Correctional officer killed at USP-Atwater

[Area51]

This is the rest of the article...



So the Sun-Star interviewed six current and former USP Atwater correctional officers. Two are still employed there. They asked for anonymity because the Bureau of Prisons has instructed them not to speak with reporters. Four recently left the prison. Two allowed their names to be published. Two did not, one because he feared it could hurt his attempts to get a new job in law enforcement and the other because he still works for the Bureau of Prisons, the Washington, D.C.- based agency that oversees all federal correctional institutions.

Though they all said they were stunned by Rivera's death, none of them said it was surprising. "It wasn't really a matter of if it was going to happen. It was more a matter of when -- and to who," said James Spencer, a retired lieutenant who worked at the prison from its 2001 opening until last December. "I guess I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner, actually."

The current and former correctional officers, along with union officials, all said they think policies at USP Atwater are putting employees there at unnecessary risk -- from inadequate staffing and a lack of protective equipment to too little control over the prison's 1,100 high-security inmates and too few consequences for the
ones who act out violently.

They said their safety complaints and warnings to local, regional and national prison administrators have gone largely unanswered. "It's getting worse and worse," said an officer who is planning to leave the penitentiary after about a year there because of hisconcerns about safety. "Sometimes there's attacks (on correctional officers) twice a week. Sometimes it's every three weeks or so. All I know is it's way more than it should be ... and not enough is being done to try to protect us."

No officials from USP Atwater or the Bureau of Prisons would answer questions for this story. Just not enough staff All the current and former correctional officers interviewed said inadequate staffing at the prison has made it unsafe there for both employees and inmates.

"There just aren't enough staff to do things the right way," said Ryan Silva, who left USP Atwater last month after working 12 years for the Bureau of Prisons, the last seven of them in Atwater. "It's dangerous. We've been saying that for a while." Officials with the Bureau of Prisons have said USP Atwater actually has a better staff-to-inmate ratio than most comparable federal facilities: The systemwide average for similar federal prisons is about one staff person for every five prisoners, compared to a 1-to-4ratio at the Atwater facility.

Union officials argue that staffing across the federal prison system is drastically inadequate, and correctional officers at USP Atwater said the 1-to-4 figure is misleading. "If you divide the total number of people who work there by the total number of inmates, it probably comes out to 1-to-4, and that doesn't sound too bad," the officer who started about a year ago said. "But that includes every employee -- from the secretaries to the dental technicians. And not all the staff are there for every shift, obviously. The inmates are. ... After 4 p.m., it's a skeleton crew."

Inside each of USP Atwater's 12 housing units, one correctional officer is typically alone with about 100 inmates, the officers interviewed said. The housing units are separated and configured in such a way that officers in nearby units can't easily see inside or quickly access other units.

"That means you're pretty much on your own in there," said the officer who recently left the Bureau of Prisons after several years at USP Atwater.
FresnoBee.com: Text-Only

[Gunns]

the truth as been told

[LTABM]

This is a great clip...On 6-22-99, we were 7 on MW, had one go down about 1:30AM. We came out the rear gate, came back strong on the other side of of a slow down fence with shot guns, put them down real quick!

[Area51]

The wall is cracking...

We need to keep the pressure on...

Notice it says that vests will be for "SOME" not ALL This is BS read my previous posting (#617 & 620), it will be for a very select few.


It all goes to show you can snow a guy in a $2000.00 suit that drives a Mercedes and sits in a comfortable chair in a congressional meeting. But is it HELL to BS the ones who actually walk the ranges and shove the keys in the doors and turn them.

And that my friend you can take to the bank!


Where in this video do they mention the working conditions listed above??

YouTube - Welcome to the Bureau of Prisons!

[bhead]

Getting vest, batons, mace and any other tools would be great! We need to be ready to (exscuse the term ladies) MAN THE F^%$# UP unitl we get them! We need to remind each other where we work at and focus on dealing with the inmates. We need to look out for the rookies, even if this means being hard on them!

For us who know how to do the job........ we need to tell the youngsters and insist they do everything right! The suits like to tell us no short cuts, right? OK next time you see a staff member not searching inmates or not doing anything they are supposed to do, stop. Make sure they understand why they are supposed to do what they are supposed to do and then do not let them get away with not doing it!!!!!!

If you see someone not searching inmates, etc. all they are telling you is they do not care about you and in turn do not care about your family!!!!! Do not take the short cut of not calling them on it!!! Every inmate who is not searched or at least knows they could be searched, is an inmate who could be moving the knife which ends up in you or me!!!!

Keep the pressure up on them with the letters, etc. But do not let up on yourself or your fellow staff!!! Becuase all we really have inside the wire is each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ww1flyingace]

James Spencer continues to kick butt

[ww1flyingace]

Originally Posted by ATW-Hack

These very words came out of Warden Dennis Smith's mouth at ART year before last... I don't remember the subject being discussed, but we couldn't believe such a childish attitude could come from a man in his position!

WOW.

Is this some kind of warden talking point.

Our warden said the same thing a couple months ago at staff recall.

It was about staff having low morale here.


Isnt it the CEOs job to at least give the appearance of attempting to maintain morale. WTH.

They will throw the inmates a party to keep them from being disgruntled.
But wouldnt it be wise to have happy staff instead of disgruntled staff with access to keys to the front door and weapons?

Are we becoming the US Post Office?

[Area51]

Originally Posted by ww1flyingace

Are we becoming the US Post Office?

Some of the issues that brought about a huge change in the US Postal system when the term "Going Postal" as in vogue was...

1. The upper management was VERY top heavy, too many chiefs, too few Indians.

2. The work load, "Do more with less"

3. Upper management received bonuses for money they saved at the cost of lower level employees.

4. Low morale among the line level staff.

5. Pay.

Anyone see any similarities here?

Because of a huge restructuring of the overall system, management was thinned out heavily, bonuses were taken away, pay was increased, more line level staff were hired to work.

Since this was put into play, you no longer have US Postal workers snapping and going on shooting sprees at work.

It seems that the government needs to have blood on it's hands to make any meaningful change to any of it's systems.

[bop_steward]

With all of this talk about safety equipment and such.....I recall reading somewhere about it being the agency's responsibility to lower the inherent risks to the lowest possible level. If getting us the safety equipment is lowering the inherent risks, then aren't they supposed to do it? If not, wouldn't a national grievance be in order?

[Area51]

You mean similar to these Steward??

Moreover, the parties recognize that the administration of an agreement depends on a good relationship. This relationship must be built on the ideals of mutual respect, trust, and commitment to the mission and the employees who carry it out. Therefore, the Federal Bureau of Prisons and Federal Prison Industries, Inc., hereinafter referred to as "the Employer" or "the Agency," and the Council of Prison Locals and the American Federation of Government Employees, hereinafter referred to as "the Union" or "exclusive representative," do hereby agree to:

(A) focus on problems and ways to deal with them;

(B) recognize the needs of the other party;

(C) consider collective bargaining as an opportunity to improve the relationship between the Agency and the Union; and

(D) recognize that the employees are the most valuable resource of the Agency, and are encouraged, and shall be reasonably assisted, to develop their potential as Bureau of Prisons employees to the fullest extent practicable.





ARTICLE 27 - HEALTH AND SAFETY
Section a. There are essentially two (2) distinct areas of concern
regarding the safety and health of employees in the Federal Bureau of
Prisons:

1. the first, which affects the safety and well-being of employees,
involves the inherent hazards of a correctional environment; and

2. the second, which affects the safety and health of employees,
involves the inherent hazards associated with the normal
industrial operations found throughout the Federal Bureau of
Prisons.

With respect to the first, the Employer agrees to lower those
inherent hazards to the lowest possible level, without relinquishing its
rights under 5 USC 7106. The Union recognizes that by the very nature
of the duties associated with supervising and controlling inmates, these
hazards can never be completely eliminated.

With respect to the second, the Employer agrees to furnish to
employees places and conditions of employment that are free from
recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or
serious physical harm, in accordance with all applicable federal laws,
standards, codes, regulations, and executive orders.

Section b. The parties agree that participation in and monitoring of
safety programs by the Union is essential to the success of these
programs. The Union recognizes that the Employer employs Safety
and Health Specialists whose primary function is to oversee the safety
and health programs at each institution.

1. it is understood by the parties that the Employer has the
responsibility for providing information and training on health and
safety issues. The Union at the appropriate level will have the
opportunity to provide input into any safety programs or policy
development; and

2. although the Employer employs Health and Safety Specialists
whose primary function is to oversee the health and safety
programs at each facility, representatives of the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and
other regulatory and enforcement agencies that have a primary
function of administering the laws, rules, regulations, codes,
standards, and executive orders related to health and safety
matters are the recognized authorities when issues involving
health and safety are raised.

Section c. The Employer will establish a safety and health committee at
each institution. The committee will serve in an advisory capacity to the
Chief Executive Officer and be composed of equal numbers of
representatives of the Employer and the Union. The primary duties of
the safety and health committee shall be to:

1. develop and recommend specific goals and objectives designed
to reduce the number and severity of on-the-job accidents and
occupational illnesses;

2. review reports of on-the-job accidents, injuries and occupational
illnesses, to identify specific hazards and adverse trends, and to
formulate specific recommendations to prevent recurrences;
3. review findings of inspections, audits, and program reviews to
assist in the formulation of recommendations for corrective action;
and

4. review plans for abating hazards.
Safety and health committees will meet quarterly. More frequent
meetings may be held at the discretion of the Chief Executive Officer.
Written minutes of each meeting will be maintained and made
available to all committee members. All information necessary for the
effective conduct of the safety and health committee will be made
available to the committee.

Section d. Official time will be granted to the Union representative(s) to
attend the safety and health committee meetings and to participate in
any health and safety activity under laws, rules, regulations, executive
orders, and this Agreement.

1. any costs incurred to participate in any local area meetings or
activities referenced in this article will be reimbursed by the
Employer in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulations.
Section e. Unsafe and unhealthful conditions reported to the Employer by the Union or employees will be promptly investigated.

Any findings from said investigations relating to safety and health conditions will be provided to the Union, in writing, upon request. No employee will be subject to restraint, interference, coercion, discrimination, or reprisal for making a report and/or complaint to any outside health/safety organization and/or the Agency.


Isn't it amazing what a little bit of research can turn up??

Seems the bureau needs to get busy...

Yeah right......