Leave aside, for a moment, all the words about conservators and executive directors and whatever personality conflicts that keep roiling the Texas Youth Commission.

They are important, but here's what is more important: After all we've learned about systemic problems in Texas' juvenile correctional facilities, there still are kids who fear speaking out about abuse, either from peers or adult guards.

Imagine you are that teenager stuck in a hellhole existence, and no one on the outside really knows what's going on because you're afraid to say. Consider your hopelessness, crying yourself to sleep, trying to get through another day living in abject fear.

We know this is happening because of reports from two independent inspectors. As The Dallas Morning News' Doug J. Swanson reported Sunday, these reports tell us that whatever good the Texas Youth Commission has done to fix its litany of problems, some fundamental bad remains.

One investigator, talking about teens at the TYC's McFadden Ranch in Roanoke, in Denton County, tells us that kids held there "have consistently reported that they do not file grievances because it only makes their situation worse." (Emphasis added.)

"Youth report they are often singled out. ..." the investigator said. "The staff the grievance was filed against becomes angry and ridicules the youth by calling them 'snitch.' "

So those kids with the basic courage to try to speak out are branded with an insult that could well follow them for years and, quite possibly, are further abused? What a wonderful world.

State Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, needs to crank up the heat today when his Criminal Justice Committee meets with TYC conservator Richard Nedelkoff. Yes, there are personnel issues to consider, like who Mr. Nedelkoff will hire as executive director now that the discredited Dimitria Pope has gone. She was the commission's fourth executive director in the last 12 months.

Important, yes, but nothing is more important than making sure kids feel safe enough to tell the truth. If our state can't do that, what signal does it send to every teenager we want to rediscover life on the straight-and-narrow in the outside world?

Mr. Whitmire's committee has a big job. So does Mr. Nedelkoff and the next executive director. That tall order is only one small part bureaucracy. The more significant step is ensuring that a youth in the state's custody doesn't have to dread another day of abuse.