Should TDCJ set them free ??? -------------------------------------
By RENÉE C. LEE
HOUSTON CHRONICLE
A growing population of elderly inmates is driving up prison medical care costs to the point that some Texas lawmakers would like to see more of those who are feeble and chronically ill released early.
In the last decade, the number of inmates 55 and older has spiked as much as 8 percent each year, growing to about 12,500, while the general inmate population has remained fairly flat.
In prisons across the country, inmates grow old serving longer sentences and enter prison at an older age. Between 1999 and 2008, the number of inmates 55 and older in state and federal prisons increased by 76 percent to 76,400 inmates, according to the Federal Bureau of Justice Statistics. The general population grew by 18 percent.
By Tracy E. Barnhart, Contributing Backgate Author
One of the most significant things you can do to communicate effectively is what is called Active Listening. Some people say the fact that a person has two ears and one mouth illustrates that you should hear twice as much as you speak. One of the foundational keys to good listening is that the listener’s body language should demonstrate interest. Interest is communicated by facing the person, having good eye contact, responding with facial expressions and head nodding. The speaker will be able to see that you are listening and interested in what they are saying. We will review some of the principals, which will assist in sharpening your listening skills.
Listening in a stressful situation is not an easy function. One of the major reasons this is a challenge is because of the “GAP” problem. The average person speaks at a rate of approximately 125 words per minute. The average human mind can receive and analyze approximately 400 words per minute. So what does your mind do while it is receiving the 125 words from the sender? Daydream, think about your future plans as well as the past interactions with the individual, and of course, come up with its own stories to better the one that it is currently hearing. Good listening must be practiced and honed in order to become a professional skill.
Another key to effective listening is to know what the purpose of listening is. The purpose of listening is to gather information. It is not to give advice, not to throw in your own better story or information to establish dominance, or to judge what the person is saying. You want to obtain information in order to internalize the meaning. If you do anything else, which causes the speaker to stop talking, then active listening you started with has now ended. Once all the information has been communicated to you, then you can decide what to do with it and know better what they are attempting to relay. The following are barriers to effective listening:
JUDGMENT: Once a speaker feels judged by you they will stop talking therefore ending the relay of information. Regardless of how you feel, suspend your judgment until they are finished talking. They may give you more information than they ever intended too.
“ONE UP”: Even though you may have similar stories or experience with the plot do not tell them your part yet, just let the person talk. If you interject your personal information or experiences the person may feel judged and inadequate and stop talking.
ADVICE: If you immediately give advice the person most likely will stop communicating. Most speakers know what needs to be done or do already; they simply have a great need to be heard. Let them fulfill that need and within reason, vent.
JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS: Don’t jump to conclusions; let the speaker interject their own information until the conclusions.
FIX IT: If the speaker is having some difficulties in relaying the information don’t try to fix or hurry the relay. Let them talk it out.
THREATENING: When the speaker has done something questionable, don’t threaten, that’s a judgment. Keep your opinion out of the conversation until the right time to interject it, just let the person talk. Threats or aggression will shut down open communication.
The following are what you can do to enhance your listening skills:
As mentioned before demonstrate supportive non-verbal cues which show interest. You really want to hear what the speaker has to say. You believe that what the speaker has to say is important to them and you want to help with whatever problem he / she has.
Because of the gap problem, you must concentrate and focus on what the speaker is saying. Listen for key words and phrases; oftentimes a person will bring up points and issues, which are important to them and maybe even important to your investigation.
Once those key words and phrases are expressed, identify the mood and intensity of them. Statements are made with varying intensity. High intensity statements may be danger signs. You genuinely accept his / her feelings, whatever they are, and you have confidence in the speaker’s capacity to eventually find a solution.
Keep the individuals talking: Remember, as the person is talking you are gathering valuable information. Paraphrase what the speaker has said to be sure that you fully understood what they were relaying and ask questions only when you have to. The person who is asking questions is controlling the conversation and if the speaker feels controlled then they may stop talking.
There are many skills that can be used in listening to others. As you have learned, your non-verbal behavior tells other people a great deal about your willingness to communicate with them. There are five key behaviors that will communicate to others that you are open to hearing what they have to say and that you are listening to them. A way to remembering these key behaviors are to think of the acronym S.P.E.A.R.
S: Remember your STANCE when talking to another person. This means that your shoulders should be turned slightly away from the other person. Keep your weapons side away from the individual, especially when closing the gap and moving into their body space.
P: Have an open POSTURE. This means that your arms are not crossed in front of you, and that if you are sitting that your legs are not crossed as well. You are standing in front of the other person in the ready position. Hands are used to gesture or are comfortably clasped together.
E: Have good EYE contact. Good eye contact is the key to effective communications. You should look directly at the person when the other person is speaking and when you are responding. Looking around and looking away sends the message that you are not interested.
A: ATTENTIVE behavior. Weight is on the front portion or balls of the feet, assertively digesting the information that the individual is relaying.
R: RELAX. Be yourself. As you learn this skill, it may be difficult to relax because you are concentrating on the new behaviors in yourself while watching theirs, but with practice and repetition it will become easier. It is important that you be yourself and relaxed in your encounters with other people. Interacting with citizens and inmates in a relaxed, calm manner will eventually elicit a like response within the other person.
About Tracy:
After completion of a Marine Corps combat tour of duty in Iraq in 1991, I completed the National Registry requirements as an Emergency Medical Technician. I responded to calls of emergency medical nature for over three years until I became a police officer for the City of Galion, Ohio. I attended the Ohio State Highway Patrol Academy where I attained my Ohio Peace Officers Certification. After three years on patrol I was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant where I was in command of the patrol first shift motivating, stimulating and educating over 10 patrol officers under my supervision. I established active community oriented policing concepts and strategies that promoted a stronger law enforcement / community relationship. Later leaving the City of Galion I was hired as the Chief of Police for the City of Edison, Ohio for the next three years. With a total of ten years experience in a law enforcement capacity I changed careers leaping into the realm of corrections where I am currently employed at the Marion Juvenile Correctional Facility and have been since its inception in 2000.
I have attended countless continuing educational courses through the P.A.T.C., Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy and the Ohio State Highway Patrol which most I have paid for out of my own pocket. I am the Law Enforcement coordinator the Tri-Rivers Public Safety Adult Education where I coordinate and conceive new continuing educational courses for law enforcement and correctional officers. I have established courses on verbal de-escalation, Criminal behavior analysis, Use of force, and ground fighting and take down techniques for law enforcement. I am currently training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to further my knowledge and survival combative base so that the information and techniques I instruct are tested and proven to work. I not only train proven techniques in the academy, I test them on a daily basis inside my facility.
TheHouston Chroniclereported this morning that an attorney has filed the suit as a class action on behalf of the 1.2 million state of Texas employees, to include TDCJ, that were affected by the leak of everything from home addresses, and social security numbers.
"We are seeking the $1,000 statutory penalty for each of these individuals whose privacy was violated by the Comptroller," said attorney Muhammad Aziz, of the Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Agosto and Friend law firm. The named plaintiff is Sherry A. McClung, a Lufkin school teacher stated the Chronicle.
Susan McCombs, the Texas comptroller, has stated that she is deeply sorry for the mistake that left the information online for viewing for over a year, and says that changes have been made to prevent it from happening again.
This story only scratches the surface. It's so widespread around the state and seems so common even with Officers and Offenders that it's almost "normal " and accepted. A sign that the agency has somehow taken a true turn for the worse over the past 10 years. Where will it end ?
By Stephen Dean
(Huntsville) -- Texas prison leaders are crediting alert employees for halting romantic relationships between three prison workers and inmates who were undergoing sex offender counseling, Local 2 Investigates reported on Sunday.
"Any time you get that closeness, it's a threat to the institution," said the prison system's Inspector General John Moriarty.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice
confirmed this week that all 3 employees resigned when confronted with evidence of the improper relationships with prisoners since June 2009. They have been flagged as ineligible for rehire by the prison system.
VeteranKPRC Channel 2 news Houston investigative reporter Stephen Dean has uncovered yet more issues with TDCJ staff members having sexual relations with offenders. These issues have been around for years, but they seem to be becoming even more frequent. Dean will report just what he found live on the Sunday night May 1st 10pm newscast.
The Peabody Award winning investigative reporter Stephen Dean has been exposing abuses of power and government missteps since 1984. His in-depth reporting has exposed countless episodes of wrongdoing and shady dealings, including those by judges and other elected officials. Two have been removed from office after Dean reported on their tactics that targeted innocent people. One was indicted and arrested after running from Local 2 cameras.
Texas prison officials first noted the presence of a gang known as the Four Horseman in 1998. Some Hispanic gang members entering the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) from the cities of Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston were not interested in joining an established prison gang and established the Four Horseman to protect one another and to engage in illegal activities, particularly drug-trafficking, to make money. The Four Horseman became known as the Tangos, because its members wore tattoos that reflected the town (or tango) in which they resided prior to their incarceration. As interest in the Tangos grew among Hispanic gang members entering the TDCJ from other areas of Texas, only inmates from West Texas, the Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio and El Paso were allowed into the gang.
Of the eight groups now recognized as Tangos, six are part of what is now known as Tango Blast or Puro Tango Blast. Tango Blast includes Tangos from the four original cities as well as the West Texas and Rio Grande Valley areas. Tango Blast differs from the Tangos in that separate Tango Blast members sometimes band together to help one another. The rapid growth of the Tango Blast poses a significant new security threat within the TDCJ and elements of the Tango Blast appear to be challenging the Texas Syndicate for control of illegal prison activities. Upon release from prison, Tango members appear to return to their local street gangs, rather than continue their prison-based gang affiliations.
In 1998, the Tango Blast prison gang is formed in the Clemens state prison in Brazoria, Texas. (Gang Intelligence 101)
In 2001, both the Tango Blast and Barrio Azteca engage in a gang fight in a gymnasium at the Torres state prison in Hondo, Texas. Both gangs settle a truce soon after. (Associated Press)
On January of 2002, members of the Barrio Azteca brutally stab a Tango Blast member while the victim is using the restroom at the Robertson state prison in Abilene, Texas. A gang war between the two gangs erupts state wide soon after. (Associated Press)
On June 2002, the Tango Blast retaliates against the Barrio Azteca by severely beating 4 of its members in the John B. Connally state prison in Kenedy, Texas. (Gang Intelligence 101)
In mid 2002, the Texas Syndicate declares war on the Tango Blast prison gang. (Gang Intelligence 101)
In April 2002, members of the Texas Syndicate murder a Tango Blast member at the J.B. Connally state prison. (Gang Intelligence 101)
On August 7, 2005, Tango Blast member Rolando Vasquez murders Juan Rodriguez, a member of the Varrio Northside street gang in Houston, Texas. (Vasquez v. State, No. 2-06-409-CR (Tex. App. 9/4/2008)
On August 31, 2006, several Tango Blast members are arrested for drug distribution and trafficking in Dallas, Texas. (Aguilar v. State, No. 05-07-00660-CR (Tex. App. 8/18/2008)
In October 2007, Tango Blast member William Linzer kidnaps and rapes a teenage girl in Houston. (Associated Press)
On May 2007, Tango Blast member Jesus Elizondo, 22, shoots and kills a 15-year-old boy in Dallas. (Associated Press)
In June 2008, The Tango Blast prison gang attack Texas Chicano Brotherhood members in the J.B. Connally state prison. (Gang Intelligence 101)
On November 16, 2008, Tango Blast members murder Alejandro Vasquez in a nightclub in downtown Dallas. (Associated Press)
On December 2008, ten members of the West Texas Tango gang are arrested in a major cocaine and meth trafficking ring. (U.S. Department of Justice Press Release)
In 2009, four members of the Tango Blast gang are arrested by FBI officials in Houston for possession of more than five kilos of cocaine. Agents seized fire arms, high end cars and jewelry. (Associated Press)
With law enforcement all over Texas comparing notes on the group, hundreds of arrests are being made from everything from armed robbery, to murder by Tango members. The group lures in new members by offering protection and unity. Although members claim not to follow the same principles of other prison gangs, they sometimes do. They routinely "cora check" or "beat in" potential gang members, and many face the same repercussions if they leave the group. They originated in the late 1990's as a group to protect themselves against other gangs, but have evolved into a prison based criminal enterprise. Trafficking drugs, tobacco, cell phones and extortion have elevated the Tangos past the level of most established Texas prison gangs.
Tango members are violent towards other offenders and staff members alike, being responsible for the majority of offender and staff assaults on many prison units. The group has grown significantly over the last couple of years and there true numbers within the Texas prison system can really only be estimated based on self admission by the offender, or through security threat group investigation.No matter what their official numbers, they will surely be a thorn in the side of the TDCJ for years to come.
