HISTORIC PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND MOTEL 6

During the months of July, August and September, 36 Motel 6 units across the state will house prison inmates susceptible to heat related illnesses

By Adolf der Schweinehund

The Unconventional Gazette
April 24, 2014

In a joint news conference held Wednesday at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) headquarters in Huntsville, Motel 6 CEO Jim Amorosia, TDCJ Executive Director Brad Livingston and State Senator John Whitmire announced a historic agreement to house those prison inmates most susceptible to heat related illnesses in 36 Motel 6 units during the months of July, August and September. The motels will be spread across Texas and be near many of the state’s prison units.

Sen. Whitmire, longtime chairman of the Texas Senate Criminal Justice Committee, said that after reading the 40 page report by the University of Texas Law School’s Human Rights Clinic, he felt something had to be done to head off lawsuits charging the state with operating prisons that are so hot in the summer as to violate the Eighth Amendment protection against cruel and unusual punishment and with violating international human rights standards.

“We do not have the funds to air condition our prions and in many of our units we will not be able to limit cell temperatures to 85 degrees,” said Whitmire. “So I got my good friends Brad and Jim together and they found a way to address the concerns of human rights groups. Non-violent offenders who are susceptible to heat related illnesses because of age or health problems will be housed in air conditioned Motel 6 units.”

Jim Amorosia said that he and Livingston picked out 36 Motel 6 locations that are situated near major prison centers across the state. “Even though the state will pay us less than what we would bring in from our motel guests,” said the Motel 6 CEO, “I felt it was my civic duty to make our motels available to TDCJ during the hottest summer months. Since only non-violent inmates who are elderly or in poor health will be housed, we do not anticipate making any renovations to our units.”

Director Livingston said that temporary security fences and floodlights would be erected around the grounds of the motels. “We have picked 36 locations around the state that are near our major prison centers,” said Livingston. “The motels will be staffed by correctional officers. Telephones will be removed from all rooms. Inmates will be required to do their own housekeeping. TDCJ will set up kitchens at nearby facilities and meals will be trucked over to the motels. All visitors will be thoroughly searched for contraband and any cellphones in their possession will be confiscated. And all visits will be carefully monitored.”

This reporter asked Livingston how they would handle any disciplinary problems and possible escapes. “That’s easy Mr. Schweinehund,” replied Livingston. “Any inmate who violates the rules we will establish, will be shipped forthwith back to a regular prison unit. And considering the comfortable living accommodations at the motels and the security measures we will have in place, we do not anticipate that escapes will be much of a problem.”

“By the end of May we will be announcing the selected locations,” said Amorosia. “I want to apologize to any of our guests who may be inconvenienced at those locations during the months of July, August and September. I am sorry, but we will not leave the light on for you during that time. But let me assure you that the light will be back on at all other times and you will find our accommodations to be as good if not better than before.”

Sen. Whitmire said, “On behalf of Governor Perry and this great state of Texas, I want to thank Jim Amorosia, the Motel 6 Board of Directors and all of the motel officials involved in carrying out this historic agreement. The Lone Star State has been a trend setter in criminal justice reforms and this historic partnership with Motel 6 is just one more example of those trend setting reforms.”

The Unconventional Gazette contacted Ariel Dulitzky, director of the Human Rights Clinic at the UT Law School and asked him to comment on the partnership between TDCJ and Motel 6. “We are not impressed,” said Dulitzky. “The overwhelming majority of Texas prison inmates will still be broiling in heat conditions that are dangerous, unconstitutional and violate international human rights accords. This agreement is nothing more than a band aid on a festering wound. If this is the state’s answer to our report, we will take legal steps to stop Texas from violating the human rights of its prison inmates.”