Friday, August 3, 2012

Media source wants to hear from you !

 UPDATE:

If you would like to contact the reporter directly to speak to her, she has provided this email address;
efoxhall@texastribune.org the story will publish Thursday so hurry up!

A news media source wants to hear from TDCJ current or former employees willing to speak about TDCJ's turn-around and issues that are creating high turn-over for an upcoming story. Is it the way Officers are treated ? The pay ? The corruption ? Not feeling safe in a shorthanded environment ? We want to hear it from you. You have told us, now tell them. Post your comments below. If you would like to be contacted personally by the reporter to be interviewed please email us at admin@thebackgate.org and we will get you in contact.

14 comments:

  1. Authority abuse towards staff is at an all time high. Staff more likely calls in sick for all the bullshit stress the capts, majs, and the wardens put on the staff. Who the hell wants to be in a place where instead of placing focus on security we're being harassed over the most petty sh@t their little minds can come up with to make staff so fuc@in miserable.

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  2. Anyone who makes comments against the agency will be portrayed as disgruntled employees. Truth is that anyone who has been here 6 months will have a horror story.

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  3. I retire in 3 years, I'll tell them then, retaliation is alive and well behind the fence.

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  4. I retire in less than 3 years after 20 plus years this is the worst that I've ever seen. I earned my rank all the way up to LT but gave it up because of Wardens and administrations crap. Not all the wardens or administrations have been that way. Have worked with quite a few in regions 5 and 6 that were excellent. Now I feel for the Officers I once supervised and our safety. Payback is coming in a big way on our units because of retirements, short staff, Wardens who Micro from hell etc. I am so Blessed and glad that I will be leaving very shortly. To those who haven't done there time yet, be safe, be blessed and take care of yourselves because even though you have good Sgt's and Lt's trying to look after you they get there hands tied also.

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  5. TDCJ has been short staffed for the 18 years I have been here. We can say its because of this or that but be honest corrections is for very few people. There is NO pride in what we do because our standards are so low. I have pointed out other officers to my wife and she will look at them and say things like "that old lady couldn't help anyone if something happens" or "that guy is so fat you would be dead before he get there to help". People look like shit in thier uniforms, don't want to do this job and in many cases sit and hide for 8 to 12 hours. If you don't take pride in what you do then you will do it halfassed. Thus look at what we have a halfassed orginization. In so many cases the leaders are NOT qualified but they are the only ones that will go up for rank. The good ole boy sysytem is alive and well. Our top leaders couldn't give a damn about what goes on on the units ( as long as they don't get a call from a senator) This is a cya organization.

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  6. I'd like to suggest that if you really want to know the answers to the questions, it might behoove you to apply for a job in TDCJ and do a little undercover work. That's the only real way your going to fully understand what is going on. TDCJ spends a lot on sending people to the academy and they leave within a few months of stepping foot on a prison. TDCJ is fully aware that not everyone they hire will not stay. So you work for one year, get your story first hand and quit...

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  7. Now is a pretty good time for a writer to join TDCJ. I think there was one that did that in New York- wrote a book. For what it's worth, I think 10:51 hit the nail on the head.

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  8. There is no leadership just people with rank prancing around in their primadonna hot air illusions of their idealistic world while making everyone else pay the price for their over inflated ego.

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  9. I retired in June with over thirty five years. Talk with the media, I think not. Do you think it will accomplish anything? Again I think not. I worked for the Ag Dept, and must say, I was happy. The job is what you make of it. Now if you think you are going to go home at the end of the shift with a feeling of accomplishment, think again. It's not that kind of job. Getting home safe IS the accomplishment!! It's just that way. It's the nature of the job, and can't/won't be changed. Crying to media is not the way to go, it's just not.

    Also, if everyone has all the answers, why is everyone "Anonymous"? Matt, Thomas and all you guys and gals in Ag, retirement is great, but I miss you all. Tell everyone I said hello.

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  10. Hello fellow hostages! I have been working for TDC for 21 years. There has been good HV leadership and bad but one thing has always remained constant, the legislature has NOT provided the funding to do the things we have to do. The only reason conditions were better in the early 90's was because of William Wayne Justice. The taxpayers and the Leg had no choice but to fund the building and staffing at that time. By '95, staffing cuts had already started and inflation was catching up with salaries. I got 2 raises in 9 years. There was no overtime and then we went to 12 hour shifts. I don't care what anybody says, 12 hour shifts are for youngsters and don't promote career length and retention of the people who actually know how and can do the job. So don't blame HV too much without blaming that bunch of idiots with no testicles in Austin, along with the taxpayers of this state.

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  11. So Stan, what ever happens in the ag dept anyway?

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    1. Well plenty, if you just really want to know. I had a traveling cre, and worked at 11 different units I went in the cell blocks with all custody levels, and all classification levels. Most of the time I did not have a security escort. You see I was, being AG. "non-security". I had no cop, no vest , no panic button, and again most of the time no escort. I went in with my street clothes, and my wits and a keen sense of observation. I have been chunked on, spit on, cussed out, and threatened just like the boss that walks the run. But you know I never really had an issue, I pretty much did my job, and went on. I didn't ask for no did I care for much fanfare. I tried to shake hands with everyone I can in contact with from the OJT to 01. I was raised that way. You make eye contact, you speak, and if possible extend your hand. All that, and you know what, being "non-security", I was paid a lessor amount in hazardous duty pay than the folks in gray who burnt off rather than escort me. I was probably the happiest TDCJ employee around until my health went south. Now I am just tided. Tired if hurting, tired of Dr offices, tired of being tired. The folks in the Ag dept are a different bunch. Good,honest(for the most part) and loyal. They provide you with what you need and don't micro manage you. If their phone isn't ringing, they left you to you work, but were always johnnie on the spot if you needed anything. I miss em' Matt. Steve, April, Thomas, and everyone, hope you read this and know I am sincere. You guys were good to me and I hope I never let you down. Call me some time!

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  12. crap, sorry for the grammatical errors, I was tired, and failed to proof read. I really am literate!

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  13. When I worked in the Ag department, the line would not turn out to work in the fields. So we disked under thousands of dollars every year. Yes, we grew crops to distroy. That could have helped the kitchens save money. Just like when we shipped hay to Rick Perry's Ranch. Woops that came out. TDCJ needs to stop having and feeding all the line horses. What happens to all the cattle money they get ? We butcher TDCJ pigs and sell the meat. Next we buy it back, not sure how that should happen. Sounds like a kick back or brother deal. The inmates would boil 30 dozen eggs a day with their stinger ( homemade heater ). Waiting for one to die from electric shock. We need to go back working the inmates in the fields. They will think twice on coming back.

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