Robert Riggs Reports From Inside Texas Maximum Security Prisons

[@Str8Bidness]

26 year Correctional Officer here. When I first started back in 93', I had the same attitude of "Lock em up and throw away the key," and "Prison is supposed to be hard, not soft." On the back side of my Career having already retired, I can say that A. The more you give a person, the more you can take away. That means that the more privileges that are at stake in an Offender's behavior, as a general rule, the better his behavior. On the belief in "being hard" on Offenders, I ask you this; "When that Judge or Jury assessed the prison sentence to this person, was part of the sentence busting rocks, surviving 120 degree heat, or even being put on bread and water," as the News Reporter asked?....... The answer is no. The Judge and or Jury took away the person's TIME and time only. They said that the Offender would be removed from society for X length of time. Nothing was said in any court room about taking away someone's humanity, or dignity. However, if "dignity" must be sacrificed in the name of keeping security then it must be done. Like in our Use of Force code; "Only the amount necessary to gain compliance is authorized."

[@DetectiveTrupo203]

This is a great comment

[@lymarie1974]

Well said. Congrats 🎉on your retirement.

[@nicholasfisher2729]

No one cares bro 😂😂😂😂

[@kanivea]

Now this is someone that knows the system. Love your comment ❤️

[@frauditorreaper]

My husband is in TDCJ and is a field minister. I want to say thank you for doing what you did. Being a guard in there is not an easy job. You suffer just as they do, especially in the summer heat and when you are severely understaffed. These reporters did a horrible job reporting on this story. It made me cringe when they sd "they buy this food with their own money" and "they have access to medical care more than we do out here." Both are BS! The money spent for commissary, phone calls, extra clothing, ANYTHING our loved ones need is the families money. We make sure they get what they need when we can. We do still have families and bills out here. My husband wont let me spend a penny on his until every bill out here is paid, food in the house and our son has no need for anything. The other thing was medical...the reporters FAILED to admit that inmates have high copays on everything medical...it doesn't matter what it is, there is a high copay...that we the families pay for. Lets talk about the HEAT! In the summer, if it is 100 outside, it is 110-115 inside of the prison. When it gets to 118 out here with the heat index, it is over 125 inside of the prison! Inmates and guards suffer the same during the summer. There are inmates who die and don't get taken care of for hours...there are inmates who have seizures, heart attacks and heat stroke who go a long time without medical attention. When they talk about ppl wanting the TV's removed and rec time...that's when you'll have riots. You sd it perfectly...they give up their freedom when they do their time. But they can still maintain dignity and they are still human beings. My husband did his crime a long time ago. We had broken up and had a kid a year before his crime. I didn't even know about it until a couple yrs ago when our daughter reached out to him and reunited us. But even before I knew he was in prison, I thought and felt the same way. Again, thank you for your service in TDCJ!

[@bmoore25]

I knew this bullsh*t when homeboy said we get good hot meals

[@texas3284]

I did 10 years in Tdc,and the conditions are miserable! Try a summer around thousands of inmates. People fall out,all of the time. I'm not here to complain. Do the crime,do the time. But people should not complain about the cost of these prisons. There is a reason that they build these expensive prisons. The more money spent,the more money that can be hidden.The companies that get the contracts(and materials)to build these prisons,kick up money to people in public office. The cost of a 100 million dollar prison,is not 100 million dollars. People should focus on the real thieves-people in public office who sell favors to so called legitimate businesses,!All at the dumb tax payers expensive.People are more focused on how miserable an inmate is(that is probably going to be free some day),instead of the politicians who are robbing them blind(this is bipartisan robbery). These same politicians make sure that paroled inmates are eliminated from almost the entire workforce! Wonder why? Could it be they know dumb taxpayers will ignore the fact that politicians manipulate the hell out of a taxpayer money! I'm now a dumb taxpayer,who payed over 20000 dollars of my hard earned money to these termites,but i would never trade that for the dreaful life that i lived behind bars,and I will never stop exposing these parasites for who they are,and what they do.Even though,most of today's generation is focused on giving our government and ungodly amount of power. But I guess feelings,and which bathroom to use is the most important issues facing America today. Smh No surprise that we have the highest recidivism rate on the planet. We have created the dumbest society on the planet. I could write a book on how public officials use the prison system to make millions of dollars off of taxpayers,but nobody would listen! START PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT PUBLIC OFFICIALS DO WITH YOUR MONEY!! AN INMATE DOES NOT COST 20000 DOLLARS A YEAR!!!! QUIT ALLOWING YOUR GOVERNMENT TO EXPAND! FOR EVERY DOLLAR U GIVE THEM,THEY SPEND 50 CENTS,AND FIGURE OUT A WAY TO TAKE THE OTHER HALF. A TYPICAL SENATORS SALARY IS 200000$. THEY ARE ALL MULTI MILLIONARES. THIS IS NOT HARD TO FIGURE OUT!

[@henrikbuchner3773]

Hi! Schön so etwas auch einmal von einem Amerikaner zu hören. Wahre Worte! Grüße aus Deutschland 👍

[@gkwarrior2791]

sir try Indian prisons

[@nancysatkinson1568]

These Reporter's have NO CLUE AS TO WHAT REALLY GOES,ON IN PRISONS, I HAVE A SON IN PRISON, THEREFORE, I KNOW, AND IT'S HORRIBLE!"

[@frauditorreaper]

My husband is in tdcj....soft time is far from what they do....its bad in there! These reporters had no clue what they talk about. @@nancysatkinson1568

[@lk4097]

Well said

[@HelpYouRelax42o]

you think they got it easy? if you are not affiliated with a gang, you get robbed, extorted, beat up and sometimes killed, how is that an easy life behind bars??

[@598bryce]

Guess its another good reason to stay out of prison

[@tendies9248]

Just like what they did to innocent people on the outside then? Justice

[@TexasPrisonStories]

They think because it looks clean that means safety lol

[@jeromedavis8575]

Answer: it's not! Whether you've been there or not! That's it!

[@jeromedavis8575]

@@TexasPrisonStories that means nothing! Stay out of it!

[@TexasPrisonStories]

I bet Robert Riggs was scared as hell the entire time

[@hdryder1568]

Lol I was just about to type "where you at Tim Snow" I gotta hear your opinion about this place. I bet the violence is a third of what it is everywhere else. Then again confinement probably aint half bad so ain't nobody sweating the hole. Straight book a mofo and pack up like your headed on vacation lol. It's crazy how hard the keyboard warriors was riding that white cuz from pompano fl on 23 and 1 you put off a genuine presence people on here aint never disrespected you like they did they guy. Keep up the hustle homie! Your channel is moving up 💯👊

[@hdryder1568]

You ever touch down on that compound?

[@Mobblife1419]

He should do a stint since he thinks it's so easy

[@eambriz86]

Don’t do the crime then lol

[@NateBullock-ow6on]

​@@eambriz86hush bot you're just so perfect aren't you

[@TheSaintberzerker]

Ridiculous. I was in Ferguson when it was known as a gladiator farm in the early/mid 90's. I'd like to see this chump do even a week in a place like that. Spend a summer in the Texas heat with only cracked windows and no ac or fans, and the winter with no heat at all. Eating nothing but slop unless you want to have your outside people send you money so you can buy a coke and chips for 10x what they cost in the store. "Creature Comforts"? Lol. Unreal. If you call getting jumped, beaten buy inmates, beaten by guards comfortable...then more power to you. Going to a nicer place like Beeville, which I passed through when it was new, isn't being honest. And inmates can't work outside when it's too hot? LOL! Explain my sunburns that bled I got in the middle of August in South Texas. Most of what is in this video isn't reality. I lived it for 3 years and finally got my 99 year citizen overturned. What they aren't telling you is the free labor TDCJ gets. It's actually a money making business. Again, this is a very misleading video, and unless you live in it you have no idea.

[@henro0921]

Know your offender rights and I guarantee my lawyer will be investigating this prison because my brother is in Ferguson and now I’m worried

[@theostonich]

Yeah but the liberals lie even more because they actually control the media, such as the news, talk shows, and Hollywood. They talk all day about for example African American problems and how to fix them when they don't know anything about the African American community, most of them have some African American acquaintances but no friends. Yet are the SAAAAAAVIORS of Black America. They help the garbage of the African American community continue to dominate more and more of ruined Black America, wich they already took over because these race traitors are willing to go along with whatever self serving ridiculously Narcissistic pretentious world that they want to stereotype the African American community as.

[@theostonich]

and almost all Blacks are brainwashed by this liberal scam, it's actually scary the absolute power that so called liberals have over African Americans, for the vast majority of African Americans all the information they get trails back to the fantasy desires of these completely sheltered, White Liberals egos that neither have a clue, KNOW THAT THEY DON'T, and really don't care what's really going on in Black America and the reality of the Black experience, they also use this scam to win political battles, these White Liberals and entertainers(including Blacks who most if the time on some level know they soldout) ARE the undisputed public expert authority on Black America

[@sistrgoldenhair11]

Jackie, I know and understand from unfortunate first hand knowledge. I've lived the horrors, in the filth with power abusive guards and manipulative inmates trying to hustle to survive. This documentary was absurd and wholly misleading! I'd invite any of them to live it for a week. I feel sick to my stomach just listening to this B.S. These people are building a propaganda story to rally the public. What garbage and misinformation they are putting put there....And that is from a woman's perspective that has seen the inside of Texas's "finest" lock up! It's a s#&t hole place to live.

[@stephaniegonzales464]

How did you get your sentence overturned?

[@9196michelle]

Mamie...I totally understand... I was a nurse... and LVN ... but I took care of my inmates...now if they disrespected me... they knew I would give them a case... period. An officer isn't the only person that can give an inmate a case. I really got tired of seeing men unclothed on purpose when I went to give them medications... and some of them even threatened to chunk on me. but all in all I even was the nurse that was able to calm down inmates that staff had riled up...

[@ajay.3000]

Ma'am, I would like to apologige for those inmates that gave you trouble. You don't deserve to be disrespected in any way. I was once in there, and I always treated Guards and Medical Staff with as much respect as I would expect from you. Thank you for all you do.

[@jcruz3114]

24 yr correctional officer here an let me tell you youngins that u dont wanna go to prison, cause u will not make it out! Meaning you will get killed, or ur soul will not be intact anymore! I sold dope, tabacco, an cellphnes to the inmates for ten yrs straite, an i was able to retire from it at the age of 46, thanks to USP inmates.

[@frauditorreaper]

My husband has been in TDCJ for 28 yrs...he has been a field minister at his unit for 6 years. The young inmates who go in today, dont realize what they got themselves into until its too late.

[@4playpoetry]

well that is the way the new prison systems are going. Personally, if i a prisoner has the ability to ever be free and to walk the streets with members of society, I think we should invest in a good and effective way of rehilbilitating these inmates. I personly think that we use prisons as a warehouse instead of a corrective action to deter repeat offenders..

[@mistarichdontplay4795]

What the problem is? Is that in 39 states that poss. of Marijuana under an once is a felony! It's a misdemeanor if only caught once in a lifetime! But if you where to get caught with cigarette worth of pot. And are poor! It carries a year in jail! If your not it carries o penalties basically. But if caught with a blunt in the next 7 years it is an automatic felony that carries a 1 to 10 year sentence! And over 2 thirds of inmates in America are serving sentences that are related to drugs. And go from a pothead into a gladiator that is forced to fight for life. That's not corrections! It is the direct opposite! .

[@willmgames1775]

Rehabilitation is by choice.

[@frauditorreaper]

Yes it is!!! @@willmgames1775 However, classes and opportunities to help inmates better themselves for when they are released does help. The Seminary was the best thing TDCJ ever did.

[@iheartchoo2]

My right ear really enjoyed that, thanks. -_-

[@kimmoreels7950]

lol

[@stevenodonnell6718]

Same lol

[@mrskamp517]

If we did not give them things like television, recreation, commissary, radio, school, and work. They would have no incentive to behave, and we would have no priveledges to take away. They are required to attend school, and/or work, and they do not get paid for the work they do. Our prisons have no heat or air conditioning. The point of prison is rehabilitation and re-entry into society. If we cut them off from the outside world completely, we would not be able to rehabilitate them.

[@iloveschicken6527]

Wait till someone you love gets wrongly convicted! It happens alot!

[@dwayneclemons5497]

I've served 5 years in TDC-ID, from 1993 to 1998, for possession of narcotics. And my experience, first hand and what I'd witnessed, was the complete opposite of what's depicted in this segment. I know for a fact that the opinions of the inmates who were interviewed does not represent the inmates altogether. And I know too well that the administration has their picks, when it comes to inmate representation. After all, who in their right mind would enjoy being in prison because they and buy some damn Blue Bell ice cream off the commissary and play piano? What they don't tell you is how the administration of TDCJ-ID thrives off gang violence/riots and the overall abuse and neglegence that goes on in these prisons, sometimes resulting in the death of inmates. Blatant rapes are unreported. Prisoners who are mentally disturbed and need help has committed suicide, attributed to the neglegence. And I've seen it all with my own eyes. But they'll never tell you that! That's just too much like right.

[@josephroy4132]

How much u get caught with homie.. not to be friendly. But im less then a gram n everybody telling me less then a gram pam..but i got an evading too... court appointed ..im stakkn up to get legit counsel..n i been down before.. just asking.

[@ghostwriter1415]

@@josephroy4132 what's wrong with being friendly?

[@nancysatkinson1568]

I totally Agree with you, they ate spreading LIES, based upon NOTHING!

[@dunique26]

Why didnt anyone call this lier riggs out about these lies?

[@allenfrank9488]

I spent time at Ramsey one back in 1974, I worked in the field you think it's rough now you should have been in there in the 70s

[@frauditorreaper]

My husband has been in for 28 years. He also worked the fields. He did some time at Darrington and sd it is calmer today than it was in the 90's.

[@UFCSTARS]

This is outrageous propaganda!

[@christopherfritsche6142]

That unit is a palace compared to where I was. I was on the Ellis Unit in Huntsville. My cell wasn't big enough to turn around in, no AC, barely any heat, broken Windows, moldy food and guards who we're known as the touch crew because they joyedthemselves in harming inmates. Mr. Riggs please don't pass judgement on all inmates. We committed a crime and deserve to be punished but it doesn't mean we aren't still human.

[@tp8030]

Christopher Fritsche I was an officer at the Estelle unit and High security unit in the 90's. I never messed with anyone. I wasnt on a power trip. I was on the S.R.T team, bc they wanted big guys and someone to volunteer for the team. It's just like inmates, there's good ones and shitty ones. I just made ppl mind. If they did that, we were cool.

[@stevenserna910]

PALACE?! Yes, Darrington looks like a old castle...a Frankenstein castle. Most murderous, gang infested killer farm in '85-87. Lol, "Palace"? That's punk a** silliness! I agree Ellis 1 is nasty. Housing Death Row ain't not easy farm. Nobody that ever done time at Darrington consider it a "Palace" though.

[@wufwufwufwuf]

THIS SO CALLED REPORTER NEEDS TO FIND A JOB HE CAN DO

[@upturned1719]

This is so biased. Robert Riggs wouldnt last a day in there wouldnt last a day

[@jeromedavis8575]

Is Robert Riggs for real?

[@lawrencebrazier4888]

If you all believe the positive of this video then you’re gullible. Don’t believe the hype.

[@mattie2136]

my brother is in mcconnell unit and this is totally doctored lol it is NOTHING like that. The issue is though if you treat these prisoners like dirt most of them, lie my brother will get out one day and when they get out do you want them to be angry with a chip on their shoulder so that they commit more crime? or do you wanna treat them like human beings and give them a chance to better themselves in prison so that they become better people when they get out?

[@DougMacomber-k4p]

Totally agree 👍

[@janiedoe3125]

I have seen inmates get left to injure themselves while having a seizure with no intervention whatsoever, or die of heart attacks while being threatened by guards for "faking". Actually disgusting food I wouldn't feed to my dog most of the time. There is NO good time in Texas unless they choose to "take" it or keep you longer by writing disciplinary cases. Otherwise they sure aren't letting you out early because you behaved.

[@deborahschoubroek7614]

My brother n law was in ad seg during this time. Ive watched several times to hope i see him. He died there in 97. He went through hell there.

[@dg2041]

😢

[@danielchavez788]

only reason they get all that medical care is to keep the inmate alive so the state can keep makin money off them

[@Ivanvr_]

Daniel Chavez

[@chobbs2681]

Daniel Chavez no lie

[@BMW-el7sf]

@@Ivanvr_ dora pena

[@janiedoe3125]

If you have absolutely NO family member or friends who can send you money for a fan or deodorant/toothpaste or real necessities, you go without like i did for two and a half years. I had no food inside my cell. At times if a guard got pissed at me they would even refuse me a meal and now they have even stopped the weekend lunch meals for inmates.

[@silentsir2446]

🎻

[@rubensalazar9619]

Buddy of mine on the inside was at Connelly when the Texas 7 escaped. Lockdown. AB was my good friend when he made parole back to Amarillo. I said dude be strong and work hard. He did for around 7 months. Then went back to slinging ice. Cops chased him, he ate it and died in the patrol car. Think about him often. RIP FARRIS

[@anthonywashington8943]

Connelly unit is the worst prison in the United States

[@emrakultheaeonstorn7430]

Amarillo rules!

[@sethpearce6420]

McConnell unit is one of the worst prisons in the world.It is nothing like this now in 2016!

[@TexasPrisonStories]

One of my best friends is over for years in the hole going insane. Its a good place to die.

[@albrechtschobel9835]

Texas Prison Stories damn I hope he get’s out of the SHU before the walls close in permanently :/ The GJ “no billed” my third degree stalking charge, which is unreal considering that Travis county is INSANE on “family violence” charges. Regardless if it’s non-violent or my first arrest ever. 90 days in county was enough to show me what an ex who dropped charges, but was subpoenaed by the state can put on a man. I have empathy for 85% of TX inmates and offenders put in TDC by the zealous and vindictive cult of prosecutors 😠

[@TexasPrisonStories]

@@albrechtschobel9835 congrats on the no bill

[@mikep3322]

They had 13 correctional officers Indited for smuggling co traband to the inmates

[@anthonywashington8943]

Naw bro, Connelly unit is

[@rawhite78]

My best advice on how to not get treated like an offender is to not come to prison. Unlike Crazyhorse, I do not treat offenders the way I want to be treated; I treat offenders like convicted felons over whom I am paid to enforce the will of the State of Texas. If said convicted felon is not breaking any of the rules that the state pays me to enforce, then I have nothing to say to that offender. On the other hand, if he is breaking a rule, then I use the tools given to me.

[@iloveschicken6527]

Wait until someone you love gets wrongly convicted! It happens a lot!

[@rawhite78]

@@iloveschicken6527 Wrongful conviction is a horrible thing that happens too often, and is part of the reason I'm no longer a correctional officer (the comment to which you replied is 10 years old). That being said, wrongful conviction does not change anything in my original comment: To do their job well, a correctional officer must apply the rules across the board, and cannot say "I bet that person is actually innocent." It just cannot work that way. Wrongful conviction is a serious thing that Texas must solve if we are going to be proud of the society in which we live, but that is way above the day to day rule enforcement by line staff.

[@iloveschicken6527]

@@rawhite78 Yes, I understand you and I know your comment is 10 yrs old. I'm surprised you responded.. I didn't expect it honestly lol! God bless! 😎

[@boogdennard7839]

The guy that said you can't just give them bread and water let's put him in a 6x8 cell and give him bread and water and let's see how he feels after a week

[@patriotir]

50 years for robbery, 40 years for 1st degree murder! makes sense!

[@aleg7201]

texas doesnt have 1st degree murder only murder and capital murder do you even law

[@jennfox3792]

1st degree?? In Texas, who told you that

[@JoseGutierrez-un8en]

this is not true they only acted like this because of the camera crews. plus that is one of the newer units so it is all fancy and stuff let them go to Darrington one of the oldest farms in Texas built in 33 is completely different from this no AC or any cable or luxury things like that. So this report is is false and invalid.

[@ViciousLatina]

Jose Gutierrez I never worked at Darrington, but I had to stop over there on a transport once and I felt like I had just walked into Shawshank. LOL! I think I was still an OJT at the time too. I remember the Sgt. had to excuse herself b/c an inmate cut his own nuts off and threw it out onto the run.

[@christopherfritsche6142]

Amen brother, I was at Ellis, Walls and Central. This report crap!!!!

[@kaseyjones6737]

Jose Gutierrez These news people don't have a clue how miserable prison is.I did 5 flat in max.This interview is a joke.

[@christopherfritsche6142]

+Kasey JonYa this dude was fucking cluless.

[@TexasPrisonStories]

Frfr hit the red brick buildings and watch the rats and roaches run

[@williamboynton3335]

Maybe instead of sentencing prisoners to prison, we should sentence them to life in Detroit without parole.

[@rickanduiza186]

Escape From New York was onto something there

[@nolanweber895]

McConnell was a crazy house

[@ModeraterX]

I was locked down 20 hours a day. With no property over 2 msdmrs it was terrible. This place looks tolerable. Lol

[@mr.xavierbeats]

Theres so many prison units in Texas, The Government might as well put a barb wire fence around the Whole state. It's really sad because as an Ex-con 3 times in my life...Many units don't have any water pressure, or Enough Ice for water.... When I was an inmate... It was in the middle of the winter, our Units water Pumps burnt out for clean water and sewage...I had to crap in 3 port o potties for a Month straight which Were Over Fload with Inmate Sh*T, Freezing Cold, No toilet paper and No lights,.. at Texas Travis Unit, and of All places the Texas Capitol.. oh and to add, in the summer it's like a Sauna in most of the Units...

[@TexasPrisonStories]

175 of them

[@kevincordes7075]

These fools freestyling hard. Lol anybody who been down already knows. Especially if you been to a "red brick" b4. That's doing teal hard time lol

[@pfdrtom]

Darrington here, bro. I hear ya!

[@TexasPrisonStories]

Real talk i was on beto 1

[@rubensalazar9619]

Got lucky myself. 11mo county. Then Holliday, Lychner, Walls, Holliday, Lychner, Byrd, Walls, Bridgeport, Walls. Discharged nickel.

[@bowdown3320]

Texas prison stories my nigga

[@kingpettytv]

@@TexasPrisonStories whatv was more scarier and dangerous? Beto 1 or darrington?

[@donaldwallace5177]

That was a Great Report from the Onsite Reporter.

[@garyortolano7374]

I had a friend in Darrington in the 90's,right after GB cut smoking in '94.It was bad times when smoking was banned.Guards AND inmates getting shived on a daily.They were feining.I went down right after,and a bag of Buglers was $80.I did 3 years,but I was in a medium,so it wasn't that crazy.Got processed out at the Walls.

[@commancreed1345]

God reminds Christians not to forget the prisoners…Remember the prisoners in your daily prayers, whatever The Holy Spirit may put upon your heart to pray about. Did you know that The Texas Prison System is known throughout the world as one of the hardest prison systems in the world to mentally survive in for a long period of time, much less the physical abuse that may occur at anytime from another inmate and or a correctional officer.

[@waltdv]

I know this report is old but the basic theme, "inmates are being coddled" it a timeless trope that gets tv viewers excited. I was in the first TDC academy after Ruiz and I was assigned to the Eastham Unit from 82 to 85. Eastham was ground-zero of the Ruiz vs. Estelle lawsuit. You really don't want to return to the pre-Ruiz days of institutionalized brutality. Most inmates will return to society eventually. Treating them with a little respect and minimum baseline of humane conditions may just be a good investment in a safer society overall. If the costs of humane incarceration are prohibitive quit locking up so many people.

[@WeepingWidow73]

I have learned quite a bit about TX prisons this year. It is one of the most abusive systems in the country. Why the citizens of TX let this go on without outrage just blows my mind. It is nothing short of torture.

[@onlydon7137]

Eye for an eye

[@GD-xc4wg]

Not just TX. All US has a issue... drugs #1 but also politics and gangs... To many ppl in prison in this country!

[@stevenserna910]

The citizens if Texas don't two flyin' sh**s. Too busy with their own lives. They like the idea that "holy-revenge" is being meeted out by the state against "law-breakers". Hence...republican, "Old west" mentality. They're cool with it, as long as its not them behind those walls.

[@stevenserna910]

The citizens of Texas don't give two flyin' sh**s. Too busy with their own lives. They like the idea that "holy-revenge" is being meeted out by the state against "law-breakers". Hence...republican, "Old west" mentality. They're cool with it, as long as its not them behind those walls.

[@stevenserna910]

@@onlydon7137 I actually seen a white boy get his eyeball kicked out of his eye socket by a black guy wearing steel toe brogans on Beto1 in '84. Guess he gave an eye. Black folks "got on boots" too.

[@poolman1433]

Education is not a comfort its a will to learn. If u cant learn how do u LEARN from ur mistakes????

[@sophisticatedsoul5048]

this is not as good as portrayed, this is b.s.

[@MegaELECTRICEYE]

The way our justice system is designed is so that Offenders do re-commit. If an ex-con tries to make things better once he gets out. No one wants to hire him because he was in prison. DON"T SAY if he wants a job somewhere he can just go get one. Not in todays economy plus having a crimnial record not a good combo. So the result for the ex-con is to commit a crime. What does a person have to lose once they lost everything. Texas prisons is about getting your tax dollars.

[@SSGTMEDICEMT]

I know a person in the TDJC and he also worked in the kitchen, its nothing like what is shown n this news report, the person told me that the food they grow there is usally full of worms and catapillars which are severed cooked along with the food. The guards like to provoke the inmates and then punish them the warden loves to play games with the inmates and when the prisioner follows the right line of forms is told that the warden can do it just because he wants to. they are no playboy magazines or anything like that, that are allowed.

[@T8RZTOTZ]

Now that's what it was like, and even when I was there, 2000-2005... But this was back in the 90s and time was pretty easy then

[@slags83]

This guy is clueless. They're prisoners, but they still have basic rights. You can't deny them medical care or food. Letting them lift weights and play basketball is saving the state money in healthcare costs from having a bunch of sedentary guys suffering from illnesses caused by such.

[@fiddlermike]

I lasted 23 seconds. We don't have a dept of corrections, in Texas. We have a Department of Criminal Justice.

[@stevenserna910]

Sir, before they gave it a coat of paint, they changed the name from TDC Texas Department of Corrections, to whatever the Hell it is now. You can call a pig whatever you want but its still a damn pig. Unless you been there and done that, shut your a**!

[@DougMacomber-k4p]

All you white collar people should go do time? There's nothing wrong with keeping inmates healthy and the hell with you people!!! You're court's sentenced them. DO YOU Want ANGRY PEOPLE BEING RELEASED? Nothing better to do than complain about the prisons? I did time it totally sucked. I wish I had access to the stuff these inmates have? Most inmates leave pissed off were I did time. Not all but some? I was grateful to be released!! I was railroaded cause my witness died before my trial

[@frauditorreaper]

My husband was railroaded bc the witness lied. Sorry that happened to you.

[@Ant0417]

This is really bad reporting. Texas prisons are some of the harshest in the country.

[@estrellatorres829]

Bull.shit THEY NEVER TAKE THEM OUT THERE CELLS

[@catherinesauseda8991]

Treat a man how you WISH HE WAS, not how he is. If you treat these men as animals then they will be just that.

[@williamboynton3335]

True that!! The Ruiz case was adjudicated in 1980, and federal oversight ended in 2002.

[@parriskoumouris65]

"... to build the biggest prison system in the free world." I don't think I've heard a dumber statement.

[@RobertoRodriguez-bw3rs]

Thank god I love america

[@ourtravelingzoo3740]

It’s against the law not to have a law library. Inmates should have access to help for their cases

[@garagedays4677]

This was not how it was. Spent 12 years in TDCJ. It may have been like that in the early 90s but today, hell no.

[@scottymccurry8973]

It sounds like they got it made but trust me these places are beyond fucked up

[@Texijapi1010]

This video is another case of the media having no idea what it's talking about. They seem not to have bothered reporting on the psychological and behavioral benefits of exercise, TV, and other current "benefits" (a loosely applied term if I've ever heard one). They also seem to have ignored the evidence (and I've done extensive research) that expanded privileges and rights for prisoners actually contributes to rehabilitation far better than hard punishment. Surprise, surprise.

[@KenWAnderson]

This was prior to the year 2000. I wonder what the conditions are like at the McConnell Unit now, in 2017. Yeah, I do know this much - even in south Texas they have no moving air much less air conditioning of any kind even in the Texas heat. I have yet to be convinced that these prisons actually prepare inmates to be productive responsible citizens when they get out. And that's just sad!

[@9196michelle]

The porn was banned while I was working in the system and I even had a homosexual prisoner offer to give me his Playgirls... Ruiz vs Estelle screwed up the entire system...

[@xuimod]

This video report is extremely biased. The inmate in the medical ward at about 15:10 looked like he was in a coma..... wow, look at that great medical service. The guy is in a coma; doesn't matter because that medical service is top notch.

[@janiedoe3125]

This guy is sooooo very wrong for this report...What lies are in it from my own experience in TDCJ. My stay was NOT comfortable. They DO work inmates in 100+ degree heat, and if they dare to faint from dehydration or worse from any medical condition they will be given a disciplinary case which helps keep them from parole. My unit did NOT have cable television. tiny cells with no air circulation.

[@seemonkeyranch9913]

How does this guy think people are supposed to pass time? How about preventing riots and more violence. He apparently doesn’t understand managing a prison population.

[@olgaflores354]

Try spending one week ina hot Texas system!!!!((

[@cindysuenewton2238]

Prison is not a vacation.

[@nolanweber895]

They definetly work ya hard as fuck no matter the weather

[@janiedoe3125]

Contaminated water (and very little of it) and certainly did not have hot and cold water in fact many times we could not even flush a toilet for days and had maggots in our shower drains. Inmates die from simple illnesses that nobody should ever die from due to lack of adequate medical care. I had asthma which is actually closer to emphysema and always got told I was "faking" and of course they did their best to put me out in the field in the extreme where I could not breathe.

[@CC-lm1tw]

Read up on Coffield. They wouldn't be saying the same. All these lawsuits and people getting upset because the "inmates rights" are being violated. How can they ever be rehabilitated or held responsible for their actions if they have a cushy lifestyle? I'm not saying the COs and the system need to be brutal and unjust, but this isn't sleep away camp.

[@marierivero9572]

Omg this is so not true!!! I know people in prison and they absolutely NOT live like that!! They dont even have water in summer, and meals are so small they lost most of their weight. And prisons are not as "big" as this video shows, i dont know who made this but prisons are SO CROWDED! And this is something EVERYBODY knows in America. That money is obviously not going to the inmates and they do not live so "happily ever after" in there. Be realistic.

[@christywatson8915]

You know, it amazes me at how the news will only take the troublemakers interviews to broadcast on the news. I am in a different prison in Texas almost every weekend and over 90 % of what I just watched was deceiving. Most of the men in prison feel terrible about the mistakes they have made. What they are really looking for is someone to care about them.

[@justice233]

I have over 14 years being a convict All over Texas. Most of the men in prison feel terrible about getting caught and having to do the time for their mistakes. Not for what they did. Because 80% of any units population will come back for the same type of s*** that they went in to prison for in the beginning. I have over 14 years done. Five times in and out. 87 misdemeanors at 7 felonies through four counties in Texas alone. I still have the same mindset. Get out of line or talk to me reckless, I'm going to put a bullet in you. Hate to tell you but most of us don't change.

[@justice233]

I will agree that 90% of this video is b*******

[@GD-xc4wg]

This is a very naive statement. If you are each week in diff prison then you probably in a ministry and should know that it is EASY to talk good... but hard is getting out and staying out without acting bad. I do beleive 50% or more ex inmates will return back inside. Not because prisons are shitty or because of their childhood... but because their hearts has not change ! Because of selfishness and choices. All these ppl (who are guilty of the crime) have attitudes with the law. At 1st place as an adult this already is a huggge problem.

[@87dirtydog]

This reporter is ridiculous.

[@Ace-wu5it]

I've done 13 years flat in Texas prisons I've been to 6 outta of 108 total .. it's not like that

[@slaughter4113]

Like what !?!?

[@chobbs2681]

Let a reporter go do a week without any protection! See how he makes it!

[@aardvark1956]

Yes, carrots AND sticks are needed to manage inmates, but one thing I know, inmates should be REQUIRED to rebate at least as much to their victims as they get to spend on goodies.

[@mariosandoval9290]

Its not like this at all. I got out of McConnell a year ago and went to other tdcj facilities where its the opposite of this. Tiny windows for ventilation and obviously no a/c or heat. Fights erupting out of no where. 3 meals a day yes but 3 out of 10 meals are even eatable. Trust me these guys know their in prison. I myself dont wish it on anyone.

[@tp8030]

Mario Sandoval, you're right. I use to be a C.O and lots of units around Huntsville are non A/C and Heat. It was a hot mfer.

[@TexasPrisonStories]

This is a horrible unit that they made look good smh

[@lisakn27]

It doesn't bother me that they get a little something extra to eat with their money..maybe it is better they get it than be disruptive.

[@9196michelle]

I have worked in a psychiatric facility and they have to have a constant temperature due to the psychiatric medications that are ordered... simply because on certain medications, the brain cannot function if not in a temperature controlled building. I don't know how many catch-outs we had during the summer because they wanted the air conditioning. And all they had to do is follow rules... which most of them couldn't do.

[@ajay.3000]

Another misleading statement. YOUR OFFICE is air conditioned. Sometimes, there are holding cells in the medical department where they stay for a few hours until they are reassigned. The inmates are not graciously Air Conditioned like you want people to believed.

[@mrrichone22222]

time off a sentence for working biggest lie they tell the public no one gets time off for working in texas prisons

[@ajay.3000]

LoL Texas is going to make you do EVERY.SINGLE.DAY, one way or another. And Maybe more.

[@bmc7549]

hot and cold running water my ass. i spent a whole winter damn near in a wing that had no hot water and no heat in the wing until the third week of January. what bullshit

[@double0nine73]

All inmates should get two hours of internet access and vending machines

[@DavidHernandez-ye7jd]

Clemens unit where the kids are locked up is the most horrible prison

[@MrArrumley]

The minute they started with "spending on Creature Comfort" I stopped watching. Criminals or not, they are human beings. And as I have heard, Texas state prisons are no damn picnic. They are the worst prisons anyone could be put in. Almost to the point of inhumane. Lawsuits have been filed and won against them because the conditions were so deplorable, that even the judicial system saw that the prisons were not meeting the minimum standards of safety. At one point, they had conditions in which even prison guards were suffering the effects of heat stroke and the water was considered below the standards of safety.

[@brianlohse6801]

Dont Mess with Texas!

[@claudermiller]

They're in prison. Why do you try to make it look like they're on a Norwegian Cruise? Stories like this are horrible. The goal isn't who can treat inmates worst. What's wrong with you people?

[@jeromedavis8575]

Total lies! Prison is bad! I've never been, and I never will! Hell no!

[@ViciousLatina]

Let this be a lesson to all the folks who think life in prison is worse than the death penalty.

[@ajay.3000]

It IS.

[@jonbyron38]

BS they dont give you ice cream. You buy it at commissary. You buy your own magazines etc.

[@Patrick-q6u]

I only did 2yrs in TDC .It would be 120 during the day and in the 90s at night.Thank God I never went back

[@9196michelle]

I never witnessed that where I worked and that was at a Maximum security prison... now if a guard even tries to help get contraband smuggled into the facility for an inmate or has relationship with an inmate...they go to prison...it is considered a felony now... whether or not it was consensual sex or not...

[@franzwa46]

These guys need to do another story, they have even more now today. Than when the story first aired.

[@dk2853]

yeah, now they only get 2 meals a day on the weekends.

[@dadc14]

Lmfao this is hilarious. Yeah try getting sent to ECB on a max unit for years and years with 23 hour lockdown and then let me know how soft the time is. People perspective are funny as shit that ain’t never lived it.

[@neworleans5279]

lucky they not in Angola penitentiary you will work whether you like it or not

[@richerich9238]

Anyone else want them guys to take this smart ass captive

[@christopherjernigan673]

Stuff can break out on the yard anytime. Trust me.

[@Eric-me5fe]

I was down while he was there. Dude straight out lied about so much.

[@TattooWolfie]

Oh and to people who say "Be hard on prisoners" ask yourself this have you EVER done anything illegal?Just once?Well your NO BETTER....U JUST DidNT GET CAUGHT!

[@rrevved]

"Actually he's in for killing 2 drug dealers, and what? They made their choice & he made his ... " I rest my case. BTW, are they going to end his miserable life soon? Many of us are tired of providing the money to feed him.

[@javierbarrera9805]

I just got out did 28 yrs flat

[@AztlanLives]

How was it

[@ajay.3000]

Damn, Bro, welcome back. It has changed a lot, yeah? I hope you are doing well.

[@javierbarrera9805]

@@AztlanLives hell. Texas don't care of their prisoners. I had to join a gang to survive

[@javierbarrera9805]

@@ajay.3000 thanks a lot. Yes a lot has changed and this news footage is all a joke

[@AztlanLives]

@@javierbarrera9805 What gang did hou join if you dont mind me asking? Glad youre out. I hope you make the best of this second chance. You should make videos talking about your time in TDC. Not a lot is known compared to CDC. All we know is that its hot as fuck and the guards make yall work.

[@janiedoe3125]

I guess that for Mr. Riggs, a prison sentence cut off from the outside world is not enough to pay for the crime, he would suggest that inmates live like animals the entire sentence and get treated like them everyday of their lives. However we wouldn't dare suggest treating ILLEGAL immigrants in detention facilities like that or even the Guantanamo Bay detainees being held on terrorism charges....only our own citizens.

[@rockydelgado4166]

Dawson state jail was pretty rough. inmates couldn't even go outside. co's were corrupt as hell. i was a guard not an inmate. i felt sorry for the inmates.

[@elchapo9347]

Rocky Delgado how bad was the violence...how did people who were not in gang do in there

[@johnmoseley4797]

Cry them a river then