I read an editorial in the Buffalo News.com newsletter and saw this headline “Today’s technology might have saved lives in Attica uprising.” Reading the editorial written by Stewart Dan, it was a good report but as I read the story a little bit further I came this comment with a line that said “Forty years later, the “what ifs” continue to bother this reporter. What if we had a cellphone to communicate? What if we had videotape cassettes that ran 30 minutes and could be played back instantly? And, most importantly, what if we had a satellite truck on scene to constantly update the world on what was going on in this isolated community? “
I quickly realized that although technology would have enhanced the communication and the delivery of accurate news, facts or data, it would not have prevented Attica from exploding. The reasons are purely anecdotal in nature with no scientific evidence to support this except twenty five years inside a prison and law enforcement. Speculating if the administration, the governor or even the National Guard would have done things different is a moot point today except for the valuable lessons learned from that tragedy.
Here is where I am going to try to make my anecdotal points. You see, the problems at Attica weren’t anything that could not have been avoided. Attica was under siege of a culture and influence more deadly than the riot itself. Attica was a weapon of mass destruction waiting to happen and nobody paid attention to the signs, the internal problems, the racism, the hatred, the discriminatory practices, the code of silence, the deliberate indifference towards dignity, respect and preservation of life and civil rights.
Still today, the media is missing its calling. The media is assisting the prison officials by condoning the cover ups, the lack of transparency and the lack of interest in prisons until it explodes like Attica did. Then, the media will report how the massacre evolved and how the state was negligent about how it took care of its prisoners and how the place was really operated, out of sight, out of mind. After all, it’s every governor’s mandate to every director that oversees the prison system to take control and handle it. They don’t want to know how prisons are operated and what methods are used. Still the problem is unresolved as prisons are still graveyards of an unusual number of “natural deaths.” The suicide rates and the homicides that occur within the walls are still not investigated with the quality and meticulous science available on the outside mimicking a CSI episode. Mentally ill prisoners are thrown in with those who have severe social behavioral problems and become easy prey. Assaults and rapes are up and staffs are being assaulted in a horrific rate with no goals to bring them down in some states.
If Attica taught us anything, it was to keep an eye on the ball [the prison system] and report accurately, timely, both the good and bad and hold the governor, the prison directors and his or her staff accountable for every mission failure so boldly printed in their strategic plan every fiscal year to operate these prisons with publicly funded money.
Source:
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial-page/viewpoints/article561200.ece
SOLITARY CONFINEMENT -SHORT STORIES - NEWS AND OPINIONS - JUST PLAIN OLD STRAIGHT TALK ~~
Wasted Honor -
Carl R. ToersBijns is the author of the Wasted Honor Trilogy [Wasted Honor I,II and Gorilla Justice] and his newest book From the Womb to the Tomb, the Tony Lester Story, which is a reflection of his life and his experiences as a correctional officer and a correctional administrator retiring with the rank of deputy warden in the New Mexico and Arizona correctional systems.
Carl also wrote a book on his combat experience in the Kindle book titled - Combat Medic - Men with destiny - A red cross of Valor -
Carl is considered by many a rogue expert in the field of prison security systems since leaving the profession. Carl has been involved in the design of many pilot programs related to mental health treatment, security threat groups, suicide prevention, and maximum custody operational plans including double bunking max inmates and enhancing security for staff. He invites you to read his books so you can understand and grasp the cultural and political implications and influences of these prisons. He deals with the emotions, the stress and anxiety as well as the realities faced working inside a prison. He deals with the occupational risks while elaborating on the psychological impact of both prison worker and prisoner.
His most recent book, Gorilla Justice, is an un-edited raw fictional version of realistic prison experiences and events through the eyes of an anecdotal translation of the inmate’s plight and suffering while enduring the harsh and toxic prison environment including solitary confinement.
Carl has been interviewed by numerous news stations and newspapers in Phoenix regarding the escape from the Kingman prison and other high profile media cases related to wrongful deaths and suicides inside prisons. His insights have been solicited by the ACLU, Amnesty International, and various other legal firms representing solitary confinement cases in California and Arizona. He is currently working on the STG Step Down program at Pelican Bay and has offered his own experience insights with the Center of Constitutional Rights lawyers and interns to establish a core program at the SHU units. He has personally corresponded and written with SHU prisoners to assess the living conditions and how it impacts their long term placement inside these type of units that are similar to those in Arizona Florence Eyman special management unit where Carl was a unit deputy warden for almost two years before his promotion to Deputy Warden of Operations in Safford and Eyman.
He is a strong advocate for the mentally ill and is a board member of David's Hope Inc. a non-profit advocacy group in Phoenix and also serves as a senior advisor for Law Enforcement Officers Advocates Council in Chino, California As a subject matter expert and corrections consultant, Carl has provided interviews and spoken on national and international radio talk shows e.g. BBC CBC Lou Show & TV shows as well as the Associated Press.
I use sarcasm, satire, parodies and other means to make you think!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Carl also wrote a book on his combat experience in the Kindle book titled - Combat Medic - Men with destiny - A red cross of Valor -
Carl is considered by many a rogue expert in the field of prison security systems since leaving the profession. Carl has been involved in the design of many pilot programs related to mental health treatment, security threat groups, suicide prevention, and maximum custody operational plans including double bunking max inmates and enhancing security for staff. He invites you to read his books so you can understand and grasp the cultural and political implications and influences of these prisons. He deals with the emotions, the stress and anxiety as well as the realities faced working inside a prison. He deals with the occupational risks while elaborating on the psychological impact of both prison worker and prisoner.
His most recent book, Gorilla Justice, is an un-edited raw fictional version of realistic prison experiences and events through the eyes of an anecdotal translation of the inmate’s plight and suffering while enduring the harsh and toxic prison environment including solitary confinement.
Carl has been interviewed by numerous news stations and newspapers in Phoenix regarding the escape from the Kingman prison and other high profile media cases related to wrongful deaths and suicides inside prisons. His insights have been solicited by the ACLU, Amnesty International, and various other legal firms representing solitary confinement cases in California and Arizona. He is currently working on the STG Step Down program at Pelican Bay and has offered his own experience insights with the Center of Constitutional Rights lawyers and interns to establish a core program at the SHU units. He has personally corresponded and written with SHU prisoners to assess the living conditions and how it impacts their long term placement inside these type of units that are similar to those in Arizona Florence Eyman special management unit where Carl was a unit deputy warden for almost two years before his promotion to Deputy Warden of Operations in Safford and Eyman.
He is a strong advocate for the mentally ill and is a board member of David's Hope Inc. a non-profit advocacy group in Phoenix and also serves as a senior advisor for Law Enforcement Officers Advocates Council in Chino, California As a subject matter expert and corrections consultant, Carl has provided interviews and spoken on national and international radio talk shows e.g. BBC CBC Lou Show & TV shows as well as the Associated Press.
I use sarcasm, satire, parodies and other means to make you think!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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