Wasted Honor -- - Say What you Need To Say......: Correctional Officers

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

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Correctional Officers – Being Selfish is a Good Thing

As public servants we are taught to be unselfish and devoted to public needs and demands while giving up some of our own and do so generously. Now I don’t have a problem with being a good public servant and my service record will reflect I cooperated generously and unselfishly towards the common good we often talk about in the criminal justice system. The fact remains we are born being selfish and that’s a fact. However, based on my own experiences and those I was mentored by or trained, there are positive attributes to being selfish.

There need not be a conflict between society’s needs and your own. One can give generously and still receive sufficient self-gratification to be satisfied with your desires socially and culturally. It does after all is said, boost your morale and the morale of others. Being selfish creates a personal incentive to excel or do better in life if kept in perspective. The trick is to align or merge your selfishness with those demands of your organization, stockholders and community.

Law enforcement personnel aligned with their work, joint self- development and performance are positive attributes for others to benefit from thus it should never be taken away or criticized when it appears to be balanced in nature and actions. I think it’s fair to say that it is the organization that benefits the most when an employee seeks to excel and shares or gives those benefits to the job and team. Together they will work steadfast for mutual gains as well as a motivator for noble morale. The reasons for this is clear - Good morale and a motivated employee will:

· Enhance the mission of the agency as both parties are satisfied with job and performance levels.

· Discourage chaos or disorder and impact his or her disciplinary record by being in harmony with agency expectations or mission statement.

· Encourage a closer look [related to background check, educational history and prior work history credibility] by the agency to see if person can be considered for promotional opportunities. [after probationary periods are completed]

· Become an asset to the organization and treated as such to maintain value as a positive asset.

· Begin a self-development assessment for future opportunities and align with workplace opportunities.

· Keep them fresh and avoid a “burnout” status by staying healthy and alert mentally and physically.

· Assuring agency cooperation in promoting self-interests and leadership opportunities and work as a team.

· Avoid visions of doom and see opportunities that may also impact team members as future managers.

· Become or remain an optimist, be realistic and maintain a measured idealistic approach to the job

· Willingness to participate in more agency challenges or special projects.

· A loyal workforce and less vulnerable to be poached by other agencies and create permanent interests in agency and mission and impose an attitude of ownership.