Archive for May, 2005
WHAT’S NEW
I would first like to thank all the members for their support during the past months. It has been a tough time, but things will be getting better.
During the State Board meeting I voted yes to pass down to membership to vote on the $33.00 a month due assessment for 17 months. We all have worked hard to get where we are now, we must stand and fight for our future.
During the past months there have been many issues pass us by, we are now going back and addressing some of those issues. We will be involved in a meet and discuss on the Holiday Procedure on the 26th of May. If you have any comments or concerns about this issue or any others please feel free to contact me or any other board member or job steward. My off work CCPOA number is 760-922-9071. If I do not answer please leave a message and I will get back to you.
The Staff Benches are Back (with a catch!)
On May 17, 2005 staff were informed that the captains voted 3 to 2 to return the benches to B & C yards. Thats right, the warden didn’t decide to do it. It was left up to a vote from the captains. This must be part of the departments new reform policies. The vote was right down party lines. Since the benches were removed from B & C yard, its easy to determine which captains voted against the benches. I’m sure the captains were sitting down when they voted if staff should stand on the yard all day.
But there is always a catch and this is no different. One captain went straight to the Lieutenant and warned that there better never be more than one person on that bench, EVER!!!!!!! So the supervisors are now officially “bench monitors”.
What is the IFC? And an English Lesson too!
Responses to the story on visiting has raised an interesting point, The I.F.C. or Inmate Family Council. And some might ask, what is the Inmate Family Council? Well, the current warden at ISP decided that it was easier to have a monthly meeting with visiting families of inmates so that he could hear their complaints (Some might refer to this as “PANDERING”).As you might have guessed, the topics often revolve around officers enforcing the established visiting policies that the warden creates. During these meetings, the warden likely changes his mind about these policies (often referred to as “VACILLATING”). He would later tell Inmate MAC reps. that he met with the IFC and will ensure inmates that “these big mean officers won’t bother them anymore”(often referred to as “CODDLING”).And the final analogy in this lesson boys and girls is “CONSORTING”. Three groups (Warden,IFC & MAC) working together to create the current overcrowded visiting conditions at the soon to be renamed IRONWOOD STATE UNIVERSITY, but that is a different story coming soon.
Where Oh Where Did the Bench Go?
The most recent great idea by a supervisor this month is, Let’s remove the bench from B-Yard by Bordello the 2nd watch B-Yard Lieutenant. Lets explore why the bench was there. If you have ever patrolled a yard during the heat of the day you would then know how hot it can get. It’s a relief to stop walking and take a seat on the bench and at the same time you can still observe the yard. I wonder if the Lieutenant took this into consideration before pulling the bench from the yard. I sit here and wonder what the bench ever did to him, to hate the bench so much. Did it happen when he was a child. Maybe next time when the lieutenant walks to the PK he can think about why, but I doubt he will.
CDC Pulls “Puzzles” from IST “Training”
In the past couple of weeks the media has been buzzing about the complaint made by State Assembly Members, led by Assemblyman Rudy Bermudez, D-Norwalk, over “word jumble” puzzles that have been given to Correctional Officers over the years, labeled by CDC as a part of IST credits.
A Holiday version was used as an example, where officers were told to complete a word search containing such words as “elf,” “Frosty” and “Santa Claus” in order to receive 1 hour of IST (In-service Training) credit. The CDC issued a statement that would immediately remove such puzzles from the IST program. Bermudez well stated what many officers have been complaining about for years, “The training they are providing is a mockery of what real training should be.”
Lance Corcoran, Executive Vice President for CCPOA told the press that he remembered seeing similar word-search assignments when he worked at Susanville back in 1986. He said that the continued presence of the puzzles within the system represent a pattern of the state trying to save money by cutting back on hands-on training. “Training budgets are always under-funded,” said Corcoran. “Not all of the tests are this ridiculous, but it’s still a way they came up with of doing it cheaper.”
Bermudez presented the Assembly with examples from various institutions:
The BU6 MOU states that 40 hours of off-site training and 12 hours of OJT (on-the-job) training is required for subjects such as prisoner-escort techniques, firearm use and evidence gathering. However, with the exception of the requirement for 2 hours of annual training with side-handled batons, the contract does not specify how much time should be allotted to the other subjects. Unfortunately, this “vagueness” has given CDC the freedom to “go cheap” on training that would be beneficial to the safety of both officers and inmates.
Not only is the idea of giving Correctional Peace Officers children’s “brain teasers” as a part of their OJT/IST training demeaning and insulting, it is also a potentially dangerous practice as well. Continued training is something that is important to any law enforcement department, and is essential in a state prison setting. Correctional Officers should thank Rudy Bermudez for stepping in and stopping this word puzzle policy. Hopefully, with the media, public and State Assembly watching, the Department of Corrections will put a little more thought into what they’re doing before new assignments are given.
Just pack ‘em in the visiting rooms…
Recently, a number of custody staff has approached representatives of CCPOA regarding the number of inmates, visitors and staff that have been allowed to be inside visiting rooms causing overcrowded conditions.
Last week, CCPOA toured the visiting rooms while they were unoccupied. During this tour, representatives learned that the posted occupancy was higher than what the fire chief recommended to the warden in a November 2004 memorandum.
Concerned staff has complained that these visiting rooms are so crowded, that it is difficult to clearly see across them during visiting hours. This could enable inmates and visitors to engage in illicit and illegal activities such as drug smuggling and unlawful sex acts.
In the past, video cameras have caught visitors and inmates passing drugs and participating in sex acts in plain view and in close proximity to young children. There is little doubt that if you increase the occupancy to this degree, these types of problems will be exacerbated.
If you are a visiting officer and feel there are too many people in your area of responsibility, don’t wait… CALL YOUR SUPERVISOR. If your supervisor does nothing, contact a CCPOA representative as soon as possible. According to the documents CCPOA has obtained, the maximum number of people in the visiting area should not exceed 221 persons.
On Friday April 29, 2005 CCPOA addressed this issue during the Institutional Health and Safety Meeting. Check back for future updates on this and other issues.