Texas Says It Will Ignore Rules Designed to Prevent Rape of Minors in Prisons

[DesertRat]

On June 14, 2005, Texas mother Linda Bruntmyer went before the Congressional Prison Rape Elimination Commission in Washington, D.C., and told the story of her son, Rodney Hulin, and his untimely death. Rodney was only 16, a waif of a boy at 5'2" and 125 pounds, when he was convicted of setting a trash can on fire in Brazoria County, Texas, that caused $500 worth of damage. The judge decided to make an example of him, and he was sentenced to eight years in an adult prison. His small stature made him an easy target for the hardened convicts, and almost immediately after entering the system, Rodney was raped by another prisoner.

Rodney was put back in with grown men and was subsequently beaten and raped, again and again. After less than a year of this torture, he committed suicide, hanging himself in his cell.

Bruntmyer’s testimony was persuasive, as were her years of lobbying for reform. In 2012, the U.S. Department of Justice finally issued a series of steadfast guidelines for preventing sexual abuse in correctional facilities, under the provisions of the 2003 Prison Rape Elimination Act. Among other protections, the provisions required that prisons house teenage boys separately from older convicts.

Last month, Gov. Rick Perry penned a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice, informing them that Texas refuses to comply with the 2012 guidelines Bruntmyer fought so hard to secure.

http://news.yahoo.com/unbelievable-texas-says-ignore-rules-designed-prevent-rape-150546525.html

[polly7]

1. What a horrible story

16, ... he was just a baby.

[Art_from_Ark]

5. And sentenced to spend 8 years with hardened criminals

[polly7]

6. I can't begin to imagine how scared he must have been.

Or his mother, knowing what he was going through.

Pure torture and truly awful.

[Yo_Mama]

25. He was in a unit for people his age when the assaults happened

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clemens_Unit

Rodney Hulin, a 17-year-old prisoner, reported being raped, harassed and assaulted by fellow inmates of his age group after his November 1995 transfer to a division for younger offenders in Clemens. Although he became a symbol of a movement that advocates keeping juvenile offenders housed separately from adults in prison institutions, his case was more complex, as he was attacked by prisoners his own age. Michael Berryhill, a journalist who wrote at length about this case, found that the prison was not yet organized to support its population.

But obviously they didn't have control over the behavior of the prisoners in that unit. Maybe they just thought that grouping the younger prisoners together would be enough.

[Art_from_Ark]

29. The OP article makes it sound like he was assaulted by at least one adult prisoner

"The judge decided to make an example of him, and he was sentenced to eight years in an adult prison. His small stature made him an easy target for the hardened convicts, and almost immediately after entering the system, Rodney was raped by another prisoner."

[kalli007]

33. In TDC the YOP program is at an adult facility

but they are housed, fed, showered, recreated etc completely separate from the gen pop. I worked there for years, however when this occurred (1996) I cannot vouch for the fidelity of the separation.

[Yo_Mama]

35. Another 17 year old

According to the fellow prisoners the father has interacted with.
http://www.houstonpress.com/1997-08-07/news/what-really-happened-to-rodeny-hulin/

Given his history of hurting other kids, including his own siblings, he probably did not belong in a juvenile facility.

But he was housed in a special unit for young adult offenders, and in that unit, he was housed with others of his own age. According to what the father has been told, he was housed with first one 17 year old (Hulin was 17 also) who Hulin said had raped him, and then with a second, and then alone, where he committed suicide. I did read the article, and it's not clear to me that Hulin meant the suicide to succeed. Giving the suicide note first to the others with instructions to give it to a guard, and then telling the other boys to bang for the guards as he hung himself leaves it unclear.

The kid had been on an anti-depressant which had been stopped before he was sent to this unit, and I'm guessing that may have been a major part of what is undoubtedly a tragic failure of the criminal justice system. But the cause of it wasn't being in with the general population.

[kalli007]

31. I worked there, as well as the other unit mentioned

In present day, YOPs are completely separate from the gen pop - they are housed, fed, showered, recreated, and work separately and under direct supervision at Clemens. The Yahoo article is a little misleading, further research indicates it was YOP offenders that did this to him.

[Yo_Mama]

37. It's VERY misleading

Okay, I know about bad journalism, but this is really bad.

Failure to deal with what really happened means that we fail to take his death seriously.

I certainly don't agree that Hulin should have been left in the juvenile system. He was too dangerous to others.

[DesertRat]

48. Here's his mother's testimony:

My name is Linda Bruntmyer, and I am here today to tell you about my son, Rodney Hulin.

When Rodney was 16, he and his brother set a dumpster on fire in an alley in our neighborhood. The authorities decided to make an example of Rodney. Even though only about $500 in damage was caused by the fire, they sentenced him to eight years in an adult prison.

We were frightened for him from the start. At sixteen, Rodney was a small guy, only 5’2 and about 125 pounds. And as a first-time offender, we knew he might be targeted by older, tougher, adult inmates.

Then, our worst nightmares came true. Rodney wrote us a letter telling us he’d been raped. A medical examination had confirmed the rape. A doctor found tears in his rectum and ordered an HIV test, because, he told us, one-third of the prisoners there were HIV positive.

Read the rest here:
http://www.justdetention.org/en/NPREC/lindabruntmyer.aspx

[GOPee]

34. I was so outraged by this story I wanted to know where to write my own letters. BUT

This story has more holes than sieve, bordering on propaganda. Our collective outrage is well within an earned condemnation, but we may have the wrong platform from which to launch our scorn.. There is never a reason to excuse this disgusting behavior, or anyone that should be subject to anything close to acts of depravity..

All that said, this article isn't close to the facts in this case.. This BOY was not raped by an older inmate, and wasn't housed in the general population, but segregated by age.. He wasn't a victim of an outrageous judicial system, he was sentenced because he was a continuing threat to others, including his younger siblings, for no less than sexual assault, and battery.. Read this and make up your own mind..

http://www.houstonpress.com/1997-08-07/news/what-really-happened-to-rodeny-hulin/full/

[Jefferson23]

40. This dipicts a tragedy. In no way this condones what Perry is doing, no way does it justify his

twisted reasoning. The boy was raped, I don't give a damn about how old the perpetrator was,
the state failed to protect the boy.

Clearly, the boy was in need of great help long before he was sent to the last prison..and I will
bet money he was abused at the earlier institutions as well. We do not fix damaged children
well, we usually see them deteriorate further until it ends it suicide.

[Nye Bevan]

2. Utterly heartbreaking and disgusting.

Perry is such a piece of shit.

[silverweb]

3. How can he do that...

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]...just write a letter declaring that he refuses to obey federal law?

What is it with RW these yahoos lately, simply declaring defiantly that they don't recognize the federal government, won't follow federal laws, and intend to do whatever the f**k they want without expectation of consequences?

Why are they getting away with this shit?

[pipoman]

9. Because of prisons for hire...

When the state depended on the feds support to house prisoners they would comply...no need anymore, there is near unanimous support for prison funding both through the budgetary process and campaign finance provisions. Notice states not accepting medicaid expansion also are actively jailing/imprisoning nonviolent drug offenders and fighting tooth and nail against even the inevitably legal everywhere medical pot. They would rather feed and house people capable of feeding themselves than help those who can't.

[silverweb]

14. So as long as they're not taking federal money...

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]... for this specific thing (prisons), Texas prisons get to do as they please.

[pipoman]

16. Something like that I suspect. ..

[DesertRat]

41. That is baffling to me too. Perry is a p.o.s.

[edhopper]

4. Texas

come for the BBQ, stay for the rape.

[duhneece]

7. Oh, God Oh, God Oh, God

that so breaks my heart. As Coordinator of a local group, I insisted on inviting a representative from the local prison that houses undocumented immigrants on how they are complying with PREA. I just heard this prison will be housing sexual offenders. As it is, undocumented immigrants are our 'least of our brothers.'
I want to do something so badly, don't live in Texas, but that's where my son is in prison for drugs, where my daughter is in Criminal Investigation.
What can I do? I am forlorn.

[pipoman]

20. Join the fight for prison reform and/or drug law reform

As for your son, having spoken to countless prison inmates, don't forget him. Keep communication open, visit when you can. Encourage others to contact him. When he is released be there and take him somewhere safe. Encourage professional counseling and be as involved as he wants you to be. The first months of post release are difficult.

[duhneece]

56. I am a an anti-drug war warrior

My partner and I had a booth at our local county fair for 4 years (until health issues stopped us), twice with LEAP speakers. We attended two International Drug Policy Reform Conferences (one in Albuquerque and one in L.A., ) on scholarships...I never stop. And never stop writing, calling my Nathan. Thank you for your kindness and reminding all of us of inmates' humanity.

[DesertRat]

42. so sorry, duhneece

I feel your anguish. But I haven't a clue what to do about it.

[Scuba]

8. Blood on your hands, Rick.

[surrealAmerican]

10. Does this mean that the next time a juvenile is raped in a Texas jail ...

... that Gov. Perry can be charged as an accessory to the crime?

[Jefferson23]

11. Governor Perry is a sadistic man, have Dems and Wendy Davis called out this bastard?

This is not about being soft on crime this is about a twisted and disturbing way to look at human rights.




CASE HISTORY OF RODNEY HULIN

My name is Rodney Hulin and I work at a retirement home here in Beaumont, Texas. I am here today because of my son. He would be here himself if he could . . . . But he can't because he died in [an adult prison]. . . . [At age seventeen], my son was raped and sodomized by an inmate. The doctor found two tears in his rectum and ordered an HIV test, since up to a third of the 2,200 inmates there were HIV positive. Fearing for his safety, he requested to be placed in protective custody, but his request was denied because, as the warden put it, "Rodney's abuses didn't meet the 'emergency grievance criteria.'" For the next several months, my son was repeatedly beaten by the older inmates, forced to perform oral sex, robbed, and beaten again. Each time, his requests for protection were denied by the warden. The abuses, meanwhile, continued. On the night of January 26, 1996--seventy-five days after my son entered Clemens--Rodney attempted suicide by hanging himself in his cell. He could no longer stand to live in continual terror. It was too much for him to handle. He laid in a coma for the next four months until he died.(183)

In early 1995, Rodney Hulin, Jr., received an eight year sentence for arson. He was sixteen years old but was sentenced to serve his time in adult prison.
http://www.hrw.org/reports/2001/prison/rodney_hulin.html

[Swede Atlanta]

17. If there is a God, Rick Perry is going to be sodomized for eternity by

devils with big dicks. At least that is what I figuratively hope.

What a perverted piece of shit. I will dance a big dance when he meets the dirt.

[Jefferson23]

19. No, if there is a God, Rick Perry will stop being a miserable excuse for a human being.

He needs to be called out, Dems need to go after him big time, what he wants to perpetuate
is horrific.

[DesertRat]

44. You nailed it

His actions are pure evil and he needs to be called on it!

[Enthusiast]

26. "Governor Perry is a sadistic man."

Perry is unfit to hold public office.

[Jefferson23]

27. You're right, he is not and needs to be attacked for this position..among others. n/t

[malaise]

12. Rick Perry is a barbarian

in every sense of that word.
Until the Federal government stops giving these states money, this crap will continue.

[dilby]

13. I looked up this story and it says

he was being raped by other teenage boys he was being housed with.

[kalli007]

32. That is true. The Yahoo article is a little misleading

The gist of the story is still horrible - no one deserves to be assaulted and driven to suicide, certainly no one that committed a few property crimes. But inaccurate journalism does not lend credence to the cause.

[dilby]

51. That is my issue with the reporting.

I think rape in prison is horrible and needs to be addressed for all inmates not just juveniles. I am not sure what the solution is but having a misleading article on the situation is not the way to do it. If anything these types of stories make me angry because its something that takes exactly two minutes of searching for to get the real story. Kid should have never been sent to prison, not sure if he had a previous record if it was juvenile it would probably be sealed but 8 years for a trashcan seems out of control.

[penultimate]

53. or even jailed for 8 years for such stupid stunt.

[pipoman]

15. If you ask any American male, regardless race,

What they would most fear about facing prison time, it isn't missing family, or solitary confinement, or losing their freedom, ...it is victimization by other inmates. That is truly sad. And totally fixable.

[DirkGently]

18. Jesus. Because prison is supposed to be cruel?

Of all the crap our conservative brethren stand for, cruelty is the strangest. It's not about public safety or making anything better or even justice; just the emotional need to dish out savagery to other people.

Despicable.

[Jefferson23]

21. Rodny Hulin

[DesertRat]

45. R.I.P. Rodney

and his Mom, Linda.

[Jefferson23]

49. His Mom tried, she did a great deal of good and Perry wants to throw it away...sickening.

grrrr, they need to drag him through the mud for it.

[Ed Suspicious]

22. A death sentence for a 16 year old vandal. That's fucking justice.

:SNARKASM:

[rickyhall]

23. I knew Perry is an idiot

Didn't know he is psychopath, too - no empathy

[titanicdave]

24. Just Further Proof

that there is a whole lot of assholes in Texass...........

[randys1]

28. Rick Perry needs to have the shit beaten right out of him...

i cant get any angrier

[SheilaT]

30. I sincerely wish that the judge and the governor

could experience some of what that child endured.

[Liberal_in_LA]

36. ugh.

[spanone]

38. rick perry 'penned a letter'. yea, i bet he did. he's hardly bright enough to speak let alone write

so states can ignore federal law? interesting

[barbtries]

39. why?!

not just why refuse to follow the rules, but why put that little guy in prison for EIGHT years?? the woman who killed my daughter was sentenced to four.
$500 worth of damage and nobody got killed or hurt, and eight years in prison? i just want to cry. kids do stupid things.

i read the thread. apparently he was a threat to his own siblings. now i don't know how to feel. i don't know.

16 years old and 125 pounds, and a danger to society. this fucking world.

[DesertRat]

46. It's outrageous

And then to endure what he did in prison...that poor kid.

[TRoN33]

43. Rick Perry will never be our President.

This alone will easily kill his campaign if he ever start it.

[DesertRat]

47. I hope you're right

There are a lot of assholes who love that "tough on crime" crap.

[Zipgun]

50. There is no real forgiveness or compassion in them for any one that does not

fit a narrow set of beliefs and looks.

[TheNutcracker]

52. Just look up the 700 complaints of sexual abuse of minors in the Texas Youth Commission!

On 23 February 2007, The Texas Observer published a news story detailing allegations of child sexual abuse by staff members at the West Texas State School near Pyote.[10] Following an investigation by the Texas Rangers and the FBI in February and March 2005, two of the highest-ranking officials at the school, assistant superintendent Ray Brookins and principal John Paul Hernandez had been accused of having sexual relations with several students over an extended period.[10] On February 28 Republican Governor Rick Perry dismissed chairman Pete C. Alfaro, who had been named to the commission in 1995 by then Republican Governor George W. Bush, and called for the dismissal of acting executive director Neil Nichols.[11]

On March 2, more allegations surfaced of sexual abuse at the Ron Jackson State Juvenile Correctional Facility in Brownwood, leaving McAllen Democrat Juan Hinojosa to state that the situation at Pyote "is not an isolated incident."[12] The same day, the Austin American-Statesman reported its possession of an internal report on the sexual abuse misconduct investigations, with four extra paragraphs that were redacted in the final public version detailing involvement of several top officials in 2005.[13] Also on the same day, Gov. Rick Perry appointed Jay Kimbrough as "Special Master".[14]

As the scandal gained public attention, more allegations were uncovered. The TYC admitted that at least 10 teenage boys were victimized at the West Texas State School,[13] and newspapers reported on some 750 complaints of sexual misconduct against correctional officers and other TYC employees since January 2000.[15] TYC Inspector General Ray Worsham was later implicated in the alteration of the misconduct investigations report.[16] On 28 March, Gov. Perry appointed Kimbrough conservator of the TYC.[17]


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Youth_Commission

[DesertRat]

55. This is horrific!