By Mike Ward
American-Statesman Staff
Texas — A corrections sergeant at Texas’ oldest prison was fired last May for having a convict as a Facebook friend. Officials said he had violated policy and compromised security — even though he insisted he didn’t know the man was a prisoner, only a high-school acquaintance.
Rules are rules, officials said, and Texas bans convicts and guards, parolees and parole officers, from fraternizing, including as Facebook friends.
About two weeks ago, officials reinstated the sergeant after an internal investigation determined that a number of other prison employees had the same online friend, including the prison system’s chief financial officer.
Now, officials say they no longer consider Facebook friendships, by themselves, a violation of the fraternization ban.
Full story: Prison officials: Facebook friendship with inmate no longer grounds for firing