ACTION ALERT: GOP wants to end private prison assessments and quality reports ~~

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

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

ACTION ALERT: GOP wants to end private prison assessments and quality reports ~~

Hello, all,

In yet another stunning display of hubris, the Arizona state legislature released a corrections budget bill yesterday that would eliminate the requirement for cost and quality assessments of private prisons in Arizona. That’s right—they literally don’t want to know.

While I’m somewhat flattered that the report we released is so threatening to the industry, it is very important that we take this seriously. I’m attaching a press release and an action alert—if you all could share the press release with any interested reporters you know and also send out the action alert to any members you may have in AZ, I’d really appreciate it.

Finally, we are going to be filing a formal protest of the RFP with the State Procurement Office in the next couple weeks. We are looking for organizations (good government groups, taxpayers rights groups, other budget watchdogs) to sign on. If any of you have ideas or contacts with these groups in AZ, please let me know. When we file the protest, we’ll be doing a bunch of press work, so I’ll be sure to send it along to the group. Thanks,

Caroline Isaacs, Program Director,

American Friends Service Committee, Arizona Area Program

103 N. Park Ave., Ste. 111

Tucson, AZ 85719

We want the facts on private prisons!

FACT: Private prisons in Arizona are not saving the state money

FACT: Private prisons are not safer or providing better quality than state prisons

FACT: Private prisons are unaccountable to Arizona taxpayers

Unfortunately, the attitude of state lawmakers is, “don’t bother me with the facts.” The budget bill released by the state legislature yesterday would eliminate the requirement for a quality and cost review of private prison contracts. That’s right, the state legislature has just said, “We don’t care.” They don’t care if these prisons are safe and they don’t care if they are wasting millions of dollars of your money. BUT YOU SHOULD CARE.

Recent reports have revealed that private prisons in Arizona cost more overall than equivalent state-operated prison units. Safety inspection data has revealed widespread safety problems, including malfunctioning cameras and alarms—the same kinds of problems that led to the escapes from Kingman in 2010.

Why wouldn’t they want to know if private prisons are actually saving money?

Why wouldn’t they want to know if these facilities are safe?

Why wouldn’t they want to know if people are being rehabilitated?

Take Action! Tell our legislative leaders WE WANT THE FACTS!

Ask them to repeal the language in the FY2013 Criminal Justice budget reconciliation bills (HB2860/SB1531) that would eliminate the requirement to review the cost and quality of private prisons. CALL TODAY!

House Speaker, Andy Tobin, atobin@azleg.gov; (602) 926-5172

Senate President, Steve Pierce; spierce@azleg.gov, (620) 926-5584

Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. John Kavanagh, jkavanagh@azleg.gov; (602) 926-5170

Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Sen. Don Shooter; dshooter@azleg.gov ; (602) 926-4139

Private Prisons in Arizona Need Oversight and Accountability Because:

• Prisons are fundamentally about public safety. Our communities should be assured that these facilities are safe, and the public should be notified when there are incidents like escapes or riots.

• Arizona taxpayers are shelling out millions for private prisons every year. We deserve to know what kind of return we’re getting on our investment.

• Private prisons are performing a core government function and doing it on the taxpayer’s dime.

**If you can blind copy or cc us, we will have a better idea how effective this initiative is. If you receive responses, even boiler-plate ones, please forward those to us, if possible.