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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Alison Brock, the chief of staff for State |
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Representative Sylvester Turner, has rendered exceptional service |
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to the people of this state through her decisive action in behalf of |
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incarcerated youth; and |
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WHEREAS, When repeated complaints about suspected sexual |
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abuse at the West Texas State School in Pyote failed to receive |
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serious attention from TYC officials, a volunteer math teacher at |
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the facility contacted a Texas Ranger, who launched an |
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investigation in February 2005; the ranger filed his report, |
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detailing serious allegations of abuse, in April 2005, but a year |
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and a half later the case had yet to be prosecuted and remained out |
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of the public eye; and |
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WHEREAS, By chance, Ms. Brock learned in late October 2006 of |
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the ranger's investigation and the fact that the case had not yet |
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been taken to the grand jury; she promptly contacted the ranger to |
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request a copy of his report and then alerted officials in Austin; |
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her sense of urgency stemmed from the gravity of the offenses |
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alleged and from the fact that the statute of limitations on |
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prosecution would expire in 2007; and |
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WHEREAS, After being informed by Ms. Brock about the |
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situation in Ward County, the governor's office arranged for the |
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attorney general's office to provide critical assistance in |
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prosecuting the case there, and steps are now being taken to reform |
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the TYC; and |
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WHEREAS, Widely respected for the skill and dedication that |
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she brings to her work, Alison Brock first joined Representative |
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Turner's staff in 1992 and quickly developed an interest in |
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juvenile justice; to gain more knowledge of that field, she earned a |
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master's degree from The University of Texas LBJ School of Public |
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Affairs; she subsequently served as a juvenile probation officer |
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and as director of both the ACLU's Prison and Jail Accountability |
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Project and its campaign to educate ex-offenders about their right |
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to vote; in 2006 she returned to Representative Turner's staff as |
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his legislative director; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Brock's longtime involvement in the community is |
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equally reflective of her commitment to constructive action; she |
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has been a board member of the Austin YWCA and the Texas Ratepayers' |
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Organization to Save Energy, as well as a volunteer for Meals on |
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Wheels, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and a spirituality/12-step |
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program that serves women in prison; and |
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WHEREAS, In respecting the humanity of vulnerable |
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populations, and in striving to protect them from abuses of power, |
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Alison Brock has exemplified the highest standards of public |
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service and contributed immeasurably to improving the system by |
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which Texas seeks to rehabilitate its youthful offenders; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Alison Brock for her vital role in |
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bringing needed attention to a matter of serious public concern and |
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extend to her profound appreciation for all she has done to protect |
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youth in the care of this state; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Ms. Brock as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |