There is a big case going on right now in Texas courts regarding a policy implemented by the Texas Youth Commission that expanded the use of pepper spray to restrain youths in juvenile detention lockups. The TYC, per an October settlement in court, agreed to limit the use of pepper spray when detaining juveniles, and apparently has not complied. Each of the plaintiffs against the TYC has a mental illness or serious emotional disability, and one suffered skin burns after being sprayed three times with pepper spray to prevent him from harming himself. According to TYC officials, the pepper spray is supposed to be used in lieu of physical restraint. However, the extensive use has been seen to cause worse physical damage than actual restraint of the juveniles.
I understand the need for some sort of protection for the guards and the children who are hurting themselves or others, but I'm not sure that an expanded use of pepper spray to do so is a good idea. Not only is it painful, but it causes serious burns and it seems that TYC guards are misusing it. I actually feel that pepper spray should be used as a last resort to physical restraint. At least if they are restrained, it is not causing serious physical damage and they aren't able to hurt themselves or others. Neither method is perfect and unfortunately is still has adverse effects, but I would think the guards would want to cause the least amount of physical damage possible. Pepper spray does not physically restrain them and as seen from the child who suffered burns because he was repeatedly trying to hurt himself, it obviously does not do the job it was meant to. I can understand using pepper spray if the situation is getting out of hand or as a least resort for the guards, but it should not be used as a front line against the juveniles. Although they are incarcerated, they are still children and youths and should be treated as such.
Whats worse, is that the courts have already made their decision on the pepper spray policy and yet the TYC did not comply after it had promised to do so. There needs to be some kind of way to enforce this policy among TYC juvenile detention centers. If you would like to get more information about what is going on with the pepper spray use in Texas detention centers, visit http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/campaign/entries/2007/11/16/tyc_pepper_spra.html
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Reply to Take Action
Article commented on: http://ajiginthesaw.blogspot.com/
In response to the most recent post by "Texans We Are,"I completely agree with you that the younger generation should be more politically active. I also commend your efforts encouraging people to vote. However, I do not believe it's because "most Texans never hear about these elections." More so, that people do not place an importance on voting when they have other important things going on in their lives. I'm not saying that's right, but during election season there's no amount to the media avenues (TV news, talk radio, local newspapers) that cover the elections. If they don't hear about it, it's because they are trying not to listen. I also don't believe that politicians don't want "20 to 30 year old college students voting." As a matter of fact, it's completely the opposite. Politicians try to influence that audience particularly while they are garnering their political ideals. If they can convince the younger generation to take an active interest in their political campaign, then they have just gained a supporter for at least another 20 years. (Al Gore teaming up with MTV would be a good example.) The fact that the "60 year old upper-class business owners" are doing all the decision making is because theirs is a generation who believed it was a privilege to vote. They have a vested interest that the younger generation has yet to develop. As far as the "registration process [being] so difficult," it really isn't. Texas, as well as most other states, have tried to make it EASIER for EVERYONE to register. Going online to register, being able to register while you get/renew your drivers license, voters registration forms at post offices, this is all to get everyone involved. So, where does the true problem lie? Is it that all the avenues have been provided to us to register to vote and the "privilege" to vote needs to be re enforced among our generation, or is it that upper-class businessmen and difficult registration techniques have made it so difficult that only 5% of registered voters vote?
In response to the most recent post by "Texans We Are,"I completely agree with you that the younger generation should be more politically active. I also commend your efforts encouraging people to vote. However, I do not believe it's because "most Texans never hear about these elections." More so, that people do not place an importance on voting when they have other important things going on in their lives. I'm not saying that's right, but during election season there's no amount to the media avenues (TV news, talk radio, local newspapers) that cover the elections. If they don't hear about it, it's because they are trying not to listen. I also don't believe that politicians don't want "20 to 30 year old college students voting." As a matter of fact, it's completely the opposite. Politicians try to influence that audience particularly while they are garnering their political ideals. If they can convince the younger generation to take an active interest in their political campaign, then they have just gained a supporter for at least another 20 years. (Al Gore teaming up with MTV would be a good example.) The fact that the "60 year old upper-class business owners" are doing all the decision making is because theirs is a generation who believed it was a privilege to vote. They have a vested interest that the younger generation has yet to develop. As far as the "registration process [being] so difficult," it really isn't. Texas, as well as most other states, have tried to make it EASIER for EVERYONE to register. Going online to register, being able to register while you get/renew your drivers license, voters registration forms at post offices, this is all to get everyone involved. So, where does the true problem lie? Is it that all the avenues have been provided to us to register to vote and the "privilege" to vote needs to be re enforced among our generation, or is it that upper-class businessmen and difficult registration techniques have made it so difficult that only 5% of registered voters vote?
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