First Inmates Released From TYC, Millions To Be Spent on Reforms

[Joanne98]

Source: kltv

"I was in shock and ecstatic," says Vicky Olson is one of many who say their loved ones were abused in TYC facilities. Her grandson Richard was in the Crockett State School.

"The child was beaten by a security guard. He was choked and his shoulder was all black and blue," says Olson.

The investigations into abuse, physical and sexual, and abuses of power continue all over the TYC system. State Senator Kevin Eltife says lots needs to be said, heard, and done in this failure of state government.

"We need to find out what went wrong, how it went wrong, and who's responsible. Whoever is responsible needs to be prosecuted. That's very important," says Sen. Kevin Eltife (R-Tyler).


Read more: http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=6337360

[Joanne98]

1. 27 TYC inmates released (video)

27 Texas Youth Commission inmates were released from the McLennan County State Juvenile Correctional facility Friday.

It's part of a statewide plan to release 550 TYC prisoners early.

30 are expected to return to Central Texas counties, including 14 to McLennan County and 4 to Bell County.


A 16-year-old former inmate from Lake Jackson said on his first stay he was serving a 9- month sentence, but was kept for two years.

http://www.kcentv.com/news/c-article.php?cid=1&nid=12629

[Joanne98]

2. 12 TYC Offenders' Whereabouts Unknown, Officials Say

More than 500 juvenile offenders held by the Texas Youth Commission will be released this weekend, but 12 won't be leaving at all.

TYC officials said they learned Thursday night 12 offenders had escaped from minimum-security locations, where offenses are not serious, but their whereabouts were unknown.

"I think we have been able to convey a sense of urgency to the staff here at TYC that this is an issue that needs to be addressed immediately," said Jim Hurley of the TYC. "There's a lot of people that are going to be working on this until we get the right answers."

Paperwork miscues forced TYC officials to adjust the numbers of those being released, from 550 to about 450.

Some juveniles cannot be released, because they are on suicide watch, homicide watch or waiting on surgery.

http://www.kxan.com/Global/story.asp?S=6337058&nav=0s3d

Suicide watch or homicide watch. Wouldn't relesing them SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS?

[Joanne98]

3. Representative Mike Hamilton Visits Local TYC Facility

By now you`ve heard about the controversy at Texas Youth Commission facilities across the state, and it`s the same story at the Al Price Unit in Beaumont.
50 complaints have been filed about abuse resulting in at least 35 firings.
State Representative Mike Hamilton visited the local TYC facility to investigate, and said he wants to take action against the scandals with legislation.
Hamilton says a few changes are all that`s needed at the Al Price Unit.
"I think now with the new management change, and if we get some more staff, we`ll have an excellent facility here to rehabilitate these youth so when they get out of here they`ll be productive citizens," Mike Hamilton, state representative for district 19, said.
Hamilton says he and other law makers are working with Governor Perry to revise the current TYC programs.

[e-mail]

Message to Mike. I DON'T THINK SO! What an asshole.

[jwirr]

4. How much privatization is there in these facilities? Isn't that one

of *ss's moves while he was gov?