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1/NEW: For months, outbreaks in some Texas prisons have not been included in the total statewide tallies.
The state health agency is now including more than 1,500 inmate infections dating back to March.
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2020/06/17/texas-coronavirus-totals-jump-thanks-to-1500-previously-excluded-state-prison-infections/ #txlege
The state health agency is now including more than 1,500 inmate infections dating back to March.
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2020/06/17/texas-coronavirus-totals-jump-thanks-to-1500-previously-excluded-state-prison-infections/ #txlege
2/ The @TexasObserver first reported this discrepancy in May, noting that an outbreak at the Beto Unit did not appear to be included in statewide COVID-19 totals.
H/t @michaelsbarajas @SophieNovack @LiseDigger
https://www.texasobserver.org/covid-19-texas-undercount-prisoners/
#txlege
H/t @michaelsbarajas @SophieNovack @LiseDigger
https://www.texasobserver.org/covid-19-texas-undercount-prisoners/
#txlege
3/ Then @ @MarieLeonardHOU with @impactnews reported last week that Brazoria County would stop including its prison infections in their county totals.
https://communityimpact.com/houston/pearland-friendswood/coronavirus/2020/06/05/brazoria-county-will-no-longer-report-track-tdcj-inmate-covid-19-cases/ #txlege
https://communityimpact.com/houston/pearland-friendswood/coronavirus/2020/06/05/brazoria-county-will-no-longer-report-track-tdcj-inmate-covid-19-cases/ #txlege
4/ Now, these prison cases are included in state totals for the first time — but not without the consternation of local officials.
Brazoria County Judge Matt Sebesta, for example, still refuses to include inmate cases on his local website b/c he think's the data's wrong. #txlege
Brazoria County Judge Matt Sebesta, for example, still refuses to include inmate cases on his local website b/c he think's the data's wrong. #txlege
5/ Sebesta also says there's been a major communications breakdown with the state prisons agency.
Last week he told me, "They don't tell us s---. I am so frustrated with TDCJ and their arrogance. ...I’m just washing my hands of them." https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2020/06/17/texas-coronavirus-totals-jump-thanks-to-1500-previously-excluded-state-prison-infections/ #txlege
Last week he told me, "They don't tell us s---. I am so frustrated with TDCJ and their arrogance. ...I’m just washing my hands of them." https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2020/06/17/texas-coronavirus-totals-jump-thanks-to-1500-previously-excluded-state-prison-infections/ #txlege
6/ I heard this same sort of thing from other county judges, like Joe Shuster.
"TDCJ and the state of Texas are not playing well with the local governments," he told me. "I’m just a little old county judge here in Pecos County but I think we deserve the respect." #txlege
"TDCJ and the state of Texas are not playing well with the local governments," he told me. "I’m just a little old county judge here in Pecos County but I think we deserve the respect." #txlege
7/ The state health dept says ALL prison cases are now included in their statewide tallies.
But I'm not so sure that's true. I spoke with a handful of judges who also said they were still refusing to include prison infections. #txlege cc @SophieNovack @michaelsbarajas
But I'm not so sure that's true. I spoke with a handful of judges who also said they were still refusing to include prison infections. #txlege cc @SophieNovack @michaelsbarajas
