tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post2571808045147331926..comments2024-03-15T05:45:01.402-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: Ombudsman beefs with alleged bullying, extortion at Giddings state schoolGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-21137527717051259682012-05-09T23:59:06.934-05:002012-05-09T23:59:06.934-05:00As an employee of the TJJD, I can say that I was a...As an employee of the TJJD, I can say that I was able to be exposed to both Resocialization and ConNEXTions. Resocialization was a better program, indeed. This new program is supposed to be an incentive-based program, but these "kids" as someone put it are not supposed to be learning to behave well for a treat at the end of the day. There are no incentive snacks in the REAL WORLD. It seems to me that this program is just a bribery attempt to get the kids to behave a certain way, so they can be shoveled through the system, and then put back into the exact same environments from which they came. The whole thing is a big failure. I could go on and on about the problems, but its a hopeless idea. The Policy writers need to come onto the "floor" as we JCO's call it, and see whats really going on before they write policy. THEN and only then, should they write policy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-40859225886918072172012-05-05T19:33:34.280-05:002012-05-05T19:33:34.280-05:00I called 2 grievances in never got followed up and...I called 2 grievances in never got followed up and 3rd time I called I was told I never called to file any grievance before that nothing was on file ,so after a call to dcf and them having no entry rights to check on children in lock up ,to call oig to make a complaint ,I also found Debbie through them ,she is a diligent,hard working women and follows through to insure our children safety , she deserves much credit ,Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-86206101501214340532012-04-28T06:10:14.685-05:002012-04-28T06:10:14.685-05:00While they are looking into Giddings, they should ...While they are looking into Giddings, they should look into Gainesville because the same think is taking place on its campus. Not only is there severe gang activity but the racism among the staff is horrible to. Take a look at the injuries that take place on the campuses. Conextions is a joke because all it does is cause bribery. Staff have no power to control situation and the kids know this. This is why staff are getting beat up and badly hurt. Gainesville hides a lot and threatens staff if they complain. So staff continue to get beat up and the kids are not being helped. <br /><br />Did we really think anything was going to change by keeping Townsend and her buddies? Umm, nope!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-25056592258038492652012-04-27T02:48:49.739-05:002012-04-27T02:48:49.739-05:00Kids will be kids. Criminal kids will be criminal...Kids will be kids. Criminal kids will be criminals... even if they are technical "kids" or not. Give them the opportunity to take over the culture and administration of a high security campus, and they WILL -- no kidding. Seen it happen as Giddings.<br /><br />When the State lets a kid with a record of felonies get through the System up to the age of 18 and then proclaims him a full member fit to rejoin Society -- I want to make sure they did their job right. Don't think it's happening, but don't ask me -- ask people who WORK as JCO 1-4's there what THEY think.<br /><br />An unvarnished truth is about to come out, and time the State has to do spin damage control before it does makes me hope officials can get to the bottom of what's gone wrong at the State Schools and get these deeply entrenched (but easily identifiable) SNAFU'S either FIXED or ELIMINATED. No more hiding behind tenure, race, position(s) or family -- out with the old, in with the new. Just do what it takes!<br /><br />The kids are worth it. Staff deserve it. It's the right thing to do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-71805005720883213272012-04-26T21:40:18.324-05:002012-04-26T21:40:18.324-05:00If the likes of chief Michael Meade had not shown ...If the likes of chief Michael Meade had not shown his face on campus this would not have broken into the public eye. People like him care about what is going on . Why does the rest of the board or that advisory council not get off their butts and do something. Kids run this place. Young CRIMINALS they are.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-33051305800100855752012-04-26T08:11:43.801-05:002012-04-26T08:11:43.801-05:00TYC hasn't changed, there are new headlines ev...TYC hasn't changed, there are new headlines everyday!<br />But has much as the "culture" can't change as long as the leadership stays the same, part of the problem may not be on Lamar Street!<br /><br />Letting Madden have this as his swan song was a joke from day one, it was bigger and more complex than figuring the insurance rates on a 16 year old driver with three tickets! If you think he had a real grasp of the situation watch him attempt to answer questions on the floor of the house when his bill was up for debate. His inability to handle even simplest question allows some of these problems to be shared by every house member who didn't pay attention and voted for his bill.<br /><br />But we can't put all the blame in Maddens soon to be vacant office. Part of his bill wasn't his bill, it was Whitmires bill. But the " dean of the senate" got busy somewhere else and laid low while this whole situation handed to the obviously overwhelmed Madden.<br /><br />It is still time to try to change the " culture" of TYC. Part of that culture that needs to be changed could be downtown, Madden saw the it was time to go and is soon to be gone. The "dean " has had over site of TYC through every scandal ! <br /><br />Google Whitmire AND TYC, you'll find years and years of his rants and the problems persist. Maybe just maybe the new leadership on the house side should have a new partner in the senate. Not an understudy or Whitmire wanna-be. <br /><br />Maybe only new ideas can come from new leadership.<br />It's at least something to consider. If not then let's stop talking and start acting like these kids matter. Every day you delay another group of kids goes through a system people know is messed up!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-48833173459464851482012-04-24T20:02:50.059-05:002012-04-24T20:02:50.059-05:00Something’s never change
Gatesville --> Gidding...Something’s never change<br />Gatesville --> Giddings<br />tyc + null --> tjjd<br /><br />Culture dynamics don’t change much in animals how silly to think it could change at tyc. <br />How about that Mr Jackson?<br />What about you Mr. Jenson?Sheldon tyc#47333https://www.blogger.com/profile/17236854879241753231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-69034830554698460312012-04-24T19:58:53.699-05:002012-04-24T19:58:53.699-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Sheldon tyc#47333https://www.blogger.com/profile/17236854879241753231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-69799722018408173452012-04-24T11:11:05.741-05:002012-04-24T11:11:05.741-05:00Oh, I forgot to add this: and then make the JCOs a...Oh, I forgot to add this: and then make the JCOs and Case Managers (who say, "this doesn't sound the least bit right") make them, force them to apply this wrong headed program. Yeah, Chutzpah.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-25712506771320771332012-04-24T11:02:07.784-05:002012-04-24T11:02:07.784-05:00It's a grand experiment - to see what happens ...It's a grand experiment - to see what happens when we reward bad behavior, let them intimidate and assault their peers and then turn them loose unrepentant. Chutzpah.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-53348110410221751222012-04-23T23:17:12.637-05:002012-04-23T23:17:12.637-05:00Surely to hell that last poster is right on. Surel...Surely to hell that last poster is right on. Surely to hell I am former TYC and saying this was a mistake. Surely to hell Rick Perry deserves what he has coming to him. Surely to hell picking Cherie Townend over Vicky was a mistake. Surely to hell to argue I was deep in those discussions and many of of TYC folks left in disbelief.....<br /><br />Surely to hell Cherie Townsend is your leader - one of whom none is Central office has any respect.<br /><br />But I bet this: John Whitmire won't clean her. He's a chump as well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-70411283808587928192012-04-23T15:46:50.364-05:002012-04-23T15:46:50.364-05:00Surely to hell...
Never said there were not areas...Surely to hell...<br /><br />Never said there were not areas of improvement for dealing with juvenile offenders. <br /><br />Surely to hell you see problems in TYC as major. <br /><br />Surely to hell you see TYC then and TYC now handleing things the same way. Either CO didn't know what was going on OR they suffle people around to address the issue and responsibilty NEVER goes downtown.<br /><br />Surely to hell you realize its the same people with a new name.<br /><br />Surely to hell you have read all the post here and elsewhere from staff begging for help. <br /><br />Surely to hell you are happy with the "all is well here, move on nothing to see here" approach, and thats fine since thats what the folks in Austin wanted.<br /><br />All I said was lets stop calling it TJJD and call it what it is, TYC.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-51769944546238623712012-04-23T13:32:16.995-05:002012-04-23T13:32:16.995-05:00To 4/23 at 8:01
Surely to hell you aren't sug...To 4/23 at 8:01<br /><br />Surely to hell you aren't suggesting that TYC is the only thing that was broke down in the system?<br /><br />Remember, before they go to TYC they are on juvenile proabtion.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-33965869864904349842012-04-23T08:01:23.546-05:002012-04-23T08:01:23.546-05:00Let's at least agree to stop saying TJJD! It&#...Let's at least agree to stop saying TJJD! It's TYC all over again and getting to hide behind this "new agency", it's nothing but TYC. Madden yacked about bringing the best of TJPC to the troubled agency, and CT has completely disregarded everything done by TJPC since its inception.<br /><br />So it's TYC and let's be honest enough to at least admit that. <br /><br />If Madden where your doctor and one of your kidneys was shutting down he would remove the other one! And act shocked that your still sick!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-2673769116902959532012-04-23T02:23:48.088-05:002012-04-23T02:23:48.088-05:00One thing that's always puzzled me is how some...One thing that's always puzzled me is how some people will refer to a 16 or 17 year old -- who already has a couple illegitimate kids... numerous gang tattoos... a few serious felonies under his belt... and was finally incarcerated for pistol whipping some old Granny on the mean streets of Houston or San Antonio for a few buck --- how ANYONE can consider or refer to such a person as a CHILD. Sorry, I just can't see it. TJJD serves Young Men, and maybe some Youth, sure -- but CHILDREN? Techincally I suppose some of them could be considered "kids"... but if they're locked up at Giddings, by and large, "children" they're NOT, in my eyes, anyhow.<br /><br />This was brought to home even more when I was watching one of those "Lock Up" shows on TV a while back. It was about juveniles and the justice system, their incarcerations, etc. And it occurred to me the producers of those shows simply don't "get it". The rank and file who work with these kids know the score, and know how often they will do whatever it takes to STAY INCARCERATED, just to keep from having to face any responsibility, go to school, deal with their babies, maintain normal relationships, etc. The producers instead focus on how sad the kids are, how hard it is to be behind bars, how much they miss (and are missed by) their families? HA!!!! As IF!!!!<br /><br />When the kids on the show act bratty or criminally stoopid, they are seen as misunderstood and somehow tragic figures who deserve to be able to behave without consequences since they are young and for some reason don't know better. NO WAY am I gonna fall for that crap, but John Q. Public who watches these shows must be sitting in his easy chair thinking "Hmmmm. Boy, those kids got it ROUGH."<br /><br />What they DON'T see is the slip and slides, snow cones, flat screen 3-D TV's, video games, pizza, general contraband and sleazy sex that the kids find available when they get locked up... and how much they LIKE IT compared to living at home or on the streets.<br /><br />Rehabilitation, indeed. Gag me...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-29538150409748754942012-04-22T19:41:21.185-05:002012-04-22T19:41:21.185-05:00@ 4/22/2012 03:44:00 PM
Hugging the thugs? Perhap...@ 4/22/2012 03:44:00 PM<br /><br />Hugging the thugs? Perhaps. If that's all you have to post in this thread, makes me wonder what you're doing with them. Guilty conscience?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-4823286884631988402012-04-22T15:44:06.034-05:002012-04-22T15:44:06.034-05:00Look at 2/22 @ 1:08 hugging the thugs.... really n...Look at 2/22 @ 1:08 hugging the thugs.... really now..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-3837114303934027922012-04-22T15:41:49.805-05:002012-04-22T15:41:49.805-05:00Who would yall rather have? The Pope and Broco Bil...Who would yall rather have? The Pope and Broco Billy or the F'ugly Townsend and Smith? I'd take Pope over this group any day. I'd bring Kimbro back and clean this house fo' sure.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-12023459971900419172012-04-22T13:08:37.285-05:002012-04-22T13:08:37.285-05:00Maybe if these little bastards had made better dec...Maybe if these little bastards had made better decisions prior to their incarceration (ie., choosing not to rape, steal, kill, or rob), they wouldn't be this situation.<br /><br />4/22/2012 09:16:00 AM<br /><br />Response to 9:16<br /><br />Seriously? Little bastards is literally correct in most cases. No one taught them... nevermind. A 14 year old is a CHILD - period. This CHILD has been committed to the care and custody of TYC - to ADULTS! Are you insinuating that a child deserves to be victimized? If you are, then you are as guilty as anyone for the abuse these kids are suffering at the hands of the people who are supposed to take care of them. What if it was YOUR child? You are obviously clueless.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-9331266087467599102012-04-22T11:42:27.401-05:002012-04-22T11:42:27.401-05:00What we are facing is a belief system, the current...What we are facing is a belief system, the current reigning ideology of corrections. This belief system hovers above the ground, unsullied by the taint of realism or unpleasant facts. It hovers or levitates and is out of reach of those who see its effect at close hand. Conextions, CoNEXTions.<br /><br />Is it merely permissiveness gone mad or is there more to this? As if to reverse the natural order of things, bad behavior is rewarded, promiscuously rewarded. The urges of criminality are understood by these ideologues and these urges are rewarded—why expect youth to change? Why expect a real change of behavior, isn’t that unfair? Why not become partners with and supporters of this criminality? They, the believers, have dozens of fresh theories to back it up. No one at the scene believes them, but some, to get ahead, pretend to.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-22552364183104994402012-04-22T11:20:37.450-05:002012-04-22T11:20:37.450-05:00We can always depend on the dog and pony shows to ...We can always depend on the dog and pony shows to convince those who don't see or understand the real signs. Is the facility culture really a form of contagion? How long does it take to infect a new hire? Once infected, does anyone ever recover? If they did, wouldn't they suffer professional suicide?<br /><br />Response to 9:29 a.m.:<br /><br />Contagion? Absolutely. The time it takes to infect a new hire? It depends the new hire's spiritual, emotional, and moral health. Those who are infected don't consider their behavior to be symptoms of wicked contagion - they just get sicker and sicker. No one recovers, from full blown infection or even from mere exposure. However, the chances for survival and professional success following exposure are much greater "in the free". Veteran TYC staff who have maintained their morality and sanity through so many years of service are better humans beings than I could ever hope to be.Anyonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02540557037924742847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-30997771861650512042012-04-22T10:38:48.242-05:002012-04-22T10:38:48.242-05:00You know, it has been 5 years and TJJD is just ano...You know, it has been 5 years and TJJD is just another name for an agency who was failing. You can change the name, but it takes more to change what it is. The legislature went in with their political agenda and instead of approaching the problems with TYC in a manner to identify the main issues, they decided to wipe it out completely. A witch hunt was done on staff and there were some bad ones who needed to go, but unfortunately, so great ones were sacrificed. And for what? It went for staff abusing kids to kids abusing kids and kids abusing staff. When is this cycle going to stop. It is a shame that they did not look at the Resocialization program closer and instead of replacing it, looking at the parts which weren't working and why. No program is going to come in and be perfect, but resocialization did work better than the current one Connections. These kids are our future, what are we dong for them now? Many staff are afraid to do anything, let alone make a youth stay longer due to assaultive or other negative behavior because they might lose their jobs. The youth know this and this has created a very unsafe environment. What happened to the days when leaving the state school for a halfway house was a privilege for good behavior. Where did the privilege to get a job and earn money before they went home a privilege that not only helped the youth financially, but mentally!! I remember the days when a youth was being placed back home for parole and when his parents came to pick him up, the pride he had when he was able to show them the amount of money he made and how he wanted to help out with the bills etc. Not until you get back to where the youth can again see the rewards for good behavior can you be successful with the youth you serve.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-46944704165880344342012-04-22T09:29:10.690-05:002012-04-22T09:29:10.690-05:00From 03:25
A youth who is the victim of another yo...From 03:25<br />A youth who is the victim of another youth ("on bow") has hollow eyes, shows hardly any emotion, is alarmingly thin, usually has bruises, scabs, or other wounds, is jumpy, keeps his head down, and rarely speaks. <br /><br />Response to 03:25:<br />We see these youth, but we don't see them. Good ole TJJD. Good ole Giddings (and others). What sinister forces keep this culture in play. How eager we are to keep all this hidden and intact. <br /><br />We can always depend on the dog and pony shows to convince those who don't see or understand the real signs. Is the facility culture really a form of contagion? How long does it take to infect a new hire? Once infected, does anyone ever recover? If they did, wouldn't they suffer professional suicide?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-91881479498747726462012-04-22T09:16:33.005-05:002012-04-22T09:16:33.005-05:00Maybe if these little bastards had made better dec...Maybe if these little bastards had made better decisions prior to their incarceration (ie., choosing not to rape, steal, kill, or rob), they wouldn't be this situation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-54558941255895479782012-04-22T03:25:41.248-05:002012-04-22T03:25:41.248-05:00Extortion, serious drug abuse, drug trafficking, h...Extortion, serious drug abuse, drug trafficking, heinous assaults, racially motivated attacks, corruption, and more equally horrible crimes are just a way of life within TJJD's facilities. Tragically, there are some staff - on every level and in every department - involved. The rehearsed song and dance performed at the dog and pony shows for administrators, superintendents,and directors when questions are asked suffices to fill in the blanks and check the boxes. So, if the paperwork and reports indicate compliance, then it must be accurate, right? Only outside the fence.<br /><br />The idea that the kids, themselves, are controlling the culture and climate at TJJD facilities is ludicrous. Once again, a large number of youth are being victimized by the people with the keys. <br /><br />Meanwhile, youth are suffering. A youth who is the victim of another youth ("on bow")has hollow eyes, shows hardly any emotion, is alarmingly thin, usually has bruises, scabs, or other wounds, is jumpy, keeps his head down, and rarely speaks. The "bowski" is forced to give up his food (ALL food - if word gets out that a teacher is providing a snack as an incentive for job well done, the "bow master" will often make an appearance to make sure "bowski" refuses this snack), his prescribed medication, his clean clothes. He is sometimes ordered NOT to do his school work, to disrupt class, to steal an item his "bow master" wants, to attack another youth, to attack staff, or clobber a teacher over the head with a keyboard or chair. Sometimes the bowski is not allowed to sleep for several nights in a row. The "bow master", who appears healthy, well-fed, congenial, and unafraid, sometimes will forbid his "bowski" to call home or make him refuse a family visit. The corollary is ruinous. <br /><br />If you ask a "bowski" if he's ok, if he's being bullied, if he's eating, etc., he will assure you he is fine, of course he's not being bullied, and he just hasn't been very hungry lately. Sometimes, he will face consequences from his "bow master" just because you asked.<br /><br />Reporting your concerns is either futile (you're ignored, questioned like YOU did something, made to fill out a TON of paperwork that goes nowhere, given extra work to take up your time) or professional suicide. Persisting and/or insisting puts YOU in the hot seat and your life is made difficult by corrupt staff (they will tell youth and other staff how difficult and unprofessional you are, eventually ruining your credibility with supervisors, coworkers, and youth). If you do not comply with the unwritten rules at your facility, extreme measures are taken to run you off. And if you're smart, you will run - fast and far. And then pray for the kids. <br /><br />Culpability should be a secondary concern here - just figure out what's best for the youth first. Then, a new executive director can be hired. God bless you, TJJD.Anyonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02540557037924742847noreply@blogger.com