Is speaking out duty self-condemnation or condemnation?

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, February 8, 2013

Is speaking out duty self-condemnation or condemnation?

Is speaking out duty self-condemnation or condemnation?

Not too much has been said about those who speak out against prison abuse and advocate for prison reforms in Arizona or many other places. It is true that many have witnessed the atrocities and the horrific prison conditions that exist today but many have refused to talk about it. Basically speaking, if you are put in this situation would you speak out as if it is your duty or would you remain silent and allow the carnages to continue without shedding light on the matter? Are you that worried about the self-condemnation that will occur in your life?

As former deputy warden that has worked in solitary confinement for close to seven years either as an officer or administrator inside New Mexico and Arizona prisons. I have witnessed the violence first hand and am appalled we are not trying to resolve those concerns of killing incarcerated men and women without any kind of due process or justified reasons to allow this to go on. I have been accused of treason by my former peers as well as a disgruntled former employee that has nothing to add to constructive criticism when in fact; I have offered many solutions to the problem.

I was one of the deputy wardens assigned to Special Management II in Florence Arizona. I didn’t like what I was seeing and hearing but realized that the staff assigned there was doing the best they could under the cultural and departmental influences and cultures. They did their best to abide by their training and oath to preserve life and to follow the rule of law but the environmental conditions were overwhelming and created a pure conflict of interest between staff and inmates.

In my work I saw disturbing behaviors towards the seriously mentally ill persons as well as abuse and mistreatment. Some intentionally others were created by cultural biases, stigmas and misunderstandings between learning disabled persons and poorly trained correctional staff.

It is true I spoke out against what I thought was wrong. I based my inferences, opinions and feelings on my training, experience and cultural awareness skills acquired over a span of twenty five years or more. I raised questions and whether this was up to me to address or not became an issue with my peers and superiors. It was clear I had made a career decision to step out of their line of thinking and think for myself regarding the abuses I saw and became a part of involuntarily and within the environmental controls given to me as a middle level manager.

I would love to return to work and do my duty to work hard to resolve such critical matters I have written about and feel strongly about as well. There is no evidence that what I say is happening is false. Rather, there is overwhelming evidence what I am saying is truthful and ignoring that fact only makes the problems at hand worst.

I am currently unemployed and looking to work again coming out of retirement and becoming productive again. I want to pursue prison reforms and implement better programs and training material for staff to enable them to take care of business as it is required to be done., I never protested about the job but rather, how the job was being done with its high levels of intolerance towards death and the protection of basic human rights inside our prisons.

The mass incarceration agendas from the past still dictate overcrowded prisons, high suicide rates and prison violence either sexual assaults or physical beatdowns. The violence is out of control as prison gangs prosper and the administration has done’ nothing but come up with rhetoric to lock up those that are mentally ill or having difficulties coping inside their most volatile general population yards.

Today treatment for those returning war veterans diagnosed with PTSD or other disabilities are ignored. They are discarded as many came from homeless situations and without family support. They are castaways in a most violent world. They know they must survive or die if they don’t establish some kind of behavior pattern that makes other inmates leave them alone and accosted.

This advocacy for better prisons is not about me or anyone particular, it’s about everyone that is incarcerated and that works inside our prisons today. We must change how things are being done and change starts with us, with me if it has to be that way. It’s really that important to go beyond normal limits and express the truth as it exists and not how the political system wants you to believe it is. Unpopular, you bet but it’s the truth.