Despite CDC warnings and Governor Abbott’s statement as early as March 13th that state employees should be working at home wherever possible, Parole offices across the state are staffed and occupied with parolees coming in the office with unknown health conditions. Parole Officers, Unit Supervisors and Clerical staff alike complain of shortages of cleaning equipment and safety gear. All of this is a recipe for disaster as the Coronavirus so easily and quickly spreads from person to person well before symptoms are displayed.
TDCJ has implemented some reprieve with revised visitation requirements, but it’s not enough. The conditions of parole offices do not allow for maintaining a social distance of the minimum 6 feet, and it is still unknown if clients are exposed to or carrying the Coronavirus before they enter the building.
Call now for urgent TDCJ Parole health safety procedures
There are solutions that can be enacted today!
Parole officers have the technology to work from home now. In order to reduce exposure to health risk, Parole Offices should be required to maintain a skeleton crew only during this unprecedented crisis.
Call the members of the Texas House Corrections Committee listed below:
When you call, leave this message or tell them: My name is _____ and I work for TDCJ Parole. I am calling to express my concerns about our health and safety during this Coronavirus crisis. TDCJ has revised procedures to cut down on traffic in our offices, but it is not enough. We still have in person contact with paroles’ that make it impossible to maintain the required 6 foot social distance in our offices and as we make home visits to parolees’ homes. We have already encountered parolees who are sick.
I am asking you to call TDCJ Director Bryan Collier and urge him to further revise policy to reduce required in person contact with parolees, including alternatives to entering the parolees’ home. We also need protective personal equipment for times that we are required to make personal contact with parolees. Thank you for taking this action as soon as possible. The health and lives of both state employees and clients are at risk.
Northeast Texas
-
Rep. James White 409 283-3700 (Chair)
-
Rep. Jay Dean 903-238-8452
Greater Houston Area
-
Rep. Christina Morales 713-718-5915 (Vice Chair)
-
Rep. Alma Allen (713) 776-0505
-
Rep. Phil Stephenson (281)232-7900
-
Rep. Ernest Bailes 936-628-6687
Dallas/FW Metroplex
-
Rep. Rhetta Bowers 972-272-62373
-
Rep. Carl Sherman 972-227-1064
-
Rep. Victoria Neave (972) 288-9438