Beating a Dead Horse - the Texas Parole System

This is based on two true stories experienced by close family members. Yes, there are two sides to every story, but you judge for yourself if this is realistic or humane treatment.

The first young man, I will call him Tom, was arrested for getting into a fight with his two male roommates after a night of partying. He also resisted arrest. He was then beaten and had to receive treatment at the local hospital. While spending 6 months at the local correctional facility awaiting sentencing, he got a staph infection in his upper arm due to the dirty conditions. He wasn't given appropriate medical attention to treat the infection, until it developed into a 4" round, close to the bone, infection. He was finally taken to the hospital for treatment and carries a scar to remind him (it looks like a large, 3rd degree burn on his arm). He received a three year sentence in a Texas Correctional Facility. He stayed out of trouble, and tried to take training classes while incarcerated. He was continuously denied, stating he didn't have enough time on his sentence to complete any training. This led him to believe that he would be released on Parole after the first 18 months, and his first parole hearing. He was denied, despite the fact that he completed everything that was required of him. The following year, within 3 weeks of his second parole hearing, he was surprisingly released prior to the hearing. He was given a bus ticket to the closest city where he would be residing, and a 10-day supply of meds (he is bi-polar). He was put on a "monitor" which he wears around his ankle. He is not allowed outside of the house, unless it is on his 'schedule'. He has parole fees of $18.00 monthly. He is living with a relative in the country and has to rely on a bicycle and buses for transportation. The only ID he has is his inmate ID and a birth certificate. His former roommates trashed all of his belongings, so he is starting from scratch.

Now the irony of the State of Texas.... Tom had a follow-up appointment with the county mental health department within a week of his release. A family member took him to the appointment, which lasted an hour. He was not given any meds to tide him over until his next appointment. Tom was told that the doctor he saw would have to do his own diagnosis before administering meds, to come back in a month. Well, he was only given meds for 10 days when he was paroled, so what was he to do? He was supposed to be on the monitor for 60 days, and in that time, obtain a job and have it for 30 days, report to his P.O. as instructed, get his license, and his social security card issued. Simple?

He went to the social security office with the 'stub' that his original SS card came on, birth certificate, and his inmate picture ID. SSA refused to issue a new card until he had a valid "State issued ID card"; what the ***** was the inmate card? He was given a letter to take to the licensing department to get a state issued ID without having an SS card. He went to the licensing department, but was told he had to take and pay for a class, plus pay $100 for the replacement ID. Mind you, Tom still does not have a job. OK, so how to get one. The parole office mandates that parolees go to "Worksource" and get on a computer all day to search for jobs. BUT, they are not allowed to just go and apply anywhere that has advertisements out, unless it is on the 'schedule'. They have to set up an interview, at least several days in advance, and provide the parole officer the date, time, interviewer's name, address, and phone #. Hell, these guys aren't executives, any one that would consider hiring them wants them to start right away. Tom has managed to get two interviews, but they were for the same or following day. Both times, he called his parole officer to get it put on his schedule and was denied.... he was too busy. Needless to say, Tom is still unemployed, on a monitor now for 3 months, with another 2 months tacked on because he doesn't have a job, his state ID, and SS card. How is he to obtain employment if he isn't allowed to apply for jobs, or keep set interviews? He has since managed to get back on his meds, after 2 months without.

This system is unrealistic and hopeless for parolees. Tom is now due to pay parole fees and has no income. If he can't pay when due, he is required to take a financial responsibility class through the parole office. If he applies for state assistance, they take the relatives' income into account when determining his benefits, just because they were kind enough to keep a roof over his head; he is an adult and not a dependent. The family already had to install and pay for a separate phone line for the 'monitor'.

It is no wonder that so many parolees end up back behind bars; the frustration level is just too high. They have unrealistic pressures put on them to perform certain acts, but at the same time, have their hands tied. This is a young man who just wants to get on with his life. He regrets the fight with his roommates and no longer drinks alcohol and he attends AA. He spends weekends with his daughter, but is confined to the house, so they are limited to watching movies and playing online games. He wasn't allowed to take her anywhere on her birthday (a Saturday), even though he requested it be put on his 'schedule' a week in advance. He can't cut the grass, take out the trash, or any other outside labor to assist the family that is helping him. Their frustration level is about as high as Tom's; they are ready to let the state take him back and support him, since they are the ones limiting his ability to obtain employment.

The second young man, I'll call him John, is still incarcerated. He will be looking forward to the same type of treatment. He just received his parole denial letter, which was EXACTLY the same as Tom's. John is a 21 year old that received a three year sentence for dating a 16 yr old; he was 19. He believed the girl to be 18, she had lived with him for 2 months, as well as told him she was 18. It turns out that she was a runaway and 16. When she was caught, John was arrested for sexual assault. The girl was sent home to her family, he was taken from his. John is a kind young man who was never before in trouble. His ambition, which he was pursuing when this happened, was to join the military. He is close to his family and has a 7 year old son, which he is unable to support now. He obtained his GED while incarcerated, has been in no trouble, and is working in the kitchen as a cook, so has received some training. Why his parole was denied is a mystery. The Texas Board of Pardons and Parole sends a boiler-plate, 1-page notification to the family. I've now seen two, with two separate circumstances, and they are exactly the same except for the name and TDC number.

So, judge for yourself how you would act or react. These are just two circumstances of which I am familiar with. I'm sure that there is a lot more injustice happening. Once these kids/young men are thrown back into the public, they are not provided with any support mechanisms, other than a watchful eye that prohibits them from becoming useful citizens in the community. Not only are they scrutinized, but it puts undue hardship on anyone that is willing to help them out.