After correction officers have been significantly injured and attacked by inmates in high-profile incidents, new knowledge from the Division of Correction sheds gentle on the “violence and brutality” inside state prisons.
Greater than 150 correction officers have been injured whereas on obligation within the first seven months of the 12 months, in response to stats from DOC that the Herald obtained by way of a public data request.
Greater than 50 officers have been uncovered to poisonous substances, and greater than 30 officers confronted assaults from bodily fluids, equivalent to inmates throwing feces and urine at them.
A disproportionate variety of incidents have been reported on the maximum-security Souza-Baranowski Correctional Middle, the place inmates just lately attacked and stabbed correction officers. 5 guards have been injured throughout that inmate assault.
Of the 156 injured correction officers throughout Massachusetts amenities by way of the tip of July, greater than 55% of the officers — 87 guards — have been damage at Souza-Baranowski.
Additionally, out of the 53 complete drug exposures, almost 80% — 42 officers — have been uncovered to poisonous substances on the maximum-security jail in northern central Massachusetts.
And of the 34 complete incidents involving bodily fluids, greater than 85% — 29 officers — have been assaulted at Souza-Baranowski.
The correction officers’ union has been pushing for extra safety measures at prisons throughout the Bay State, particularly on the maximum-security facility. This new knowledge on injured and uncovered officers solely reinforces these security calls.
“It’s a different beast in there (Souza-Baranowski),” Corey Scafidi, who’s on the Massachusetts Correction Officers Federated Union Govt Board, advised the Herald.
“There’s a different level of inmates, and violence and brutality inside that place, and it can’t be run the same way as medium-security prisons,” he mentioned, later including, “Particular attention needs to be paid on adjusting the security measures, and having more regular searches of cells for weapons and drugs.”
The Herald filed a public data request to DOC again in July within the wake of an MCI-Shirley correction officer being uncovered to an artificial cannabinoid and knocked unconscious, ending up within the hospital. The officer was later advised that he was given Narcan 4 instances, and he had a number of seizures.
Following that incident, the Herald requested for the info on the variety of Massachusetts correction officers who’ve been injured whereas on obligation thus far this 12 months, damaged down by facility.
After Souza-Baranowski’s 87 injured correction officers, the ability with the second most reported accidents was MCI-Norfolk with 19 guards damage. MCI-Norfolk is the biggest medium-security degree facility within the state.
Subsequent was Previous Colony Correctional Middle in Bridgewater with 17 injured correction officers. The middle is a medium- and minimum-security facility centered on psychological well being.
MCI-Shirley, the place that high-profile drug publicity incident occurred, had 15 injured correction officers.
Out of the full 156 injured guards throughout Massachusetts amenities, 79 of the officers (50%) have been out of labor as a result of reported damage. Then 63 of these 79 injured officers returned to work, DOC reported.
“It’s difficult for many officers to come back to that environment,” Scafidi mentioned. “Officers don’t feel well supported in there.
“It’s the physical injuries they need to recover from, and there’s also the mental toll on them,” he added. “Much more emphasis needs to be placed on taking care of officers who’ve been assaulted.”
The Massachusetts Correction Officers Federated Union has been persevering with to name for extra searches of cells to confiscate shivs and medicines.
After the inmate assault at Souza-Baranowski final month, DOC’s interim head vowed that the division was “committed to taking concrete steps to mitigate security risks and foster a safe working environment for all staff and those entrusted to our care and custody.”
“The Department is examining the origin of confiscated weapons manufactured by incarcerated individuals this year,” DOC Interim Commissioner Shawn Jenkins wrote to the union. “This review will aid the Department’s ability to address and mitigate future weapon production to enhance safety for those who work and live at our facilities.”
Jenkins added that DOC “maintains strong working relationships with law enforcement agencies to deter, detect, and intercept drugs and contraband from entering our facilities.”
Massachusetts Correction Officers Federated Union video screenshot
The video of the assault at Souza-Baranowski confirmed a correction officer getting attacked from behind by an inmate ready by a cell. (Massachusetts Correction Officers Federated Union video screenshot)
