What happened to the DOC?

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, March 25, 2014

What happened to the DOC?

I was reading some interesting posts on Facebook the other day and realized that something had changed since my retirement and active duty. I was suddenly aware of stranger than fact things happening since the late 90’s and early millennium era. The DOC has changed and many old timers and veterans found themselves on the other end of the line they were towing but not making any progress in the tasks.

It seemed that those on the other end of the line were quitters and not very motivated to make this tow the rope analogy work like it was designed to work; teamwork and unity and balanced in the middle. It also seemed like one group was working against the other for no logical reason except selfishness and personal objectives rather than being mission oriented and focused on the job.

While one group worked diligently the other group joked about the way work needed to be done. Disregarding the threats and volatile potential behind these razor wired fences they ignored the up close and personal threats that existed leaving others vulnerable to attacks and other hazards or risks. No wonder there has been an increase in the manifestation of the paranoia of the reality of working there.

In return for this complacency the DOC has installed mass surveillance to counter personal attitudes of not doing the job right. They have chosen to scan and read Facebook entries by employees to seek out those that are disgruntled and revealing their culture without asking permission or facts. Sadly, many have decided to ignore the rule on cell phones and other electronic video games and bring them in for entertainment and distractions while being on the job.

My personal attitude doesn’t matter or apply. I don’t work there any longer but to those that work there today it must be a disrespectful feeling to be ignored like that when those very same eyes that are watching television or playing a game should be on the officer making the rounds inside the housing units or recreation yard. They should be embarrassed for doing something like this and neglect taking care of their own.

Inmates watch officers constantly. They know their habits better than the officers themselves and prey on their gaming time. They know they will be searched sloppily and ignored most of the time so officers can get back into the game or show and leave them alone without vigilance. The inmates know how to keep it chilled and favor officers keeping to themselves rather than walking or roving amongst them. The good officers are embarrassed and rather than making this public they keep it to themselves. Fearing reprisals and discipline for speaking against the grain, they chose silence and muted their voices so they can do their own time and go home.

One has to ask this question. “Is this what the future holds for correctional officers?” is this the new standard to go by and allow prison management to fail because of inattentive behaviors while on duty and developing a culture of apathy of your surroundings while delving into your own selfish abyss leaving others that do work with a conscience alone and unattended without vigilance? I fear I might be right that this is truly the way it is headed unless we change and turn around the way we manage attitudes and behaviors that shy away from work and self-responsibilities to do the job right.