This Might Be a Problem
March 29th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
The House just passed without debate an amendment that “prohibits Texas Youth Commission from directing any appropriation funds to employees that have been convicted of a felony,” as described by its author, Rep. Trey Martinez Fisher.
But just yesterday, the Statesman reported, “Top agency officials may have approved many of the hirings, knowing about the felony records, so the workers cannot simply be fired. In addition, Youth Commission employment policies state that workers cannot be fired without a specific cause, such as a violation of agency policy.”
Jay Kimbrough, the freshly minted conservator of TYC, announced last week that 111 felons were working at TYC. He also said earlier this week at the press conference announcing conservatorship, “If i have my way, and I’ll bet I do, those people will not be employeed in the Texas Youth Commission.”
Something’s got to give.
March 29th, 2007 at 10:26 pm
I was reading a comment on another blog from a TYC employee who had a felone conviction back in 1972. Hasn’t been in any trouble since. Someone is going to have to explain to this person, and to me, why if we believe in rehabilitation and paying your debt…this person is going to lose their job. They’ve been a law-abiding citizen for 30+ years. And they’re going to be fired? Jeebus h christ on a trailer hitch. Talk about making decisions without actually thinking.
March 30th, 2007 at 8:18 am
The Martinez-Fischer amendment is just another attempt to violate the rights of people with past felony convictions. Many of us with past felony convictions have served the state faithfully for many years. In my case the conviction was over 35 years ago for a non-violent property crime. When I was hired many years ago the local Superintendent and the Executive Director approved my hiring. I followed the policy of TYC and was honest about my past record now the law makers want to change the rules for their political gain. Senator Whitmire said he didn’t care about the law; get ride of the felons and let the lawyers sort it out wile talking to Ed Owens. SenatorWhitmire told the head of a state agency to knowingly violate the law. I find it very interesting Senator Whitmire has such a low regard for the law.
I understand Senator Whitmire is a lawyer and member of the state bar in Texas, which makes him an officer of the court. Senator whitmire has openly made these statements on the record compelling another state official to abuse the power of his office and violate state policy and law to violate the rights of over 100 Texans. Would this not be grounds for Senator Whitmire being disbarred and even prosicuted for criminal offenses?
Maybe we are getting a chance to see how self serving our elected officials are. They seem to be willing to sacrifice over 100 people, their children and their spouses for a media sound bite. They offer no review or gand fathering in their move to fire over 100 prior felons, many of which told the truth when hired. We were honest and trusted the system to be just and honor its policy once we were hired but now we see the politicians are not to be trusted.
The politicians act like they are concerned about the youth in TYC but I have a hard time believeing them. The Legislature cut the TYC budget year after year whitout a thought about the youth. I think the Texas Legislature needs to step-up and take responsibility for their part in the TYC mess and stop trying to find others to blame. The administrative staff who were involved in the bad acts and cover-up were not put in place by the felons.
It also appears our Legislature does not believe in Rehabilitation. I guess they don’t think my life has changed. The 35 years since my crime means nothing to them. Why are they willing to spend money on rehabilitation if they don’t think it works? I am just short of retirement and I am getting robbed by the politicians. Where is the justice in me being robbed of what I have worked for all there years? There are many people convicted of felonies who have stolen much less than what is being stolen from me by the politicians.
April 1st, 2007 at 7:36 am
In the article you are talking about any felony. In HB1 Amendment from Trey Fisher Martinez, she is talking about Registered Sex Offenders working for the Texas Youth Commission. Which article is true? Any felony or registered sex offenders?
April 5th, 2007 at 5:35 am
[…] The turnover rate at TYC jobs is notoriously high, so it makes little practical sense to get rid of dedicated employees […]
December 6th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
This is not being limited to TYC. Under the political radar, 1000’s are getting ready to lose their jobs in the state of Texas due to the new CJIS requirements being pushed down by DPS. The deadlines are Oct 2008. Here in my department alone, at Travis County 12 people are facing losing their jobs. Anyone with Felony or Class A and some Class B misdemeanors will be removed. These are people who the supervisors say are great workers and they do not want to lose and were knowingly hired by the county with these backgrounds. Some have invested a decade or longer at the county.
To make matters worse, this misguided lead for security is moving on to the private sector where many major employers will no longer hire those with a checkered past no matter how long ago and what has occurred since.
And no help from anywhere.
March 5th, 2008 at 2:07 am
It seems that people in the US all have their heads in the sand. Look at what is happening all over this country. More and more of our rights are being taken away. You can’t smoke here you can’t smoke there. You can’t use your cell phone in certain places now. What’s next? I spent 20 years of my life defending our country against communism and what is happening but that very thing. My dad said it best “this is a free country and you can do anything you want but you don’t have a right to force it on me” Well telling me I can’t smoke or use a cell phone is not a free thinking society.
Believe me no one is immune from errors in life. In the eyes of God the Father we are all felons and the sooner people realize that the better off we will all be. I would rather have a felon working than out doing what got them in trouble in the first place.
God’s speed to all who are trying to rebuild their lives.