The majority of prisons in the USA run on an outdated operating system. Innovation is possible. “In a recent interview, Norwegian prison governor Are Hoidal talked about how prisoners are punished in the country. “In Norway, the punishment is to take away someone’s liberty,” he said. “The other rights stay.” Norwegian prisoners have the right […]
INNOVATION IN PRISONS Read More »
Most prisons throughout the U.S. are understaffed. At least that’s what the conventional wisdom is. The consequences of understaffing are negative for everyone involved. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has attempted to solve the problem by increasing notoriously low wages. What they have thus far refused to do is to look at the prison
Prison Understaffing? Read More »
The Texas Civil Rights Project, along with other entities, recently released its 2023 report on solitary confinement in Texas. The picture is far from a pretty one. Along with the largest prison system in the country, Texas also has the largest number of individuals locked up in prisons within a prison. It’s not popular to
SOLITARY CONFINEMENT IN TEXAS Read More »
My re-involvement with what passes for a justice system began in 2013 when Aaron Dyson responded to a letter I wrote to the editor of the Austin American Statesman. He was released almost 2 1/2 years ago after our combined efforts opened the prison gates. That was not the end of his story. Here is
Another Step Towards Justice Read More »
When it comes to Texas prisons, there is no real system. Instead, there is a mostly rural network of correctional facilities run by wardens with wide latitude to run “their” units as they see fit. It is essentially a patchwork quilt without uniform policies or procedures. The prime directive, on paper, is to promote positive
Outside Thoughts about Texas Prison Lockdown Read More »
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
PRISON UNDERSTAFFING & the TDCJ 2030 PLAN Read More »
There has to be a way to hold decision-makers accountable for the consequences of their actions, or lack thereof. In the meantime, the injurious and deadly consequences of prisons without climate control continue. When I see my tax money subsidizing such a system, I am compelled to protest. And I’m one of many. Thanks to
TAXPAYER MONEY SUBSIDIZING AVOIDABLE INJURY AND DEATH Read More »
Folks all across the political spectrum agree that Texas prisons are in need of change. In fact, that’s the case around the country. Of course, agreement is just the first step and that is where the discussion usually ends. However, there are a few people who have thought through the issue and crafted a plan.
Ending Mass Incarceration Read More »
July 18 is Nelson Mandela Day. He spent 27 years in prison and said: “No one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails. A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones.” Nelson Mandela remains a symbol of power by resisting oppression. In
Nelson Mandela Day Read More »
Each legislative session bills are filed to provide climate control for the living areas of the 65+ prisons that have none. Such bills received overwhelming support in the Texas House and then predictably died in the Senate. One consequence is that incarcerated individuals continue to die, and staff are negatively impacted as well. To date,
Overheated prisons impact staff as well Read More »