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On February 23, a trusty at the TDCJ Central Unit in Sugar Land slipped out undetected, bought cigarettes and other items at a local Wal-Mart, and returned to the unit, still undetected. He is thought to have made several such unauthorized shopping trips. He was discovered only after another prisoner ratted him out.

Money quote:

"It might be funny if it weren't so absurd," said state Sen. John Whitmire of Houston, chairman of a committee that oversees the prison system. "People shopping at a Walmart shouldn't have to worry that the person standing next to them in line is supposed to be in a prison."

"The fact that Walmart has better security cameras than our prisons, well, this whole situation begs a whole lot of questions.*"

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/6892732.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The trusty was a convicted burglar and apparently just wanted to satisfy his nicotine habit.

*Like many speakers and writers who should know better, Sen. Whitmire misuses the phrase "begs the question."

- Jim

seamusTX wrote:"People shopping at a Walmart shouldn't have to worry that the person standing next to them in line is supposed to be in a prison."

See I've always assumed half the people in Wal Mart SHOULD be in Prison

marksiwel wrote:

seamusTX wrote:"People shopping at a Walmart shouldn't have to worry that the person standing next to them in line is supposed to be in a prison."

See I've always assumed half the people in Wal Mart SHOULD be in Prison

Then who would man the cash registers and stock the shelves??

I admit I haven't yet read the full story, but don't Trustees wear some sort of Prison Uniform?
Shouldn't someone have noticed since this happened close to the prison?

Trusties around here wear bright green jumpsuits, at least when they are working outside the fence.

But looking at the "people of Wal-Mart" site, do you think anyone would notice?

- Jim

Keith B wrote:

marksiwel wrote:

seamusTX wrote:"People shopping at a Walmart shouldn't have to worry that the person standing next to them in line is supposed to be in a prison."

See I've always assumed half the people in Wal Mart SHOULD be in Prison

Then who would man the cash registers and stock the shelves??

More than one Register open at Wal Mart? Where you from Mister?

seamusTX wrote:Trusties around here wear bright green jumpsuits, at least when they are working outside the fence.

But looking at the "people of Wal-Mart" site, do you think anyone would notice?

- Jim

...Good point.

marksiwel wrote:More than one Register open at Wal Mart? Where you from Mister?

Probably used the self check-out. John Whitmire is well aware of the myriad problems in the TDCJ system having been called by a death row inmate using a cell phone. With that said it's no surprise to me that an inmate 1) had money -as in currency 2) he would have a place to smoke. Both money and tobacco are stictly forbidden in Texas Prisons. But then again so are cell phones. Anyone see a problem here?

BTW the term is trustee. Only one correct spelling here. And while I'm at it I should self correct "But then so are cell phones."

Search for trusty and tell all the people using it that they are wrong.

- Jim

Let's not get into another spelling/grammar war, folks. We all know what we mean.

Crossfire wrote:Let's not get into another spelling/grammar war, folks. We all know what we mean.

Sorry didn't mean to offend anyone. Whatever the term the prison system is a mess. The worst of the worst are being paroled to justify more prisons to ensure the parole board's self-fulfilling prophecy. Inmates (trustees) that are not ever going to be considered for parole are allowed to come and go inside and outside prison (roam to Wal-Mart) doing almost all the maintenance because of understaffing in our prisons; some in the neighborhood of 60% understaffed. The problem is ignored until an incident such as the Wally Walk by an offender or John Whitmire getting a threatening phone call from death row. I will get off my soap box now.

seamusTX wrote:Trusties around here wear bright green jumpsuits, at least when they are working outside the fence.

But looking at the "people of Wal-Mart" site, do you think anyone would notice?

- Jim

HAW HAW HAW!

puma guy wrote:BTW the term is trustee. Only one correct spelling here. And while I'm at it I should self correct "But then so are cell phones."

People should either know for a FACT that something is true, or thoroughly research something before just blurting out statements.

Trustee (with the emphasis on the second syllable) - a person who is in charge of a monetary holding or property
Trusty (with the emphasis on the first syllable) - a person (usually of a penal institution) who is 'trusted', and allowed less supervision.

Just because many, many people misuse a particular word or part of grammar, doesn't make it right. Before making blanket statements as 'true', please ... oh never mind.

Back to the OP... I read that the trusty had dyed his uniform tan/brown with saved up tea bags!