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Was TYC's Evins unit understaffed when a "small riot" forced staff to use pepper spray?

By Gritsforbreakfast

Even as the Texas Youth Commission conservator reconsiders the agency's proposed policy for using pepper spray on inmates, reports emerge of a pair of pepper spray incidents last weekend - including one involving 15-18 youth in a "small riot" - at the Evins Unit in Edinburg. Reported KGBT-TV (Jan. 14):there were no injuries in either of two incidents that flared up on Saturday. One was in the cafeteria. The other was in the dorm rooms.Now, an internal investigation is underway along with a state review by the Office of the Inspector General into the actions by TYC staffers. Representative [Aaron] Pena says what transpired over the weekend may have been one of those "rare situations" where the pepper spray was warranted.But Action 4 News asked this: "Is there a difference between a rare situation and perhaps a lack of staff and lack of training?"Representative Pena answered, "That's what we have to get to the bottom of...continue to full post

Full post as published by Grits for Breakfast on January 16, 2008 (boomark / email).