tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post534841681870163830..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: Unusually stiff sentence for contraband smuggling in small-town Panhandle jailGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-2031650845346829892010-04-02T20:56:57.936-05:002010-04-02T20:56:57.936-05:00Especially, for TDCJ I think that anyone who bring...Especially, for TDCJ I think that anyone who brings in contraband should be punished to the full extent of the law. These actions will continue as long as others do not see reprecussions for their actions. However, anytime that an TDCJ employee is prosecuted and convited of a felony they are usually sent to another state's penal system with an assumed idenity for their own protection. I sometimes wonder if this reduces the chance that they will be prosecuted.FairPlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04955165616703696866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-28063530849185443752010-04-02T12:39:08.385-05:002010-04-02T12:39:08.385-05:00Scott,
It is more than just sad. It is dangerous ...Scott,<br /><br />It is more than just sad. It is dangerous and embarrassing. I agree that if we addressed the poor labor quality issue then we would see fewer such cases and the incidents where we make examples of these individuals with enhanced penalties simply to deter others would not be an issue. This is the proverbial dog chasing its tail. Negligent hiring practices = Poor labor quality = Corruption, administrative burdens, nonrehabilitative environment and legal liabilities. Until it changes, it is what it is!<br /><br />BBBBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-80870706151965145702010-04-02T11:16:21.923-05:002010-04-02T11:16:21.923-05:00I see it from a different perspective . . . that o...I see it from a different perspective . . . that of the family members who are very often wrongfully accused of bringing in contraband (at least partly because some in TDCJ are unwilling to do anything about their guards). I know of at least two moms (and I do know them personally and respect them) who have lost the 'privilege' of visiting their sons because of alleged contraband. In one case, the inmate had been pressured to tell how the contraband got into the unit. He refused (which is the only safe thing to do) so he was told that until he did tell, his mom would lose her visitation 'privileges'.sfennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09922519744144951171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-41911506913055779202010-04-02T08:36:19.881-05:002010-04-02T08:36:19.881-05:00BB, I agree the problem could be mostly addressed ...BB, I agree the problem could be mostly addressed (and most successfully addressed) at hiring. But if you hire people with integrity, I don't then also necessarily think it follows that a higher penalty would matter much - that implies the only reason they're not committing crimes is fear of punishment, and ideally one hopes to have hired better officers than that. Of course, as my father likes to say, if wishes were horses, beggars would ride. In the current environment, maybe for some COs fear of prosecution is the only thing that keeps them honest - if so, it's a sad commentary.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-76118419543116446892010-04-02T08:08:04.329-05:002010-04-02T08:08:04.329-05:00Prosecution is absolutely necessary in the interes...Prosecution is absolutely necessary in the interest of public safety as well as general deterrence. Many of these cases could be prevented if we were not so negligent in our hiring practices. Texas must join with others and at some point begin psychologically screening recruits prior to offering them employment in a secure correctional facility. I was pleased to hear that TYC recently began utilizing such an assessment tool to ensure emotional suitability of applicants. <br /><br />BBBBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-63429290584594958102010-04-01T21:26:47.079-05:002010-04-01T21:26:47.079-05:00It is true that by the very moment you demand for ...It is true that by the very moment you demand for sex, you are harassing the person. I have seen this idea in <a href="http://www.teachersparadise.com/" rel="nofollow">teachers supplies</a> of my momUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06989922461634270341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-10770649351822229922010-04-01T20:18:06.694-05:002010-04-01T20:18:06.694-05:00Depends on what you want. If the level of contrab...Depends on what you want. If the level of contraband smuggling is ok...then just these wrist slaps are fine. If you want to reduce it, then ramp up the prosecutions and sentencing, but get ready to have to pay more for professional jailers.<br /> I'd ramp it up but cut the jail pop about 50%.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-58632929638425568472010-04-01T16:36:27.687-05:002010-04-01T16:36:27.687-05:00In this case, I would think that demanding sex for...In this case, I would think that demanding sex for favors would constitute sexual harassment, at least, in addition to the corruption charges. In the free world, such an exchange would be prostitution, but the guard having authority over the prisoners makes it harassment at least, if not assault.gravyrugnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-21521886761896595702010-04-01T11:50:18.036-05:002010-04-01T11:50:18.036-05:00In a similar case also from the Panhandle:
It'...In a similar case also from the Panhandle:<br /><br />It's my understanding that Texas porn law specifically allows parents to show their kids porn. DA James Farren wants to find a way around that law in order to prosecute a Randall countian who showed porn to his teenage daughter. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I kinda thought it was the DA's job to enforce the law, not to try to find a way around it. Maybe the lege should rewrite the law, but not the DA.ckikerintuliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02670661043872744115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-55704669673542751252010-04-01T11:44:29.719-05:002010-04-01T11:44:29.719-05:00The jailer was a sleaze. The
sentence seems a litt...The jailer was a sleaze. The<br />sentence seems a little steep, even though the DA apparently wanted more, except for the inaccessibility of the "victims." Who were these "victims." The inmates wanted various contraband. The jailer wanted sex. They both got what they wanted. The jailer broke the rules. The inmates did too. Fire the jailer. Hit the inmates with some limited loss of privileges. Then call it a day. <br /><br />If the jailer was withholding food or threatening punishment unless he got his jollies, then there would be victims. And there should be punishment beyond loss of job.ckikerintuliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02670661043872744115noreply@blogger.com