Letter to the Editor of the Arizona Republic

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 3, 2013

Letter to the Editor of the Arizona Republic

This letter is most vital to all; the state and individuals employed by the state as correctional officers. Yes, although intense, it is a matter of life or death; a road to safety or a journey of harm. Either way, it is a subject of most urgent attention and cannot be neglected any longer.

We expect the Arizona Department of Corrections to be governed by rule of law and moral standards. We seek safety for all that work there and hold those in command responsible for such conditions. Today, the rule of law and those applicable moral standards are not in accord with public safety expectations or employee protection.

They are neglected by superiors and governed inadequately to control the milieu regardless of the threat to safety or lives. The administration lacks the wisdom, the sincerity and the courage to make changes to protect staff. They are in damage control that consists of distorted press releases while imposing extreme strictness and discipline of staff rather than those that commit the violence and crime within the prison setting.

The administration has to commit to a specific operational plan to reign in gang behaviors and assertively step up efforts to interdict the efforts of introducing dangerous contraband (specifically cell phones and weapons and drugs).

These have been successful because of administrative slackness in staffing such security operations. In deliberating these conditions, you will find a better prison environment and safer working condition in comparison to the present time.