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

Friday, August 29, 2014

Correctional Officers - Steel your Spine

Correctional Officers - Steel your Spine

Walking among those dressed in orange or black and white uniforms and sentenced to those gates of hell step by step without a gun and only having the guts to do so, I have watched the unparalleled bravery and courage of the correctional officer up close and personal.

I have witnessed an unyielding determination to face friend or foe under the worst human conditions with bravery inside their hearts. Each man or woman has courage in their soul, compassion in their hearts and spines of steel.

Sitting here thinking about what most of you already know because you live the fury and hell of the unforgiven job you have chosen that casts you into society’s darkest pits and leaves you there unnoticed and very seldom appreciated for what you do.

When we say you have steel in your spine it means you have the determination of an eagle to soar proudly above the rest of the crowd. You have the spirit that is undauntedly filled with the strength and responsibility to take care of others than no one else wants to touch or be around as they are castaways and lepers to society’s cultural standards. Regardless of how society feels, you are held at a higher standard to do your job and do it right.

Facing overwhelming opposition in your world of compliance and non-compliance you must possess steel in your spine to enter cells where danger lurks for you or others. Standing the wall you show the steel your spine as you deal with the adversities in and artificially induced after-life and the reality of knowing that danger lurks around every corner of this hell-hole of a prison.

Many times you are often left alone, trapped behind ribbons of razor wire and silver steel on high wired fences. The odds are overwhelming as you are left there with many more than any free man could imagine. In a dark world filled with pain, mutilations and death, you walk through the shadows of evil as you do what no man or woman would volunteer to do day in and day out but when it counts the most you know you never walk alone. There are others, sisters and brothers that stand by your side.

Correctional officers show steel in their spines because of who they are and what they do as they make the calls to handle whatever comes their way and because of the actions and decisions they make. They keep you safe and let you walk or sleep with no worries on your mind as they keep those dangerous to society in this place that’s nothing more than a pit of hell fire and brimstone any given day of the week.