TYC Inmates Create Disturbance, Get Pepper Sprayed

We find that the only arrest so far in the investigation of the Texas Youth Commission sexual abuse scandal has been one for the shredding of documents.  Some 210 felons have been discovered employed in the Texas Youth Commission system, amongst them at least one registered sex offender.

As the attached article notes these juveniles are being referred to as "inmates" and their places of confinement are being referred to as "prisons".  Neither term is correct.  In Texas a juvenile offense is treated as a civil matter, not criminal.  These juveniles are not being housed in prisons, they are being housed in state schools; the juveniles are not inmates, they are either students or residents.  These are the terms used by the Texas Youth Commission itself.

The idea that the victims of the crimes by state employee sexual predators are somehow deserving due to the incarceration status of such victims is simply a sham.  They have been committed to state institutions by state family district courts who found that it was in their best interests.  These courts have remained strangely silent.

There can be no doubt that many of these children that are so incarcerated have emotional, and in some instances mental problems.  This fact is recognized in the implicit contract entered into by the state in agreeing to take the responsibility for the child's best interests.  Sexual abuse by adults and other juveniles in no way serves these interests; neither does the failure by the state of Texas to prosecute those who would  prey upon them.

It has been noted that a grand jury has been assembled to hear evidence in this matter.  There is a saying in the Texas criminal defense establishment that a ham sandwich can be indicted under the grand jury system used in the state of Texas.  The grand jury system in Texas can also be misused to silence political dissent; as the matters of testimony before a grand jury are rendered secret.  Both reasons are in frequent use in the state of Texas.

The question remains; why have we yet to see any of the state employees involved in this matter prosecuted in any manner?

Perhaps the most recent riot in a Texas Youth facility may serve to justify the asking of such questions.