In the world behind bars, a different form of authority must be exhibited. Lives are changed and rehabilitated, some people devote themselves to a life of crime and others understand the depths to which one must sink in order to be in a position of power.Prison rape happens from the juvenile holdings up to the federal security level, but that fact is nothing new. Film has shown it taking place in movies such as “American History X” and “The Shawshank Redemption.”

A March 8 Associated Press article showed that Texas has this problem in juvenile facilities, but, unlike the examples shown in movies, it is not sexual abuse between inmates. It involves employees abusing those incarcerated.

At the Texas Youth Commission facility, two staff members, Ray Brookins and John Paul Hernandez, were faced with allegations of sexual misconduct with inmates.

The two were in high positions of power – Brookins was the assistant superintendent of the facility and Hernandez was the former principal.

This is where problems erupt when somebody, in a place of hired power, is exercising a disgusting form of authority. Between inmates is one thing when it is a Darwinist form of survival behind bars, but, when a principal, an educator, a person of moral example is sexually abusing those who are being contained, the line must be drawn.

The inmates are still teenagers and children to an extent, so this type of abuse and humiliation is an even more vulgar display of power.

Moreover, one of the accused, Hernandez, was rehired to work at a charter school in west Texas after his resignation from TYC.

At schools and facilities for second chances, attention must be paid to the students, and an administrator should be working to help get youth on the right path and move toward a degree and job instead of a lifetime of shame.

Sports editor Marcus Murphree for the editorial board.