Wasted Honor -- - Say What you Need To Say......: 8/21/11

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

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Following the Law

I received a letter today from State Representative Chad Campbell, District 14, downtown Phoenix, regarding the principle of how elected leaders should be expected to "follow the law." I found it most interesting coming from a lawmaker such as him and saw a sincerely effort to hold all elected officials accountable to the state constitution and its constituents as the laws are there to protect us all from harm or liabilities. In the first paragraph Campbell mentioned a bi-partisan effort by past legislators to enact a state law "requiring a bi-annual analysis to compare the cost to the taxpayer of private vs. public prisons. You added a statement that explained the reason for your letter as you go on to describe the behaviors of some by saying "Unfortunately, the state simply hasn't followed the law. What's more, Governor Brewer and Republicans in the legislature are pushing to issue more contracts to out-of-state corporations without that cost analysis and in open violation of state law."

In writing this writing, I realized he added another concern that I share as I am a former and retired corrections official dedicated to public safety and state in the letter "What's even more astounding is that all of this is taking place after Arizona's private prisons made national news for lax security and high-profile jailbreaks, one of which led to the tragic and avoidable murders of Gary and Linda Haas, an Oklahoma couple vacationing in New Mexico."

Since I was personally present at the Coolidge town meeting where the private prison contractor of the Kingman prison (MTC) presented their new prison plan to the town of Coolidge residents, I also heard Gary Haas' mother testify before the entire crowd and MTC officials, former prison director Terry Stewart (identified as a MTC consultant), prison director Charles L. Ryan and his management team saying to the crowd out loud "I've been through a lot of painful times in 81 years," she said "Even surviving the terrible tornado that hit Joplin recently. But nothing compares to the pain of having my kids brutally murdered because MTC [Management and Training Corp] couldn't do its job of keeping criminals locked up." It was both sad and with shock that MTC has the nerve to show up to solicit for a new contract after failing our state in the area of public safety and sound correctional practices. It just doesn't make good business sense to award a multi-million dollar contract to a firm that has demonstrated flaws and deficiencies in the immediate past plus the loss of two innocent lives while the escapees were fugitives and on a national crime spree.

Representative Campbell asked me to call the "governor today and tell her to follow the law. It is time to stop wasting our money." I decided to do a little more than that. I am letting Governor Brewer know through this open letter to her and the public this law must be followed in order to maintain an ethical and accountable approach to her plans to privatize prisons in Arizona. In addition, I will fax this letter to her office and other legislators to send the message that this law serves a purpose and that purpose was determined by responsible persons [lawmakers] who have our future and our wellbeing in considerations as well as making sure we conduct state business the right way.

Source:
info@chadcampbell.org