After this week’s attack at the Anamosa State Penitentiary, AFSCME Council 61 wants Governor Kim Reynolds of Iowa to do something.
In a press release released on Tuesday, AFSCME Council 61 said that an inmate attacked two correctional officers during a routine procedure on Monday, leaving one officer badly hurt.
This shows that conditions in the prison are getting worse. AFSCME says that these assaults are not one-offs and are part of a growing pattern of violence in the state’s prisons and jails.
As President of AFSCME Council 61 Todd Copley said, “These two assaults are just the latest proof of how unsafe our prisons have become in this state.” “Correctional Officers across the state of Iowa are being asked to work in unsafe, understaffed, and under-resourced conditions, and we’re not seeing the leadership we need from the Governor’s office to fix these problems.”
AFSCME Council 61 and state workers have been calling for quick action for a long time, saying that the rising violence in state prisons is mostly caused by a lack of staff, safety protocols, and resources. They say that the leaders of the state have kept quiet or not responded enough to these pleas.
“Governor Reynolds has not come up with a plan or taken any real steps to make sure the safety of both staff and inmates in our prisons,” Copley said. “Every day that the Governor does nothing, lives are put at risk, and we can’t wait any longer for a solution.” Being proud of saving the state $4 billion shouldn’t come at the expense of the safety of its workers.
To stop the violence from getting worse, AFSCME Council 61 is calling for immediate action, such as adding more correctional staff, updating safety equipment, and creating full training programs.
Also, to stop more assaults, they want a full review into the conditions at all state-run prisons and Community-Based Correction facilities.
They say that if something isn’t done quickly, there will be more attacks and maybe even deaths.
Copley said, “These brave men and women put their lives on the line every day to keep our prisons and communities safe, but they’re not getting the help they need.” “Governor Reynolds needs to take action and fix this dangerous situation right away, before more lives are lost.”