Open Letter to Richard Pratt, Arizona Department of Corrections

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, May 31, 2014

Open Letter to Richard Pratt, Arizona Department of Corrections

Dear Sir,

I read your detailed response to Ms. Donna Hamm email dated May 2, 2014, and my heart sank as I looked at your responses. I knew you would defend the agency’s position on private medical care but I didn’t think you would compromise your own ethics while performing your duties as the health administrator for the agency. I had thought you were a better man than that.

I am somewhat frustrated you would take such a bold step when we all know that eventually, in an open courtroom, your words will be challenged as being accurate and truthful. I understand your loyalty to the job but what about your loyalty to your oath? Have you forgotten what it took to make you successful and all the hard work you put into your career to overlook these issues as they are being delivered to your office for action? How you deal with these medical complaints is a direct reflection of your own conscious and your own ethics that will be challenged someday in the courtroom.

What have you forgotten about your code of ethics? Do you expect all medical staff to follow your standards or those standards that certified you and others as competent professionals in charge and care of vulnerable human beings? Are you struggling with a real ethical dilemma because your job demands you stand firm on denying these conditions exist?

What about your personal feelings? Are you telling yourself and others “this too will pass” and conduct your job or responsibilities without feelings? Is there a real ethical dilemma here or are you so biased and prejudice about your “patients” you don’t give a damn anymore?

What about your work core and your support for others to do the job as trained and licensed to perform at the highest standards of care in the world. Do your words strengthened or weaken your work core values and those that you supervise or oversee? Are you moral values being compromised by your Code of Ethics? Are you making a difference in improving the situation or making them worse?

Are you asking yourself?

I am a professional and nobody should second guess my motive, decisions or my skills.

I care for every patient – no matter what they are like or what they have done in committing their crime(s).

What I do in this situation is more important than what they are doing while incarcerated.

I will do what is best for this patient no matter how he or she is acting understanding that one day they may return back to society and the communities where my family, friends and neighbors live.

Certainly, I am confident you know the rules. However, I am worried that the rules have changed under pressure of others that employ you. Who is responsible for the enforcement of these rules? I suspect you are. Are you setting an example for other doctors and nurses to follow in a positive and morally sound manner?

In an intimidating situation like a prison setting it is natural to focus on how you are feeling and a need to escape the discomfort. Ethical practice, though, is to remain patient-centered in the interaction no matter what you are told by the director, by the contractor or by those who drive your incentive to perform at your excellence and how you were trained.

Respectfully,