggest the United Steel Workers Union!!!!! If you had a voice then this would have been stopped a long time ago. Welcome to the fight - Hope you can battle on with us Adult Probation Officers and fix this darn broken TDCJ system!!! Join us as we push forward to root out evil and corruption. Sound like you have both. Oh!! by the way bet your wages are low and your understaffed also!! but I'm sure the directors and admin are overpaid!!! Power to the People!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1173239963053500782007-03-06T21:59:00.000-06:002007-03-06T21:59:00.000-06:00Sounds like Ed Owens is Bill Fitzgerald's brother-...Sounds like Ed Owens is Bill Fitzgerald's brother- and both need to go!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1173222491060271572007-03-06T17:08:00.000-06:002007-03-06T17:08:00.000-06:00Police Investigate All 22 Texas Youth Prisons for ...Police Investigate All 22 Texas Youth Prisons for Inmate Abuse Tuesday, March 06, 2007 AUSTIN, Texas — Police went to 22 Texas Youth Commission facilities and the agency headquarters Tuesday to investigate claims that young inmates were sexually abused and that agency officials covered it up. Jay Kimbrough, appointed by the governor to look into the allegations at a West Texas youth prison, said the officers would conduct interviews at the prisons and halfway houses, secure equipment and collect documents if necessary. He also issued a warning to agency employees. "If you are part of this gig, you need to move on or we're going to find you and prosecute you," Kimbrough said. Click here for FOXNews.com's Crime center. The Texas Youth Commission houses about 2,700 offenders ages 10 to 21 who are considered the most dangerous, incorrigible or chronic. Its new board chairman pledged Tuesday that the agency would cooperate with the investigations. "I'd like to assure everyone that the board is very, very interested in a new direction of the Texas Youth Commission," Don Bethel said. "We are going to cooperate with everyone." Late last month, state lawmakers questioned agency staff about an investigation in 2005 that had found evidence that high-ranking officials at the West Texas State School in Pyote had repeated sexual contact with some of the 250 boys and young men housed there. An internal investigation found prison staff members had complained about the abuse to their supervisors but that no one took action for more than a year. State lawmakers have complained that they did not know of the problems until this year. But the agency's former chief of staff, Joy Anderson, sent an e-mail about the problem to staff members of several members of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee in March 2005. The e-mail, given to reporters, said up to 19 students were alleged to have been subjected to sexual abuse or inappropriate behavior, and said staff members were "deeply" upset by the allegations. Sen. John Whitmire, the committee's chairman, said he never got a copy of the e-mail and didn't even know there was a facility in Pyote until three weeks ago. The Texas Senate asked Republican Gov. Rick Perry last week to fire the board and take over the troubled agency. Perry instead demoted the board's chairman and appointed Kimbrough, his former deputy chief of staff, as a special master to conduct an independent investigation. He also ordered the agency's acting executive director to design and implement a rehabilitation plan. The recently appointed acting executive director, Ed Owens, said the agency will have a "zero tolerance policy of any type of mistreatment of youth." Late last month, state lawmakers questioned agency staff about an investigation in 2005 that had found evidence that high-ranking officials at the West Texas State School in Pyote had repeated sexual contact with some of the 250 boys and young men housed there. An internal investigation found prison staff members had complained about the abuse to their supervisors but that no one took action for more than a year. State lawmakers have complained that they did not know of the problems until this year. But the agency's former chief of staff, Joy Anderson, sent an e-mail about the problem to staff members of several members of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee in March 2005. The e-mail, given to reporters, said up to 19 students were alleged to have been subjected to sexual abuse or inappropriate behavior, and said staff members were "deeply" upset by the allegations. Sen. John Whitmire, the committee's chairman, said he never got a copy of the e-mail and didn't even know there was a facility in Pyote until three weeks ago. The Texas Senate asked Republican Gov. Rick Perry last week to fire the board and take over the troubled agency. Perry instead demoted the board's chairman and appointed Kimbrough, his former deputy chief of staff, as a special master to conduct an independent investigation. He also ordered the agency's acting executive director to design and implement a rehabilitation plan. The recently appointed acting executive director, Ed Owens, said the agency will have a "zero tolerance policy of any type of mistreatment of youth."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1173211421704881152007-03-06T14:03:00.000-06:002007-03-06T14:03:00.000-06:00My concern and confusion came from this sentence, ...My concern and confusion came from this sentence, "To this end, one of my first tasks is to thoroughly review each staff member’s resume and to conduct interviews with individuals in management positions to determine your suitability for continued employment with this agency."<BR/><BR/>It may just be inartfully worded and not meant as a threat. It may be directed more at upper level management...it's hard to tell from the way it's written. <BR/><BR/>But when he talks about reviewing each staff member's resume...that seems excessive. He can't possibly really mean to look at every single TYC employee. That would be micromanagement at a level that defies belief. <BR/><BR/>This whole thing is just surreal.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1173204105793182312007-03-06T12:01:00.000-06:002007-03-06T12:01:00.000-06:00“Ordinary TYC Employee” – how long have you worked...“Ordinary TYC Employee” – how long have you worked for TYC? Do you work directly with the TYC youth? Have you ever been attacked by a TYC youth? I think your response to these questions might give us a feel for where you are coming from.<BR/><BR/>You said - If staff are not willing/capable of doing the same, then make room for someone who is! It sounds like you are a legend in your own mind! By the way TYC can’t hire enough people to work as it is so the last thing most of the units is for someone to leave. You sound like you have potential to become TYC administration.<BR/><BR/>You also said - The mission and policies of the agency are not broken. I think the Legislature might not agree with you. Denial is not a river in Egypt!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1173198674644016722007-03-06T10:31:00.000-06:002007-03-06T10:31:00.000-06:00Again, I ask how can Rissie and Ed keep their jobs...Again, I ask how can Rissie and Ed keep their jobs? She is rotten to the bone and so is he and for Mr. Perry to appoint him to this high position, is totally absurd!<BR/><BR/>Has there ever been a Texas Governor impeached? Now is the time. He is worthless and only out to better himself. To allow even Rissie and Ed be in the same department is against rules and then to appoint Ed to a higher office is totally wrong. You do not threaten employees, you watch to see who is causing the trouble and then get rid of them. Some had better be done about the and TDCJ which is just as corrupt as TYC and no one is even looking at them. Look at the innocent people there, they are the ones who are suffering the abuse dished out by the guards and also the last ones to get paroled. Now is the time to go after them also. Clean our State up!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1173195178224080672007-03-06T09:32:00.000-06:002007-03-06T09:32:00.000-06:00As a probation officer I can feel your pain. It's ...As a probation officer I can feel your pain. It's about time Austin put an end to this abuse!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1173193708163887942007-03-06T09:08:00.000-06:002007-03-06T09:08:00.000-06:00If you can comment from where you are, you might j...If you can comment from where you are, you might just cut and paste it into the comments from salutation to signature and leave off the header!Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1173193013439494532007-03-06T08:56:00.000-06:002007-03-06T08:56:00.000-06:00still stuck on a state computer...but I should hav...still stuck on a state computer...but I should have access tonight to one that isn't...if you haven't already recieved a copy of that email by then I'll try to send it tonightAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1173187773082062532007-03-06T07:29:00.000-06:002007-03-06T07:29:00.000-06:00Belly-aching here helps a little!FYI, when comment...Belly-aching here helps a little!<BR/><BR/>FYI, when commenters make specific allegations that need to be investigated I've been forwarding them to the relevant folks at the Lege who are looking into things.<BR/><BR/>That said, now that we have differing interpetations, I really want to see that email! Somebody forward it so I don't have to file an open records request.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1173187277334574872007-03-06T07:21:00.000-06:002007-03-06T07:21:00.000-06:00Sorry, not Tim Savoy! I'm just an ordinary TYC emp...Sorry, not Tim Savoy! I'm just an ordinary TYC employee. I take blame where blame is due and give credit where credit is due. I'm not to blame for West Texas and how Central office handled it. It doesn't keep me from doing my job and being proud of what I do.<BR/><BR/>If you have other issues, then I hope you are writing them all down for the State Auditors or sending them to your elected representative, etc. Please do something constructive with what you know and see -- the belly-aching here will just give you ulcers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1173150270873576922007-03-05T21:04:00.000-06:002007-03-05T21:04:00.000-06:00Little Timmy (TYC Central Office Spin Doctor) must...Little Timmy (TYC Central Office Spin Doctor) must be the author of the above post! I am glad you were not offended by the email in question but TYC employees were. I am even more offended that the upper administration at TYC have made many hard working people look very bad and placed their jobs in great jeopardy.<BR/><BR/>I find it interesting that San Saba TYC unit and the Marlin Unit will be given back to TDCJ. These are the same two TYC units that tried to let the press know about the dangerous conditions inside of TYC. Looks like PAY BACK to me. Speak up and your job is history at TYC.<BR/><BR/>The San Saba unit will be closed putting several hundred people out of work. TYC is the primary employer in San Saba. From what I hear the Marlin unit will be moved into the Mart 1 facility. Marlin, Texas will loose 425 TYC jobs and gain about 75 TDCJ jobs for a net loss of 350 jobs. Both of these rural towns will be hard hit and support businesses will close.<BR/><BR/>Remember the Mart units are where TYC can’t keep enough staff to keep the entire facility open. A relatively stable unit will be moved where many workers will have to spend 3 to 4 hours on the road to commute to work. How long will it before the Assessment and Orientation Unit is an under staffed mess?<BR/><BR/>If I were given the task of destroying TYC, I could not do a better job than is being done. I could not create the level of personal hardship that is happening to TYC employees and a couple of small Texas towns.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1173136667202607932007-03-05T17:17:00.000-06:002007-03-05T17:17:00.000-06:00I am a TYC employee. I received the same email. I ...I am a TYC employee. I received the same email. I was not threatened or slighted by the message or the tone. That's just fear and anger speaking through other employees! Maybe some people are afraid the Gov/Leg/Mr. Owens will do the proverbial, "throw out the baby with the bath water."<BR/><BR/>Hopefully, we are all adults working at TYC. If you are doing your job, following proper policy and procedure, then you will be helping troubled youth find a new future. TYC strives to hold young offenders accountable for their actions and teach them new ways of acting. If staff are not willing/capable of doing the same, then make room for someone who is!<BR/><BR/>The mission and policies of the agency are not broken. When we are "on task" we protect the rights of young offenders and we make a difference in their lives. The stats show we do a good job. And, yes, we could do even better with more staff - well-trained and paid a decent wage.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1173134764391378372007-03-05T16:46:00.000-06:002007-03-05T16:46:00.000-06:00Typical new management maneuever! Take everything...Typical new management maneuever! Take everything away and then when you give it back, you hope to appear to be generous and thoughtful. That is so yesterday....in the mgmt. world, looks like Mr. Owens is way behind the times. Looks like the problem may be that he doesn's have anything to give back. He should have thought of that first. I agree, this does not bode well for TYC!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1173128918286190882007-03-05T15:08:00.000-06:002007-03-05T15:08:00.000-06:00There are many of us out here who wonder what Ed O...There are many of us out here who wonder what Ed Owens did for TDCJ. The only time he was seen was in his matching blue suit with Brian Collier at an Appropriations Committee meeting. Oops! Maybe it was Livingston and Collier who had matching suits...you know, they all look alike to me. They sit around beating on their Blackberries as though they actually have work to do. What has Owens got on Perry to get all these lush appointments for he and Miss Rissie?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1173126272400623682007-03-05T14:24:00.000-06:002007-03-05T14:24:00.000-06:00I got the referrenced. I'm on a work computer...bu...I got the referrenced. I'm on a work computer...but as soon as I'm not and it can't be traced...I can send you that letter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com