UNDERSTAFFING???
“Experts blame lengthy lockdown on staffing shortages. A thousand people incarcerated at a maximum-security prison in Wisconsin have been on lockdown for four months. During that time, prisoners at the Waupun Correctional Institution say they’ve had to eat all meals in their cells, been refused visits from family and friends, and had illnesses go untreated while filth piles up around them. Corrections officials blame “multiple threats of disruption and assaultive behavior toward staff,” but others say chronic staffing shortages have forced prison officials to take drastic measures. THE NEW YORK TIMEs”
Understaffing is nothing new to Texas prisons. Why don’t more people want to work in Texas prisons? Is it because the work is most about security and control and not about helping? Is it because few want to work in remote, rural Texas locations where they will be overworked, undertrained, and underpaid in potentially life-threatening environments, many without air conditioning? TDCJ has raised the CO pay somewhat, but everything else remains the same.
Few want to talk about the fact that prisons are overpopulated. Excessive sentences, a risk-averse parole board, along with almost no options for earlier earned release are some of the obstacles. Many currently incarcerated individuals could safely be released and the understaffing issue would disappear. But the culture would remain unchallenged. And it is the culture obsessed with security and control that prevents accomplishing the mission of positive behavior change. The role of law enforcement sometimes means sending folks to prison. The role of the prison is, on paper, to help residents become responsible citizens so law enforcement does not see them again. The understaffing problem will never be solved with pay raises. Those on the front lines need to be treated with respect…….and that applies to both COs and those they “supervise”. That is not happening now.
It’s important to keep in mind that prisons are one of many after-the-fact responses. Real harm reduction involves doing much more at the front end of the problem.
Something has to give.
Most everyone agrees that “prisons are for those we’re afraid of, not the ones we’re mad at”, yet no one has insisted on the implementation of that idea. Those with authority and responsibility have not done so. And current and formerly incarcerated individuals and their families have yet to join together to demand that prisons accomplish the mission they already have.
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CO SURVEY???
The next meeting of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice is this Friday in Galveston. The Statewide Leadership Council, along with others, are mobilizing advocates to attend that meeting specifically because this is one of the two times annually that anyone can show up and get their three minutes to tell the Board what’s on their mind regarding prisons.
The nine TBCJ members have oversight responsibility for TDCJ. On paper, elected officials also share that. TDCJ often appears to be the least transparent public agency, with little accountability, doing all it can to resist innovation and upgrade its operating system.
Director Collier is currently assembling a 2030 plan. At first, he tasked his division directors to share their ideas for future change. Three weeks ago he announced an unprecedented addition to that search for new ideas. ……..a survey to get anonymous input from COs regarding their thoughts about their job. By 2030 Collier wants TDCJ to be the #1 place for state employees to work.
Getting input from line staff is another step in that direction. An equally important step, yet untaken, is to solicit input from current and formerly incarcerated as well as the families of all. While at it, why not expand the input search to include psychiatrists, ministers, and other human service professionals? Surely the combined voices of all stakeholders have the best chance of creating a prison vision grounded in common sense, evidence, and fairness.
I’m unable to attend that meeting so hope that someone will present these suggestions to the Board. Director Collier will be in attendance. In an ideal world, there would be little need for prisons. But we live in this world, and as long as we have so many “correctional” facilities, they should, at the very least, be operated in alignment with their stated mission. Friday is an opportunity to provide input directly, in person, to the Board and many TDCJ administrators. Can’t make it? Look up their websites and find out how to connect with them. Continue offering input afterward as well…..relentless and persistent. Help Collier achieve his goal!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wt_txogTlqA