Anecdotal evidence of solitary confinement Versus scientific evidence of confinement impacts

While employed by the Arizona Department of Corrections for approximately 50 months I had the opportunity to ask numerous questions from those who were hired to perform essential duties within a prison setting. This included nurses, psychologists, administrative staff and correctional officers. Given these conditions, I gleaned facts through reviewing incident reports, statistical data, observation, interrogation and interactions with these professionals that allowed me to create an accurate inference of the milieu or workplace, culture and practices. Although I must admit that this inference was not scientific or clinically attained, it does not preclude any or all my understanding o experience while engaged in the role of being the administrator in charge of many of these functions. I feel however that those who do engage in scientific or clinical practices feel compelled to reject or repeal my own inferences as experienced during the time I spent behind the prison walls.

Taking into consideration decades of training and practicing report writing for the agency, it has become a matter or record that anecdotal writings serves the purpose of bringing people to trial or disciplinary action based on the writings of those reports and actions documented. Therefore, it serves a useful purpose but can be discarded at the whims of the executive or others. Today with the addition of forensic evidence gathering this task has allowed us to use these anecdotal writings as the very same guidelines or compass directions to allow forensic to continue their own tasks of validating the information or adding more detail to the evidence already available. This is the correct spirit to conduct whenever anecdotal writings are presented.

Sometimes however, some health providers or executives have gone as far as discredit my writings about the lack of mental health treatment in solitary confinement and reports regarding certain prison conditions as being anecdotal in nature and not scientific. This is true in many cases but the reports or writings are filled with facts that were substantiated or confirmed either on the spot or reported by several witnesses much like those testifying inside a courtroom with no motive to tell anything that is either false or fabricated. The truth can and is often revealed by person’s own observations and can dispute clinical or scientific data resulting in it being credible data and subject to consideration when written in good faith. Realizing an anecdote is a story written or spoken, in the context of credibility it often relates to an individual’s experience with their surroundings or job in this case. It can often illustrate the person’s efforts to treat it, manage it or even change it as we find it generally acceptable to do what is best and according to laws, practices and training. To say that either anecdotal or scientific results are 100 % accurate would be false.

So why do certain officials take an anecdotal report less compelling than those scientifically created? What draws their suspicion that the one report [anecdotal] is not accurate and the other report [scientific] must be because it was done scientifically? The answer is in the reader’ ability to sort out the facts through confirmation of the sources and data presented in the report. Now one must ask, why write a report if the confirmation process will repeat the report all over again? The answer is simple, the confirmation process will not be initiated if the reader likes the content of the report and goes with the content as it is written. However, if the reader disputes the report, another report will be written to counter the original report to please the reader with its outcome.

People are human and humans tell stories. We learn from others and we learn from being exposed to the environment how to make most accurate judgments about the environment as well as how to tell a lie. A lie however, for this purpose does not serve any cause thus we will eliminate fallacy in this matter for the time being. Thus anecdotal writings are not scientific methods but close enough to report a legitimate point of view or concern. As this practice and experience is repeated, the report becomes more credible and the writer’s opinion becomes less subjective and more acceptable to the truth. When a report is written with the reader’s belief that it is accurate, it is difficult to nearly impossible that the matter exists otherwise but one must always reserve the fact that it can be changed with further proof or evidence to support the change of view or fact. It is the way people are structured and wired to comprehend ideologies developed through experience or instinct.

Understanding the prison world through a factual or fictional account of an event or series of events is a good strategy to enlighten others of the environment and create teaching tools along the way to understand the culture and practices in more detail. Although the discipline of science could be used in such writings, these facts are often gleaned in sterile conditions and untrustworthy of repeating in a report as it may be compromised by the environmental change that took place when the events occurred. Thus approach of such matters determines response to the elements presented either way.

To understand this better, let me illustrate one example. When we write about prisons and solitary confinement, the best subject matter expert is the person experiencing the stress and the pressure of such conditions. Such a person could in fact detail the feelings, the pressures and the impact if asked by someone how they feel and what they think this type of confinement has done to their mind, their body and their spirit. The answer would be pure non scientific but none the less, real to that person. Now, injecting a mental disability or psychosis to the event, the answer could in fact be challenged scientifically because of the altered state of mind and be rejected as a false inference or statement. This is the problem that exists with our mentally ill persons in prison. They are not believed by the establishment because they are in a neurosis state of mind aka mentally challenged or mentally impaired thus subject to losing all credibility of their problems and issues. Hence the source loses credibility and we are back to square one relying on scientific evidence or data to determine the truth as it is revealed.

After spending 25 years in a prison as an officer, a supervisor, a programs director and a warden, I have acquired information in the area of knowledge and skills related to prison life and their impact on others incarcerated. Never claiming to be an expert, I write about the things I have seen, heard, smelled, touched and felt while being there inside a cultural trap where no normal person wants to live or work unless dedicated enough to endure the trek between sanity and insanity; for prisons are places of insanity and incomprehensible feats or occurrences. It is true my writing may be flawed by personal biases or opinions about the ethics or condemnation of such a place. However, they are no less false and no less written out of context as the facts remains that most of what I have experienced was real and not virtual in any sense. There is no make-believe in my writings; it doesn’t serve any purpose to do so. Thus classified as anecdotal writings the reader must accept that there is truth contained within the contents.

Scientific flaws contribute to unreliable and controversial reports about solitary confinement and its impact on the human mind and psyche. Taking a battery of tests for evaluating their mental status can only reliable if the same person is tested before entry into the abyss of solitary confinement and after spending a minimum of 2 years inside the walls of these units for I have seen a significant change in the human mind and behavior after 2 years in solitary confinement. Science does not take into account the human element of this placement as it is solely punitive in nature and should never be done for long term purposes. The fact remains that no man was meant to be excommunicated from other humans in the manner prescribed by prison isolationists. It their mission is to treat and rehabilitate for an eventual release back into society, these methods do more harm than any good for the only good is to break the person down and make them beg to be humanized again. This strategy is flawed and must be compromised to allow more human interaction to preserve what is rightfully ours from birth, our dignity and self respect to co exist with others even if the rules are so strict that you can’t touch one another but you can see, hear, smell and feel their presence near you to make you feel you are not alone wherever you may be situated. Anecdotal writing of prison life and its effects are tools of awareness that other can read and heed advice from or take action whichever is most applicable or appropriate. Suggestions to change the way we do things are based on life experiences and consequences of those experiences. Good decisions versus bad decisions, good judgment versus bad judgment all impact the outcome of your life’s destiny and purpose.

To finalize my subjective writings to some level of truth or accuracy, we can say that science has a most opportune advantage over anecdotal writers for the data presented can not be challenged by those for two reasons I can think of. The first is in the subject of mentally ill persons locked away into solitary confinement, they [the mentally ill prisoner] can’t accurately tell you how they feel because of their altered state of mind thus unreliable in content or explanations leaving the impressions documented as fact. The second is that dead men tell no tales and can’t challenge the content of the reports as being inaccurate or accurate.

The second part, “dead men tell no tales” is the whole purpose of this writing. Today, too many people are dying in prison and nobody, not even the coroner or the medical examiner can accurately tell you what really occurred at the time of their death AND those conditions that existed before their death that is not consumed, applied or found on their dead body for forensic evidence. Administrators wipe their hands clean when the coroner writes “natural death” on the death certificate as they are handicapped to learn or expose what could have been done to prevent or preempted the death going back in time to watch the development occur or form. To make it clear, it’s not the death we are writing about, but rather the conditions that existed before the death occurred. Whether it was poor medical treatment, poor mental health care or inappropriate security management that led to the death will never be revealed as the coroner or examiner had closed the books on any investigation by attaching a label to the body and calling it a “natural death” leaving no legal obligation to proceed any further with this matter. Poor medical care or poor mental health care for prisoner exists and is not being addressed as urgently as it should be today. Their reports of care should be challenged by those in positions of authority and reveal whether or not their performance inside these prisons are satisfactory or unsatisfactory to the mandated standards of care as there appears to be no benefit of their presence in many cases where death could have been prevented with proper care whether emergency care or standard on going care. There is a lack of motivation by those professionals who took an oath to preserve life and although I will be challenged by the naysayers and skeptics of these people, the evidence is mounting that too many people are dying by natural deaths and suicides inside our prisons. Unlike those on the outside, those who receive unfair or inadequate treatment by these professionals do not have a choice in going to another provider to get a second opinion on their treatment.

The third part is the confirmation part where the conclusions are read. This is a twofold situation as two conditions may exist. The first is an attempt to find another side of the facts already presented e.g. a death has occurred. The person reviewing the incident seeks to find the truth of the events told and requests an investigation. The investigation can be performed in two methods. The first is independently without political interference and the second is to write the outcome to suit the needs of the writer or the reader. Science uses good clinical trials and measures to derive an outcome or desired product. However, even scientist can manufacture a desired outcome. Based on specific scientific physical evidence or in some cases, psychological evaluations performed by good people [so it is expected] who care about their results in a most good faith and conscious manner. In an anecdotal writing or report the conclusion is also prepared to suit the needs of the writer or the reader with a moral obligation to reveal the results as being truthful and accurate to the extend it is allowed through a non-scientific manner. Neither reports are unacceptable and in most cases both are allowed for testimony as scientists compete with “experts” on their details and knowledge of the subject matter. Again, since ‘dean men don’t tell tales” they won’t be able to testify their own experiences, it is likely that it becomes the responsibility of the reader and the listener to determine what it truth and what is false. Judgments are made and those judgments are made by mankind that serves the purpose of relaying the results of the truth as it was presented or explained by those involved.

What is most interesting is the fact that the scientific community or professionals made up its mind a long time ago to dispute the weaknesses the anecdotal writings contained and the role they play. Logic and learned lessons of the past are clearly factors of this discussion and should be considered when deciding whether or not one method is better than the other or whether the two can work together and provide the reader with a more complete vision or picture of the subject matter at hand. I suspect the latter would be most beneficial to anyone in charge of a prison system or any other system that is under scrutiny for various issues at hand. It is the opinion of others and this writer that anecdotes serve a reliable purpose and source. Elimination of personal biases, frustrations, or even anger can clean up a most purposeful mission statement to follow and adhere to. Both methods can be validated if the reader chooses to do so but in either case, the results can be altered by changing the environment of the subject matter at hand.

Anecdotal writings are not designed to lower the bar on credibility or reliability of treatments or conditions written about. It is merely another tool that can deliver a calculated attempt to broach another view or opinion into the matter of discussion showing other possibilities and experiences that may or may not contribute to the overall evidence of the case. Together with scientific tools, the reader has a better explanation, view or opinion of the matter that is placed before them creating an improved s

Charles L. Ryan, Arizona Prison director – Charles Flanagan newly appointed Juvenile Corrections director

Arizona prisons are in dire straights as they have lost one of their best prison administrators to the Arizona Juvenile Corrections Department Saturday. Deputy Director Charles Flanagan, a stabilizer and a very good leader was the rudder that kept the ADOC out of hostile waters and other catastrophes. His recent appointment by the governor illustrates his capabilities; his expertise and his values as he has been given a challenge to bring the juvenile system back to the values and expectations the governor and her constituent’s desire and expect them to be in today’s penology standards. The absence of Charles Flanagan will be measured by the lack of performance by current leader who just lost his most important ally and now has to rely on those he appointed to keep him out of trouble. It is likely he will fail just like he did in the past and as he did in Iraq.

Kudos to Mr. Flanagan as he moves on and prayers are with those who work for the ADOC.

Attached below is a story written to illustrate why Arizona’s prison system is in such dismal conditions under Director Charles L. Ryan. His management style has long been suspect of DNA related to the Abu Ghraib incident as his influence as well as others permeated the current culture, moral values and ethical standards maintained in operating our expensive prison system. Governor Brewer will be wise to separate herself from such a person who is interested in only power and control; qualities he allowed others to emulate while he was in Iraq and now in Arizona. It is both rational and logical that without the moral compass of Mr. Flanagan by his side, Director Ryan will drift off course and be completely amiss through the mission creep that already exists but will be exasperated by Mr. Flanagan’s absence in the department..

The following excerpt is taken from a story written by Dan Frosch, a freelance writer and describes Mr. Ryan’s ideology with guidance of those who were just as incompetent as he is:

If you're an American ex-prison official whose tenure was tainted by federal investigations, state hearings, inmate deaths, allegations of torture, civil rights lawsuits, even an outcry from Amnesty International, despair not. There's a job for you in Iraq. In what appears to be an emerging pattern of ill-advised hires, the Justice Department has sent a virtual who's-who of prison tough guys to Iraq over the past year – their collective track record on human rights essentially one enormous red flag – and paid them to reconstitute that country's detention system. Already, two of the Justice Department's 'corrections advisors' are making headlines: Lane McCotter, former director of the Utah Department of Corrections, and John Armstrong, his Connecticut counterpart, both resigned after inmate abuse scandals occurred under their respective watches.

McCotter stepped down from his Utah post in 1997 following the case of a schizophrenic inmate who died shortly after being strapped to a restraining chair for 16 hours. McCotter later became an executive of a private prison company whose Santa Fe jail was investigated by the Justice Department in 2003 for healthcare, sanitary and safety deficiencies. Armstrong left Connecticut's top corrections job last year amidst the fall-out from an ACLU lawsuit over his decision to transfer inmates to a notorious Virginia prison (two Connecticut inmates died in custody there), and a state human rights commission hearing which took him to task for failing to deal with sexual harassment of female guards. Armstrong also attracted the ire of Amnesty International, which called for an investigation into the state's York Correctional Institution for women in November, 2000, after the group received complaints from inmates and former employees alleging sexual abuse by guards.

The Justice Department's hiring of McCotter and Armstrong could be relegated to an eyebrow-raising turn of events; two occasions do not necessarily constitute a trend. However, there are signs that the hirings were not necessarily a mind-boggling oversight attributable to the chaos of the occupation's early days, but perhaps indicative of a decision to contract the roughest, toughest prison people around regardless of their histories. AlterNet has learned that two more corrections advisors sent by the Justice Department to Iraq, former Arizona Department of Corrections director Terry Stewart and his top deputy Chuck Ryan have controversial pasts as well.

In 1995, the year Stewart was appointed to head the Arizona DOC, the Justice Department began an 18-month investigation of alleged sexual abuse of female inmates. A subsequent report found "an unconstitutional pattern of practice of sexual misconduct"; documented the cases of 14 female inmates who were raped, sodomized or assaulted by guards; and criticized DOC officials for not dealing with the problem. In response, Stewart wrote a letter to then Attorney General Janet Reno claiming the report represented isolated incidents, but in 1997, the Justice Department sued Arizona for failing to protect its female inmates from guards and DOC staff. The suit named Stewart as one of the defendants and accused him and other DOC officials of knowing about the abuses but doing nothing. (Eventually, despite never admitting any wrongdoing, the DOC agreed to further protect female inmates from sexual abuse and the suit was dismissed.)

Ryan, a 25-year Arizona DOC veteran, became Stewart's deputy director in 1996 and was seen by some as an integral part of his regime, which also drew criticism for the long-term, intense segregation of high-risk inmates, and for a failed effort to build a private prison exclusively for the state's foreign inmates, who happened to be overwhelmingly Mexican. Dan Pochoda, a New York civil rights lawyer, was assigned by the federal government to monitor the conditions in the Arizona prison system just prior to Stewart's taking the reigns. "Even in the spectrum of corrections administrators, they are uniquely hard line, and in my opinion, acknowledged proponents of conditions that are damaging on a human level," he said of Stewart and Ryan. "There was an absolute brutality in the way the Stewart regime saw the correctional purpose," added Caroline Isaacs, criminal justice program coordinator for the Arizona American Friends Service Committee, which advocates for prison reform. "The prison system was taken from a place that cared at least a little about rehabilitation to a dictate that was all about control and security and nothing more." In a May 20 Justice Department press release, Stewart was listed as one of the corrections advisors who was sent to Iraq. In a subsequent interview for an online magazine, The Corrections Connection, Stewart, Lane McCotter and Gary DeLand – another former Utah Corrections official – discuss their trip there. DeLand told me that Chuck Ryan was part of a second shift of corrections advisors, along with John Armstrong, that came to Iraq to replace Stewart, McCotter and himself after they'd left. A Feb. 3 Asia Times story, referring to Ryan as the Coalition Provisional Authority's deputy director of prisons, confirmed what DeLand told me. Neither Stewart nor Ryan could be reached for comment. And while it's unlikely any of the corrections advisors in question were part of the unfolding abuse scandal at Abu Ghraib, their presence in Iraq is causing a gathering storm.

Over the past two weeks, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has written two letters to Attorney General John Ashcroft demanding answers to why and how McCotter and Armstrong were hired and calling for an investigation into the role of civilian contractors in Iraqi prisons. So far, the feds have been tight-lipped. Justice Department spokesman Mark Corallo would not return phone calls, and a Defense Department spokesman refused comment. In an email, Coalition Provisional Authority press officer Shane Wolfe noted the corrections advisors were not interrogating any inmates but training police and correctional officers and assessing the needs of Iraqi civilian prisons.

Meanwhile, as more information is unveiled, prison reformists are increasingly aghast at why an agency responsible for keeping America's correctional system humane has been hiring people whose own prisons, they allege, were anything but. A May 21 New York Times story quoted an anonymous senior Justice Department official as saying its contractors "were all vetted in the normal process" and came highly recommended. Such a revelation, coupled with the resumes of McCotter, Armstrong, Stewart and Ryan, suggests that perhaps the Justice Department actually sought out perceived hard-nosed corrections types that they thought could bring order to an Iraqi detention system in shambles. It makes you wonder what kind of criteria they were using," said Brooklyn-based prison reform consultant Judy Greene. "It's hard to imagine the Justice Department were looking for candidates with a proven track record of tolerating or condoning abusive treatment of prisoners, but that's what they got."

Dan Frosch is a freelance journalist based in New York City. He's been on staff at the San Gabriel Valley Weekly section of the Los Angeles Times, The Source magazine, the Pacific Palisadian Post and most recently the Santa Fe Reporter.


Source:

Uncle Sam Wants You Anyway
By Dan Frosch, AlterNet
May 24, 2004

Free Agent Jesus Diaz

US vs. Jesus Diaz Case - UPDATED

Case Info: The LEOAC website is the best source of information when it comes to bad government persecutions by way of prosecutions in what we call the "War on Law Enforcement". As such, LEOAC is advocating for Jesus Enrique Diaz, Jr., a Border Patrol Agent who was maliciously prosecuted at the request of the Mexican Consul in Eagle Pass, Texas. After a thorough independent review, we have concluded that this case was done in order to hand the Mexican Government a Border Patrol agent's scalp. It was solely motivated by politics. The sole issue here is Agent Diaz was accused of pulling on the handcuffs of a doper while allegedly questioning him about a dope load. The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas who prosecuted this case for the Department of In-Justice painted the doper as a poor victim selling drugs to make money for his family. When this case first began, between 1 and 2am Central Time on October 16, 2008, the U.S. Attorney was none other than Johnny Sutton who left DOJ on April 19, 2009. His Chief Deputy was appointed by Obama as U.S. Attorney and continued the prosecution.

Sutton previously prosecuted Border Patrol Agents Gary Brugman, Jose Compean, and Ignacio Ramos, FBI Special Agent in Charge Hardrick Crawford, Edwards County Deputy Sheriff Gilmer Hernandez, as well as Celerino 'Cele' Castillo a retired DEA Agent who blew the whistle on the Iran-Contra scandel.

Agent Diaz has served for 8+ years in the Border Patrol. His wife Diana has been a BP agent for 15 years and currently is a Field Operations Supervisor (FOS). They have 4 children together, including an infant born in March 2011. Mr. Diaz also has 2 children from his previous marriage. Numerous family members also serve in law enforcement in Texas and New Mexico.

We will soon post a number of documents including Agent Diaz' trial transcripts. (see bottom of page for documents, transcripts, and exclusive footage not available anywhere else).

To summarize, U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton and his minions used an extremely weak charge, claiming the civil rights of a doper were violated. Sutton and his successor under the Obama Administration then put the full weight of the Justice Department behind this prosecution, solely to give the Mexican Government a Border Patrol Agent's scalp. Law enforcement officers commonly pull on a perps or suspects handcuffs. If this is the new standard for a 10 year prison sentence, then all departments either need to be questioned by the DOJ about this, or they need to support Agent Diaz' appeal and his family's quest for justice.

If retired Chief and current Congressman Silvestre Reyes, CBP Deputy Commissioner David Aguilar (Chief of the BP from 2004 to 2009), current COBP Mike Fisher, and every last manager at the Border Patrol have pulled on the handcuffs of a suspect, then they need to be held similarly accountable for this is the precedent that DOJ and the Federal Courts have established.

Open Letter from Director Charles L. Ryan Arizona Department of Corrections

Waiver - the Open letter is posted on www.thunderrolls.net - This group is not endorsing or approving this letter or any comments related to this link or letter.

Selective enforcement of those cases that the ADOC "feels" or "requires" referral to prosecutors.

FY # Inmates # Staff Total Assaults

2009 - 624 - 355 - 979

2010 - 744 - 342 - 1086

2011 - 276 - 141 - 417

Total - 1644 - 838 - 2482


Interesting Points to look at:

Director Ryan said “The outside criticism ignored or downplays the fact that the raw numbers of cases submitted for possible prosecution are higher since 2009 –

Response – Ryan ignores or downplays the fact that the conviction rate or % has dropped significantly in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Director Ryan said “Consider that the previous administration did not count or consider an assault against staff if the employee was not injured. I changed that definition, so that an assault against staff is considered an assault whether the employee was injured or not. We consider the law and the truth, not how low our statistics are interpreted”

Response – Ryan change in definition of the charge “assault” created higher numbers for justification for overtime and other political means, not to protect staff as these assault rates are higher than the previous administration but the pursuit to convict is weaker making his proclamation to be a “paper tiger” statement to please staff inferences.

How long would a Chief of Police last at this job if the conviction rate drops because of shoddy investigative means and lack of pursuit to protect all that are inside a prison community... One can speculate the police chief to be fired.

Not an analytical expert, I will allow the reader to figure out how those assaults are determined to be sufficient and justified to be considered for prosecution as the numbers of cases referred versus the number of assaults are divided by a wide margin that implies not all assaults are worthy of prosecution thus the director's commitment to staff safety is politically indifferent to all staff and just those he chooses to care for or provide attention to in his own ways that separate these victims into two groups, those who are valued and those not so valued. You decide which group these officers fall in but I can see the majority are not valued...

The director addressed this wide margin with the statement that “In addition to criminal prosecution procedures, ADC is served by the administrative disciplinary policy.” Ironically, he stated “Virtually all sustainable incidents of assault, assaultive behavior, or any other misconduct by inmates result in administrative sanctions being placed on the inmate.” The irony here is that these extra sanctions are meaningless to these types of inmates as he illustrated in his case with inmate Daniel Eason by giving him “a pass” by not prosecuting him.” His placement in the Enhanced Security unit is still not sufficient to manage him and thanks to the director, Eason now enjoys the label of “one of the most dangerous inmates in the ADOC.” Nothing like ranking and empowering this inmate more glory and making him public enemy number one and the most notable punk in the system.

I spoke to CO II Illingsworth throughout that entire episode and between him and his father, they wanted to press charges against him [Eason] but COII Illingsworth told me that the cost to prosecute was too high and not worth the efforts to bring additional time to this inmate. I spoke with him in the emergency room in Osborne Trauma Center, I spoke with him when he was released from the hospital and he was still dazed and in shock, I spoke with him while he was home recuperating, I spoke with him when he wasn’t ready to come back to work, I spoke with him when he came back and offered him a slot at Complex to re-integrate into the work place, I spoke to him when he was at work I admire this officer’s return to work as he endured a pure hell that should have never happened but that’s not part of the story. The only part told was how the inmate was not prosecuted for attempted murder. During those hours at the ER I saw only one lieutenant [Hawkins] his family and oh no, no Mr. Ryan, No warden, No deputy warden, just the two of us and his family.

Half truths are sometimes the same as lies but we will leave this lying dog lay on that front porch as those who actually work for a living [line staff] and those who risk it all [again line staff] listen to the director’s spiel of misconceptions and deflections of the facts to suit his own needs.

The prosecution of criminal cases in Arizona prisons 2005-2011

Fiscal Year                   # of cases        # cases insufficient evidence for prosecution

2005                             85                      54

2006                           109                      95

2007                             72                      51

2008                             96                     66

2009                          110                      68

2010                          120                      60

2011                           95                       55

Total                         687                     449

Yr         #Cases submitted    # cases declined    # cases resulting         # cases pending by pros in conviction

05      31                                   6                               24/77%                    1

06      14                                   0                               14/100%                  0

07      21                                   4                               17/81%                    0

08      30                                  7                                21/70%                   2

09      42                                 13                              25/60%                     4

10      60                                 14                             29/48%                    17

11      40                                  2                                     5                       33

          238                             46                               135/57%                 57                                


Fiscal Year  #Assaults on Inmates   #Assaults on Staff     Total Assaults

2009                624                               355                      979

2010                744                              342                     1086

2011                276                               141                      417

Total               1644                              838                    2482


Interesting Points to look at

Director Ryan said “The outside criticism ignored or downplays the fact that the raw numbers of cases submitted for possible prosecution are higher since 2009 –

Response – Ryan ignores or downplays the fact that the conviction rate or % has dropped significantly in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Director Ryan said “Consider that the previous administration did not count or consider an assault against staff if the employee was not injured. I changed that definition, so that an assault against staff is considered an assault whether the employee was injured or not. We consider the law and the truth, not how low our statistics are interpreted”

Response – Ryan change in definition of the charge “assault” created higher numbers for justification for overtime and other political means, not to protect staff as these assault rates are higher than the previous administration but the pursuit to convict is weaker making his proclamation to be a “paper tiger” statement to please staff inferences.

How long would a Chief of Police last at this job if the conviction rate drops because of shoddy investigative means and lack of pursuit to protect all that are inside a prison community.. One can speculate the Chief would be fired.

Open Letters – What purpose do they serve?

Reading one ‘open letter’ in particular, it prompted me to seek the answer as to why someone in a most powerful position would write an open letter to the masses that are under his command. Seeking to find his motive or his issue with those matters listed within this letter, it is important to look beyond the words and thoughts printed inside these letters that are circulated to an unlimited number of people and sometimes a nationwide effort to express their thoughts on paper.

The main reason for writing such a letter would be to put the ink to the paper and state or express the author’s position on a particular matter or a range of different subjects listed in the order of preference to the writer. In this case, the order is a significant indicator how the author perceives his interest versus those of his readers and makes it clear that his priority on these matters are clearly written and expressed. Unconsciously, this writer might have opened up a Pandora’s box situation that allows the readers to infer that although he is expressing his thoughts in an open letter format, he is attempting to get his message out there beyond those addressed and interested in his position or take of those matters listed.

Thus an open letter is an attempt to begin or initiate a mass communiqué with others outside the title of the heading on the letter. This is purely for political reasoning and is a passive attempt to attract the support or ideology of others not intended as the target group but rather a support group. This could of course backfire if the message is received by a opposing group that can use these contents of the letters as ammunition to fire back with a message that contradicts or conflicts with those words written in the open letter. Secondary reason for this attempt to begin a wider stroke of the pen to others is to diffuse thoughts of those ready to initiate harmful action against the man or the matter at hand. Thus this conscious awareness of the opposition’s stand on those issues written are more or less a way to express their credibility is valid and he is doing something about it with those steps outlined in his letter.

The open letter can and often used to criticize others points of view or their actions. This is a another way to avoid a slander or libel position and express those views as being false and untruthful comparing his own data versus those he seems as adversary to his position or management style. This opposition of ideology is intended to implant confusion and deflection to these matters put to ink and causes either a sense of dissatisfaction or a level of apathy creating a barrier or hesitation to participate in the controversy giving the author the psychological “high road” to establishing credibility and truth. Regardless of what is printed, the reader must be led away from other points of view in a sense of controlling the message and elevating the messenger to a more convincing level.

Reading many open letters, it may be pure conjecture that their attempt is to implant humor or some sort of simple attempt to announce a publicly endorsed message. For the most part, it is my understanding that an open letter is a high profile attempt to focus a broader sense of attention to the recipient(s) and asking them to follow the message contained within the letter, prompting these readers to take some kind of action. In many cases, this action would consort to some sort of collusion between the author and the readers stabilizing and solidifying his stand on those matters expressed.

My only recommendation to reading open letters is to consider the source and its credibility and purpose for writing such a message to begin with. At times, open letters are often a result of frustration, anger and disruption to the normal manner business is taken care of and those actions requested by the reader are mere attempts to stop these interruptions of conflicting ideas and conform to the one message written to all concerned.

This letter is posted on the website of the Thunder Rolls - it does not reflect the opinion or position of this group. The link is merely an attempt to access the letter referred to in this blog:

Link to letter -

http://www.thunderrolls.net/Directors_Open_Letter_to_ADC_Staff_2011-05-09.pdf