Why undetected disabilities can be dangerous in a facility

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Monday, October 10, 2011

Why undetected disabilities can be dangerous in a facility

Article was found on Corrections.One and written by Dr. L. Schoenly -

Inmates can have functional disability that makes them vulnerable to perdition and injury. Do you know the physical abilities and disabilities of the inmates under your responsibility? We all know that the average age of the inmate population is increasing and that this group’s biologic age is greater than chronologic. In fact, most departments of correction consider inmates age 50 or higher to be elderly.

It is not surprising then, that inmates can have functional disability that makes them vulnerable to perdition and injury. A recent study in the California Department of Correctional and Rehabilitation (CDRC) confirms that inmate disability is on the rise. This is a safety concern for security staff as well as the inmate population.

Officers need to be aware of the type and degree of disability of inmates they manage, yet the CDRC study found that almost a third of geriatric inmates were unknown to their assigned officer. Tuning in to the functional abilities of aging inmates can prevent dangerous situations from developing. A survey published by the American Correctional Association in 2008 found only 13 states had dedicated units and 9 states had dedicated prisons for older prisoners. That leaves many facilities managing older and potentially disabled inmates within the general inmate population.

Disability can include a wide array of physical and mental conditions that make an individual unable to cope independently. A disability can be as simple as difficulty walking, lack of balance, or forgetfulness. It can progress to confusion, agitation and incontinence. In the community setting common aging disabilities are managed by family and friend caregivers. Aging inmates do not have access to this support system. Corrections officers must often stand in the breach to identify and manage the situation.

Some disabilities can make life difficult such as needing assisting devices to walk. Others can be dangerous for both the inmate and the security staff. Hearing loss can cause an inmate to respond inappropriately to an officer command. Forgetfulness and confusion can lead to conflict with cellmates or in the housing unit. Older inmates may function adequately in normal incarceration activities but be unable to handle additional issues such as walking while being handcuffed.

A primary intervention when disability is noted is contact with the facility health unit. A full evaluation will indicate both treatment options and any need for reclassification or reassignment. A good relationship with the medical and mental health service unit staff can smooth operations and increase your safety and that of your team mates and inmate population.

You probably didn’t enter the corrections profession to deal with health care issues. That is totally understandable. Yet, from the prospective of custody, care and control, you should be ever alert to the functional abilities of the inmates you manage. Intervening when disability and decreased functionality is noted can be a life saver!

Dr. Schoenly has been a nurse for 25 years and is currently specializing in correctional healthcare. She is a clinical education specialist and author actively advocating for excellence in this practice setting. Her web-presence www.correctionalnurse.net provides a forum to interpret correctional healthcare to the public and healthcare community.