In 1919 the 36th Legislature created the Texas State Board of Control (Senate Bill 147, Regular Session). The legislation directed the Board of Control to take over management of the state juvenile training school, abolishing the Board of Trustees. The school was renamed the Gatesville State School for Boys in 1939. In 1949, the State Youth Development Council (later named the Texas Youth Council) took over management of the school (House Bill 705, 51st Legislature, Regular Session).
Well State Boys with this latest tyc scandal the agency will have yet another name change. The previously known Texas Youth counsel, formally known as the Texas Youth commission will be known on 12/01/2011 as the Texas Juvenile Justice Department. 120+ years of state sponsored child abuse and covered till the next big public scandal, uh I mean “name change”.
And many of you comment about the times leading up to this classic law suit that changed the name from the Texas Youth counsel to the Texas Youth commission.In 1971 a class-action lawsuit was brought against the Texas Youth Council on behalf of juvenile defenders (Morales vs. Turman). This led to sweeping changes in the Texas juvenile justice system. The presiding federal judge, Judge William Wayne Justice, ordered the closing of the state schools at Gatesville (boys) and Gainesville (girls). The Gatesville State School for Boys closed in 1979. The Texas Youth Commission (Texas Youth Council was renamed the Texas Youth Commission in 1983) today manages several facilities throughout the state for juvenile offenders.
I WAS THERE IN 1966 -1970 THE THINGS I SAW THAT TOOK PLACE DURING THESE 39 MONTHS OF RACIAL HELL THAT I WAS PYT THROUGH THERE WOULD PROBALY MAKE THE AVERAGE PERSON THROW UP FOR THE INJUSTICE THAT WAS DEALT OUT TO SOME OF THESE YOUNG MEN. AND AT THE TIME I SWORE TO MYSELF ID NEVER AGAIN LET ANY SYSTEM PUT ME THOUGH AGAIN , I WAS RELEASED IN 1970 , AND BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND LUCK HAD ALL MY JUVENILE RECORD ERASED , SO I COULD INLIST IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY .SO I COULD SEE ANOTHER HELL (VEITNAM). I SHOULD OR COULD WRITE A LONG BOOK , ABOUT THIS PLACE OF RACIAL INJUSTICE THAT JUST BREEDED HATRED TOWARD FELLOW MEN .IF THERES ANYONE OUT THERE WHO MIGHT REMEMBER THE YEARS FROM 1966 TO 1970 IN THE SCHOOLS OF VALLEY, HACKBERRY ,LIVEOAK TERRACE AND HILLTOP. MY TRUE NAME IS MICHAEL ANREW SCHWINN CASE # A-36525 I LIVE IN THE CITY OF THE DOCK OF THE BAY (SAN FRANCISCO) CALIFORNIA , AND TO THIS DAY ,IM GLAD I DONT RESIDE IN TEXAS , AMEN .SO IF YOU MIGHT REMEMBER ME OR BEEN MY BUDDY LOOK ME UP , OR GOOGLE ME AND LETS TALK. TRULY MIKE A. SCHWINN
ReplyDeleteBless you, Mike, for speaking out and creating this forum for releasing old horrors.
ReplyDeleteThe emotional scars still linger in those buildings.
Bloggers, I just posted a blog on The Little Boys Blog next door. Well it was two letters that I post and the last was a Post Script to the first Blog. Anyway, on the post script I did mention my times served and trips there to Riverside School and Hill Top and Mountain View. The years were from 1965 through 1969. I know that for some people the time seems like a long time ago, but, for me I can never forget this place nor the experience, nor the friends that I made along the way. For me it seems like it was only a few years ago. And that is because the initial shock and awe feeling that one gets when you are introduced to a place where you feel that you are about to die here if you don't run as fast as you can and try to get back home to grandma. But no matter how bad we tried to escape, there was none for me. And even now as I live out my life alone for the last 11 years, my family can't believe how I can live almost in total isolation and silence. For now, that is easy time. It's a time to reflect and do serious introspection and reminisce about places like this at the Reform School in Gatesville, Texas. Remember the silence there? How can we be expected to get over this trauma? It was a haunting experience for all of us, but we had no other choice but to sleep in the bed that we made for ourselves. I am glad that I went through this place at those years that I was there. What a learning experience that was. And further, that time period coupled with the political activity going on in America then, and given the old age of our buildings, was simply ghostly feeling all the way around! I am glad that Providence brought through here and out off here alive. Respectfully, Ruben N. Gutierrez
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