Editorial: TYC board, managers should resign — now
March 7, 2007
A major shake-up is needed within the state agency to counter the unhealthy culture that has developed.
Written by the Editorial Board, San Antonio Express-News
The Texas Youth Commission Board, from left: Donald R. Bethel, William Mahomes, Jr., Dr. Gogi Dickson, Patsy Reed Guest, Board Chairman Pete C. Alfaro, Board Vice-Chairman Nick Serafy Jr., and Steve Fryar
Top managers and board members of the Texas Youth Commission should resign their posts in the wake of reports detailing sexual abuse and a cover-up within the agency. TYC leaders, directly or indirectly, allowed a culture to develop in which alleged sexual predators were placed in charge of troubled youths, complaints about abuse were ignored and those who dared raise concerns about questionable activities faced retaliation. Media reports about the problems have created a firestorm in the Legislature. Also troubling are allegations that an internal report about illicit activities was altered to keep out the names of some top agency officials. That's the wrong way to run a public agency, especially one charged with dealing with troubled youths and serious criminal offenders. Several independent investigations into the embattled agency are under way. Gov. Rick Perry has appointed Jay Kimbrough, his former chief of staff and homeland security director, as a special master to review the operation. House and Senate leaders have named a special investigating committee. Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle has launched his own criminal investigation. The work of these investigative bodies needs to be conducted away from those who have a vested interest in the outcome. Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, chairman of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, told reporters last week that what scared him the most about the unfolding TYC scandal was what he doesn't know. That should concern everyone. The median age in TYC is 16. More than half the population comes from homes with histories of criminal behavior; 48 percent of the youths were in juvenile court facing two or more felony-level offenses before being committed to TYC; and 83 percent have an IQ score of 100. Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen, a member of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, has introduced several bills that could improve conditions within TYC. They include legislation that addresses staff-to-inmate ratios, increased training for guards and better separation of inmates by age. Hinojosa's bills won't fix all the problems at TYC, but they are a start. The problems at TYC apparently have been festering for a long time while many looked the other way. Major personnel changes are needed to change the culture in this agency.
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