Final Blog

The Texas Youth Commission has gained national publicity due to recent allegations and current charges of an administrator for sexually abusing teenage inmates. For reasons unknown, Lydia Barnard, a former high-ranking director, failed to investigate multiple complaints against Ray Brookins, a former assistant superintendent of the West Texas State School in Pyote. Although he was reprimanded several times over 5 years, he was allowed to keep his job plus receive a promotion.
There are many issues surrounding this scandal; one of the most crucial is that the children for whom the TYC was founded are now the victims of this organization. The fact that Barnard ignored the problem, that her own supervisor was not aware or overlooked the records, that rumors circulated for years about misconduct, and that it was a Texas Ranger who actually filed the report- although action is just now being taken 2 years later- is pathetic.
Between the media accounts of www.abcnews.go.com and www.statesman.com and those of the Texas Youth Commission, www.tyc.state.tx.us, there are similarities regarding the words and tone used. Alleged, investigation, and action are used to describe the crisis. The tone felt in the press is accusatory and perplexed- employees are pointing fingers at one another, while citizens are wondering why this was not dealt with immediately. The organization conveys an apologetic and determined tone- recognizing they are at fault and diligently restructuring the agency from top to bottom.
The response from the TYC in press releases provides little information that differs or adds to that reported by the press. They seem to realize that most people are aware of the situation, although numerous meetings have probably taken place internally. But the TYC website has been completely updated. They have acknowledged the urgency to transform their agency into a healthy environment. In bold, red print at the top of the front page is a hotline phone number to report alleged wrongdoing. They have also set up an email account for people to use in non-emergency situations and as a communication tool to express opinions and concerns. Both of these were developed on March 06, 2007. Then there was an emergency meeting on March 16 in which Ed Owens was assigned to be acting executive director.
Finally, an agency rehabilitation plan was designed to outline new standards concerning hiring, training, incentives, ethics, and maintaining a safe atmosphere. The elimination of “silos” among different levels of employees was deemed necessary in order to create and sustain an open line of communication. While it is unknown why these procedures were not already in place, it is reassuring to know that change is happening at the Texas Youth Commission.