TDCJ: 62 cases of contraband smuggling

AUSTIN (KXAN) - KXAN Austin News has learned the Office of the Inspector General of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice has investigated at least 62 cases of employees accused of smuggling contraband into the Texas Prison System from January 7, 2007, to November 18, 2008.

That includes at least 21 cases involving cell phones, three involving alcohol, 21 involving drugs, 51 instances involving tobacco and 12 other types or undefined instances. (Some employees were investigated for several types of contraband.)

The Office of the Inspector General of TDCJ is asking the Texas Attorney General how much information they are allowed by law to withhold regarding the investigations into the TDCJ employees.

KXAN on November 18 requested "to view any and all documents regarding any and all investigations into TDCJ employees accused of smuggling contraband into the prison system from January 1, 2007 until the date of [our] request."

This request comes after death-row inmate Richard Tabler sparked a state-side prison sweep in October after he called and threatened Texas State Senator John Whitmire using a smuggled cell phone. That prison sweep turned up over 130 illegal phones, 118 phone chargers and 183 weapons.

TDCJ tells the attorney general's office there are 70 plus files that are responsive to our request.

Through TDCJ’s request to the AG’s office, we’ve learned that the Office of Inspector General has investigated at least 62 instances where an employee was accused of giving contraband to a prisoner.

The information KXAN obtained does not outline the outcome of those investigations. The attorney general's office allows agencies to keep ongoing investigations in order to maintain their integrity, but KXAN is requesting those investigations that are complete.

Some argue guards may be willing to risk this illegal behavior because they do not plan on making a career of corrections. Texas has one of the highest turnover rates in the nation when it comes to corrections officers. Starting salary for a corrections officer is just $22,000/year.

"They deserve professional respect and they don't get, so in a way, we're getting what we pay for," said Jeff Crosby, a spokesperson for the American Federation of State, County, Municipal Employees (AFSCME), a group who advocates for better pay for corrections officers.

Heads of the Texas prison system said early this month, they feel millions of new dollars is the solution to improve security at all prisons across the state and prevent cell phones from being smuggled in.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is asking the legislature for almost $30 million to immediately update the current security systems at the most high-risk facilities in the state. TDCJ Executive Director Brad Livingston said the money will be concentrated on contraband screening and video surveillance at the facilities where the most violent offenders live.