tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post4078509791012291109..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: DPS to parents: Your kid could become a Mexican cartel assassin if you don't watch outGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-90244733982803002362009-11-19T20:52:49.157-06:002009-11-19T20:52:49.157-06:001042: Did you just step in your own do-do?1042: Did you just step in your own do-do?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-13675074474707248502009-11-19T13:31:47.340-06:002009-11-19T13:31:47.340-06:00I guess Johnny's plaything would know. Check f...I guess Johnny's plaything would know. Check for STDs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-3529390053289609002009-11-19T09:39:56.215-06:002009-11-19T09:39:56.215-06:00"One supposes that kids most likely to be rec..."One supposes that kids most likely to be recruited by drug gangs will be neglected, dispossessed, and impoverished - i.e., youth whose parents aren't likely to read or respond to a DPS press release."<br /><br />For all of those saying this post somehow supports thug life, this is the sentence I think you may have missed. The message isn't that gangs are good, but what the hell is DPS doing issuing a press release (that got picked up by KXAN nightly news by the way) when the real way to combat gang membership is to fight the poverty, the dispossession, and the isolation?Paul Walcuttnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-76275057736981341752009-11-18T22:42:09.275-06:002009-11-18T22:42:09.275-06:00Big Springs is still open I herad. Can't his i...Big Springs is still open I herad. Can't his insurance pay for that? Johnny went there and it helped him.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-44530518531598675342009-11-18T22:35:50.544-06:002009-11-18T22:35:50.544-06:00Damn. Is TYC full of suckers and suckees? What abo...Damn. Is TYC full of suckers and suckees? What about the help for estranged kiddos?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-66677592667069243422009-11-18T22:01:01.610-06:002009-11-18T22:01:01.610-06:00I think he needs help, but the problem is, RC has ...I think he needs help, but the problem is, RC has to volunteer it. <br /><br />RC needs help. Please encorage it. If we close, dose he get this help?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-17826957693656733652009-11-18T21:45:25.109-06:002009-11-18T21:45:25.109-06:00It just the thug life Little grit. It the American...It just the thug life Little grit. It the American way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-71079386094332804672009-11-18T21:23:41.663-06:002009-11-18T21:23:41.663-06:00WOW. It seems the dead weight of current TYC is up...WOW. It seems the dead weight of current TYC is upset by the truth. It hurts when the direction of TYC is shown to be wrong. Did some touchy TYC corruption get stung by the prior post? Only the hold out criminals of TYC are scorched here?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-30881488648547510302009-11-18T20:41:11.445-06:002009-11-18T20:41:11.445-06:00"If TYC had been completely swept clean in &#..."If TYC had been completely swept clean in '07, perhaps all the current mess would not have occurred. If you keep dirty laundry with clean laundry, guess what happens? And, it did happen, the whole agency is now tarnished, again."<br /><br />Please study the rules of English writing. This over use of commas is distracting and suggests an adult version of either ADHD or ignorance. Redundant use of "perhaps" is also a give away of who posted this non-sense.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-30501857575889935502009-11-18T19:11:32.322-06:002009-11-18T19:11:32.322-06:00Let's get the drug cartels out of the marijuan...Let's get the drug cartels out of the marijuana business. Let's allow ordinary Americans to grow a little marijuana for personal use. Limit the number of plants, and put a small user-fee on it to cover administrative costs, something like a fishing license; $100 per year for a dozen plants. It's a win-win and it might prevent chicks from going banshee like this chick: <br /><br />http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/post/Vilified-New-Mexico-soccer-player-breaks-her-sil?urn=top,203447China Eyesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1753809709888248562009-11-18T15:37:40.090-06:002009-11-18T15:37:40.090-06:00If TYC had been completely swept clean in '07,...If TYC had been completely swept clean in '07, perhaps all the current mess would not have occured. If you keep dirty laundry with clean laundry, guess what happens? And, it did happen, the whole agency is now tarnished, again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-15913631918140655232009-11-18T15:32:00.906-06:002009-11-18T15:32:00.906-06:00Whitsfoe, by the way I love the name, Being in a T...Whitsfoe, by the way I love the name, Being in a TYC facility is more of a punishment than it was two years ago but the program is less correctional; sounds like good intentions without good sense (or good information) have failed again. More treatment is a great idea but the way Core groups were used before were pretty effective and most facilities haven't hired the therapists they need. Have you seen the job posting for a contract attorney(with experience) for $5,100 a month? What kind of expertise do they expect to get for that kind of money? They need to hire some one with real business experience to tell them how to recruit, train, and evaluate productive assets. I'm talking about the Lege as well as most state agencies. They needed to listen to the people at their hearings in 07 that warned them not to throw out the baby with the bath water.RASnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-70241780199572469792009-11-18T13:49:24.328-06:002009-11-18T13:49:24.328-06:00Most of the youths I had on my caseload in TYC (I ...Most of the youths I had on my caseload in TYC (I had the young ones at WTSS ages 11-14 until we had to send them to Abraxas) didn't give a rip about the possibility of getting killed or going to prison. They thought they were invincible (which, admittedly, a lot of teenagers do) and they thought prison was a joke because they had family members telling them how easy it was. They were all about the money, the dope, and the (women).<br /><br />The privileges under the new treatment program are up to each facility. Some of the privileges at Gainesville was allowing them to have their own hairstyles, and they could earn a trip to go shopping at Wal-Mart for clothes and other items. They were allowed to wear whatever clothes they bought. They were trying to bring things back under control when I left because the contraband situation was getting out of hand.<br /><br />WTSS got the TVs well ahead of some other facilities. Before a plan could be developed to attach usage to earned priveleges, we were told to just turn them on and let them watch TV all day.<br /><br />Is the DPS message inappropriate? Nope. A bit on the scare tactic side, but if it gets a parent to get out of their self-absorbed world and pay attention to their children before they end up under TYC supervision, it's fine by me.diogenesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-90596205677723532932009-11-18T11:38:09.125-06:002009-11-18T11:38:09.125-06:00TYC has been a start point for these youth for yea...TYC has been a start point for these youth for years since they receive little treament, except mistreament. Do away with TYC and you'll do away with much of the trouble.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-31939963805302311992009-11-18T08:09:28.100-06:002009-11-18T08:09:28.100-06:00This entire problem is driven by prohibition polic...This entire problem is driven by prohibition policies. They would be much more manageable if we declared an end to the War on Drugs, provided a mechanism for regulated but legal access to all drugs for adults (think alcohol and tobacco). <br /><br />There are no cartels fighting over wine distribution or tobacco distribution. <br /><br />The recruitment of kids and violence of drug cartles are just two of the heavy costs we pay for an ineffective and counterproductive drug control policy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-78361584662059926952009-11-18T07:32:02.842-06:002009-11-18T07:32:02.842-06:00"The point I was trying to make is that the i..."The point I was trying to make is that the incentives offered by the cartels far exceed the disincentives of a stay in TYC."<br /><br />I think you are probably right about the relative ranking of the incentives, RAS. But it may be a stretch to conclude that the adolescents you describe are going to be easy pickings for cartel recruiters. For one thing, the disincentive of getting killed or spending a long stretch in prison would have a bearing on the adolescent decision making. Maybe?<br /><br />And, I suspect the kids you describe as being the low-hanging fruit for recruiters are the same one referred to by Grits.dorannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-51393883298167996292009-11-18T07:27:29.888-06:002009-11-18T07:27:29.888-06:00Gang activity, and possible association with the c...Gang activity, and possible association with the cartels, are alive and well in TYC. I think that was well-demonstrated with the assault at the Al Price unit last week that sent several JCOs to the hospital.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-29490062650317225002009-11-18T07:14:16.282-06:002009-11-18T07:14:16.282-06:00Grits, I've been dealing with adolescent gangb...Grits, I've been dealing with adolescent gangbangers for almost ten years and I can assure you that the ones that are the most fanatical aren't the ones after the money, it's the ones whose entire ego, their source of pride and self esteem is supported by gang related acts;everything from tagging to assaults by 1 to 4 or 5 against 1. They are usually too little or too far behind in school to participate in athletics to impress their peers or the girls. Probably 80 to 90% of gangbangers have an IQ between 75 and 90 which limits their prospects financially and romantically unless they've got teardrop tattoos under their eye and gang IDs on their arms to impress the girls that like the bad boys and to intimidate the jocks that could squash them like a bug in a one on one fight. The ones with above average intelligence go home before I ever find out what gang they're in. The priveleges are movies on Fri and Sat. in the Rec building or time in the game room shooting pool, playing air hockey, etc. The point I was trying to make is that the incentives offered by the cartels far exceed the disincentives of a stay in TYC.RASnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-38791511228235410122009-11-17T18:59:16.410-06:002009-11-17T18:59:16.410-06:00Yeah RAS - he has "other privileges," in...Yeah RAS - he has "other privileges," including living in an unsafe environment which many TYC Institutions provide daily. If I'm not mistaken, you're out at the WTSS. You can keep kids safe in a 48 bed funded program like that, but an Al Price, Evins, Crockett campus? Just "being there" is punishment. I think the hardest transition for any of us long term TYC employees is dealing with TYC "trying" to become more treatment oriented and less correctional. We're not there yet but it's where the train is heading - or trying to. But I understand the frustration as well.whitsfoenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-13401038188802988952009-11-17T18:27:03.936-06:002009-11-17T18:27:03.936-06:00Yeah, Grits ol' pal. What about all those thu...Yeah, Grits ol' pal. What about all those thugs in high places? Anon didn't mention them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-70814229723233452312009-11-17T18:19:21.388-06:002009-11-17T18:19:21.388-06:00I will gladly pay your moving expenses and rent fo...I will gladly pay your moving expenses and rent for the first year, Grits, if you would move to Juarez. I'm sure your pro hug-a-thug blog would be very popular down there.<br /><br />And all this gang violence is just a bunch of overhyped conservative nonsense.<br /><br />Is there any thug you don't love? First murderers on death row, then the poor misunderstood child sex offenders, and now the cartel hitman.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-45502715077603823202009-11-17T16:13:53.043-06:002009-11-17T16:13:53.043-06:00RAS, I think it's absurd to say Los Zetas migh...RAS, I think it's absurd to say Los Zetas might recruit any 13 or 14 year old with self-esteem issues to become a paid assassin. When you examine the individual cases, clearly youth who wind up in that situation are coming from pretty desperate straits, they're not just acting out in a fit of middle class angst.<br /><br />Also, are you saying the youth you mentioned caught with 14 bags of dope should have no "privileges"? What "privileges" are you talking about besides TV? What SHOULD be happening to this kid in your opinion that's not happening now, RAS, since you snidely infer without saying so that he's being improperly pampered?Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-83656174947285097762009-11-17T15:59:29.279-06:002009-11-17T15:59:29.279-06:00Yeah, RAS, this "message" will be heard ...Yeah, RAS, this "message" will be heard and paid attention to at about the same frequency as the "messages" about the dangers of drugs and why kids shouldn't do drugs. Maybe even less, since there are few pushers out there willing to pay their customers to smoke dope.<br /><br />The back message here is about those "former Mexican military commandos...." Did you know that some of those people are reported to have been trained by the United States Army? At what used to be called the School of [or for] The Americas. They got hands on instruction in tactics, weapons, torture and all that good stuff. Now, if DPS is right, that training is really coming back in spades to bite this Nation, this poor, confused, misguided, poorly motivated Nation, in the red, white and blue butt.dorannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-18077586411228868362009-11-17T15:50:10.283-06:002009-11-17T15:50:10.283-06:00The neglected and impovershed are likely targets b...The neglected and impovershed are likely targets but any 13 or 14 year old with self esteem issues is just as susceptible. The message is a good idea but other groups should be helping deliver it; Immigration, schools, churches, LULAC, anyone with an organization set up for door to door workers. And the cartels are right, we have a kid that was caught with 14 bags taped to his back and he has a one year minimum watching TV every day plus other priveleges.RASnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-68051673613080155632009-11-17T13:33:32.565-06:002009-11-17T13:33:32.565-06:00Yes, it was based on actual events, but the names ...Yes, it was based on actual events, but the names were changed to protect the wrongfully convicted.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com