I drove 2 hours last night to attend the tifa meeting in tyler. i have to tell ya'll i was not impressed with senator todd staples at all. It is obvious that he does not have to deal with tdcj on a personal level! He didn't know about the conditions to getting a ged...he talked about education being important, but I guess he doesn't realize that if they want to get an education or certified in a trade...they risk being moved across the state...even further from their families...because they aren't offered at some units! I can't quote him, but he made a statement to the effect of...TDCJ's number one priority is punishment...that's how our society wants it...oh, but rehabilitation is important too! PUHLEASE!!! He went on and on about taxpayers money going into TDC!! He didn't stay very long...didn't answer many questions...so I did not get the chance to speak my mind to the man....but I got his email address!!hehehe...I'll fill him in on the reality of TDCJ!! Another important thing I heard was from a member of the tifa board...he said that Paul Keil..Palestine parole board...told him that if an inmate comes across his desk for the first time and has an alcohol or sex related conviction, he already knows he is going to deny it...doesn't even waste time looking at it!! He has only made an exception twice!!!! I THINK WE SHOULD ALL BE OUTRAGED AT THIS BEHAVIOR!! I don't know who to go to about something like this, but there has to be someone!! I just thought I would share all that with you guys. Feel free to vent with me!!!!!

Thanks for the info Jamie.. I wish I could have made it myself but wasn't a good time for me.