Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Mandatory overtime continues, staff made to drive sub-par state vehicles down south to fill gaps.



 By Michael Williams, Backgate Website

Region III, along with many other regions are continuing to mandate staff members to make the journey from their assigned units to the Beeville area at least once per week to fill staffing gaps in that area. The trips are done in groups set up by unit, and a state issued van is used to transport several Officers at a time down south.

That drive can last three hours one way. The staff are worked on the McConnell unit in Beeville for approximately eight hours and then are relieved to make the dangerous trip back to the Rosharon area.

This day lasts from 12-14 hours. Recently a group of Officers assigned to the Darrington unit in Region III had a mishap on their way back to the Rosharon area when the state issued van they were traveling in broke down near El Campo off of Highway 59 at approximately 8pm. The Officers aboard immediately reported the incident to their supervisor on the Darrington unit and a TDCJ wrecker was dispatched from the Sugarland area to retrieve the van while the staff members stood outside waiting. The wrecker arrived approximately two hours later. Thing is, the wrecker does not transport staff. So the wrecker retrieved the van and left the staff out on the road to fend for themselves in the middle of the night, in uniform that generally represents a target for ex-offenders and such. 

A supervisor at Darrington was charged with getting the staff back but the units van was on a transport to the Jester 4 unit. Those staff members could not be reached for a re-direct to El Campo after dropping the inmate off. So when the van finally arrived back on Darrington, the van was sent to get them. Needless to say the staff members were stranded there for 3 hours. They returned to the Darrington unit at approximately 1am. The issue is that these Officers are mandated to make the trip in TDCJ's well known, Offender maintained transport vans, working long hours, and then being on the road driving back at all hours of the night. As dangerous as it all is, to compound the issues, the mode of transportation is sub-par. At what point does this all become a safety issue for the staff ? And does the agency care about their welfare or just that the staffing needs are met down south ? The hope is that it won't take a serious accident, or some other disaster to change the way the operation is run.

What are your thoughts ?





8 comments:

  1. Most of TDCJ transport vans are worn out. They are in need of allot of repairs. Most have over 200K miles. With budget cuts most do not get repaired. I would not put my family in one. Until someone gets hurt, then TDCJ will wake up. Wardens have the same problem with their cars. Glue and duck tape only last so long.

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  2. Those vans are dangerous and TDCJ is well aware of the condition their in. But yet the trips to Beeville shell continue until one of us is hurt and then just maybe something will happen. Remember the officer who drives the van down there is also one of the officers who must work those long hours as well, which means eight hours of driving plus eight hours of shift work makes for an accident waiting to happen.

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  3. Off topic, but it would be nice to see photo credits when the photos are not stock images. The photo for this post was taken by LaKeith Kennedy of the San Angelo Standard Times last November when a ACU van crashed near Paint Rock. The Backgate wants to be considered a reliable news source, and crediting work is part of that.

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  4. My wife also works for TDCJ and had to use in adequate car when she was sent to Austin for training, the transmission keep slipping and then she had to put the transmission in reverse to drive forward. This organization is a big joke to not only the administration of the organization but to the politicians in Austin as well, the first thing they want to do is cut the money from TDCJ, anyone ever figure out how Rick Perry balanced his budget last year you guess it - laid off numerous low ranking people (the actual workers) from the organization and cut benefits to many others, not to mention the topic we are talking about vehicle maintainence and procurement of replacement vehicles. Way to go Rick!!!!

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  5. Most Warden cars are retired DPS units. We were sent out in the Wardens car on an escape. The cars ligts keeped flashing and cutting off. What a piece of Sh-t it was. The driver window did not work. Rick Perry's good ole boys go hunting on the Buffalo Unit. Why is TDCJ allowing hunting on Prison property ? Allot of non employees are hunting. While inmates are outside working in the fields. Just wait till a white shirt gets their gun or gets shot. Little Jr. moma will Sue. We got hit with pellets when free world hunters were on Prison property. I notified the Warden. Next day more pellets and got the inmates out of the area.

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  6. how can an employee be made to work ot at another unit?

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  7. TDC is what it is I was a bossman for 23 years and was more than happy when I could retire. I don't know how I made it that long and I feel for those who still work there.

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  8. Other state agencies have better equipment.Better morale and attitudes too.

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