2 Correctional Officers assaulted at Stillwater MCF

Fox 9 is reporting that 2 CO's were assaulted at Stillwater Prison. This happened Saturday morning. One CO was assaulted, when a second CO stepped in to help another inmate assaulted that CO.

FULL STORY KMSP

Happy Memorial Day

 

CO fired for not following orders...see why

According to  InDepthNH,org  a female Concord Prison CO was fired for "refusing to follow a direct order." 

The staffing levels at the men's prison had dropped to unsafe levels. CO Claudia Cass Prescott (working nightshift) emailed her supervisor and said that if there wasn't adequate staff she wouldn't unlock the cells on her next shift.

The result? A suspension, forced to undergo a psychological evaluation then termination.

Short staffing in jails and prisons is unfortunately very common. Each institution deals with it differently. Sadly it's a leading cause of inmate on staff violence.

Full Story HERE

National Correctional Officer Week

The first full week in May is National Correctional Officer Week. Corrections Officers are considered First Responders, but we're also last responders. After the 911 call, after the arrest and also after the conviction CO's are the ones who deal with those who have been separated from society. CO's operate in a dangerous environment out of sight of the rest of Society keeping dangerous people from the rest.

Thank you Correctional Officers.

Minnesota Prisons lockdown due to short staffing

 MPR is reporting that:

Minnesota prisons resort to periodic lockdowns due to staff shortage

Of course anyone working in a County jail is also too aware of this. This leads to unsafe conditions for both staff and inmates.

MPR goes on to say-

The state prison at Faribault is in the midst of having periodic lockdowns due to staffing shortages. During the lockdowns, inmates are kept in their cell blocks. Faribault is down 42 corrections officers. It’s worse at Stillwater state prison, where the facility’s complement of officers is down by 62.

Data from the Department of Corrections shared with MPR News shows as of Monday, the agency is short 211 correctional officers, or 12 percent of what is budgeted. Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to explain what is happening inside Minnesota’s prisons.

Link to story and audio here.

3 Corrections Officers shot during escape

 

"Three Idaho Department of Corrections officers were shot as an inmate escaped from a hospital in Boise. Now, officials are looking for two suspects: The inmate and the man who attacked and fired at the officers.

Police say that the incident started at 2.15am on Wednesday when officials transported inmate Skylar Meade to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center for medical treatment.

As the officers were preparing to transport the inmate back to a correctional facility, an unknown suspect attacked and fired at the officers, hitting two of them, according to officials.

Additional officers responded to the hospital amid news of a shooting and the facility went into lockdown as police searched for suspects. One officer fired his gun at an armed individual near the entrance of the facility. Officials later determined that the person was a correctional officer." -The Independent

Full Story

Pension Commission update and LELS shenanigan's

Today the Pension Commission met and discussed the change from 1.9% to 2.2% for the PERA Correctional Plan's multiplier. 

Anoka County Sheriff Wise gave excellent testimony in support. There was also a letter of support from MNCORA. The  Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) had a letter opposing it. Ultimately it was laid over, tabled for the future.

As most of you know there's once again a play to add Dispatchers to the PERA Correctional Plan. Well in addition to Jim Mortenson's letter supporting this LELS is actively working to weaken our plan! 

Here's a picture of LELS meeting with the Author of HF4796 to raid our pension!

I don't believe LELS even  talked to their Detention Deputies and CO's about this!

PERA Board decision on PERA Correctional Plan Raid

On March 14 the PERA Board met and discussed the proposal by AFSCME, LELS and Teamsters to add 911 Dispatchers to the PERA Correctional Plan.

Ultimately they decided to oppose it. This does not stop the Pension Commission  from moving forward on it, but may help to stop it.

MN State Auditor Julie Blaha

During the discussion PERA Board Trustee and State Auditor Julie Blaha moved to delay a PERA Board vote until the April meeting. She stated that unless there's a Bill there was no need to make a decision. It was then pointed out that there was a Bill and a decision needed to be made as to PERA's position. Auditor Blaha knew or should have known there was a Bill before the meeting. It is this writers opinion she was playing politics and didn't want a negative PERA decision to affect the Pension Commission on this.

The strange politics is this. The Pension Commission just had a study they ordered on this topic. It was the 911 Telecommunicator Pension Benefits Working Group.

The working group decided NOT to support adding Dispatchers to the PERA Correctional Plan.

Yet this year some of the same legislators that ordered the study are ignoring its findings and writing Bills to add Dispatchers to the Correctional plan to its detriment.

Sen Seeberger

Chief Author of SF4958 is Senator Seeberger more Correctional Officers live in her district than any other district in the State! Not a bright political move from someone who won her seat by the slimmest of majorities. Her District includes the Washington County Jail, Stillwater Prison and Oak Park Heights! Also many Ramsey County Detention Deputies work in her district. Many Stillwater CO's and Oak Park Heights CO's work part time at the Ramsey county jail and are also in the PERA Correctional Plan!

Both her and Author Sen. Sandy Pappas are on the very same

Sen Pappas

Pension Commission that commissioned the 911 Telecommunicator Pension Benefits Working Group. Yet they chose to IGNORE its findings! Then why waste taxpayer money on a study if you're going to toss it aside because its conclusions are not to your liking?

The House File HF4796 was authored by a new Representative, Representative Dan Wolgamott. Again many Correctional Officers live in his district and many are employed at the Saint Cloud Prison, Benton County jail and Sherburne County jail!

Rep Wolgamott

The bottom line is the The Correctional Plan was established in 1999 for correctional officers serving in county and regional adult and juvenile correctional facilities due to the physical nature of their jobs. The members of this plan are responsible for the security, custody and control of the facilities and their inmates. (PERACorrectional Plan Handbook)

Dispatchers do not fit the requirements to be in the Correctional Plan. Adding them will reduce the financial health of the plan and may cause Correctional Retirees to have their 2.5% COLA reduced to 1.5%. 

Legislators supporting these bills should keep in mind there are thousands of CO's in the State and they vote. Don't raid our Pension!

Here is the contact information for the Pension Commission. Call them and tell them not to support these Bills!

AFSCME, LELS and Teamsters Local 320 support raid on PERA Correctional Plan

Jim Mortenson of LELS, Bart Andersen of AFSCME Council 5 and Brian Aldes of Teamsters Local 320 have all written letters of support to add 911 Dispatchers to the PERA Correctional Plan.

Jim Mortenson

Source PERA-https://mnpera.org/wp-content/uploads/TAB-C-2024-Stakeholder-Agenda-911-Telecommunicators-Final.pdf

If allowed this would endanger the financial stability of the PERA Correctional Plan and endanger the 2.5% COLA that PERA Correctional Plan retirees enjoy. The Dispatchers currently get a 1.5% COLA.

Surprisingly there are 2 bills that would benefit PERA Correctional members.

HF4242 which would add a PERA Correctional Plan member to the PERA Board.

HF4081 which would increase the high 5 multiplier for PERA Correctional Plan members from 1.9%, where its been since 1999, to 2.2%. This number is the same as State Correctional Officer receive in the MSRS plan.

Brian Aldes

WHERE IS LELS, AFSCME AND TEAMSTERS SUPPORT OF THE BILLS BENEFITTING THEIR CORRECTIONAL MEMBERS?

THEY ARE AWARE OF THESE BILLS AND SIT ON THE SIDELINES WHILE COLLECTING THEIR DUES.

THERE ARE MORE CO'S IN THESE UNIONS THAN DISPATCHERS. MAYBE IT'S TIME CO's RETHINK THEIR UNION MEMBERSHIP

Pension News

There's a new legislative session and with it new bills affecting our pension.

There's Bill HF4342 which if enacted will add a seat on the PERA Board for a CO. This is coming from MNCORA.

Bill HF4081 which if enacted will increase the high 5 multiplier for the PERA Correctional Pension from 1.9 to 2.2%.

And of course with a new session comes a new attempt by LELS to raid our pension and add 911 telecommunicators. If enacted the added cost could lower our funding ratio reducing the current Retiree cost of living adjustment (COLA) from the current 2.5% to 1.5%!

LELS Executive Director Jim Mortenson has been making the rounds trying to get other unions to support this. I have no idea why LELS would work to weaken the pension of Corrections Officers.

LELS Jim Mortenson

We encourage everyone who is in the PERA Correctional Plan to join the Minnesota Correctional Officer Retirement Association (MNCORA). It is dues free!

email mncora@protonmail.com

Inmate charged with 4th Degree Assault on Detention Deputy

An inmate at the Dakota County Adult Detention Center has been charged with 4th degree assault after throwing "an unknown liquid and human feces" at a Detention Deputy.

Full Story

Detention Deputies (CO's) in the news

Hennepin County Detention Deputy brutally assaulted outside of work

Full Story KSTP 

Corrections Officers aid MN State Trooper

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6voLVJwGjeY

OAK PARK HEIGHTS, Minn. (FOX 9) - Two inmates at the Oak Park Heights prison are accused of attacking a sergeant and two corrections officers, one of whom required multiple surgeries for injuries sustained during the assault.  

Full Story KMSP 9

Hennepin County Detention Deputy assaulted

On November 14 an inmate assaulted and severely injured a Hennepin County Detention Deputy in the Hennepin County Jail.

Talking to former co-workers there, this was bad and could have been worse. It's a dangerous job that can go from zero to one hundred in a split second. 

Wishing the Detention Deputy a full and speedy recovery.

Here's the link from Crime Watch Minnesota.

Washington County backing CO's

It's refreshing to see that Washington County is prosecuting inmates that assault jail and prison CO's.

New Juvenile Detention Centers needed

The Hennepin County Home School and Saint Paul's Totem Town Juvenile Detention Centers closed down in 2019. 

The results have been obvious. Large spike in crime and little to no consequences. They need to reopen.

This is a good story:

https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/talking-points-should-two-metro-juvenile-detention-centers-re-open/

Stillwater Prison Lockdown

Over the weekend OANN and several news outlets reported that almost 100 inmates refused to return to their cells at MCF Stillwater in Minnesota. Two CO's were trapped in a control room and unable to leave. Fortunately this was resolved without injuries to staff or inmates.

This is a direct result of short staffing which leads to inmates spending more time in their cells, less time out and less time with programs. 

This problem exists at the County level too. Inmates left in cells and staff being forced to work excessive amounts of overtime.

Being a CO is a dangerous job. Long hours and high stress are the norm. It's why there's a 55 retirement!

Picture from OANN

Recent Corrections News

DOC: Attempted prison escape in Faribault foiled by razor wire

https://kstp.com/kstp-news/local-news/doc-attempted-prison-escape-in-faribault-foiled-by-razor-wire/

2 more corrections officers assaulted in last 12 days

https://alphanews.org/2-more-corrections-officers-assaulted-in-last-12-days/

As lawsuits over ‘48 hour rule’ persist, DHS cites lack of funding for mental health beds

https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/as-lawsuits-over-48-hour-rule-persist-dhs-cites-lack-of-funding-for-mental-health-beds/

Trans inmate to be moved to Minnesota women's prison and PREA

KSTP is reporting that a transgender woman (biological male) that was housed at Moose Lake Prison won a lawsuit, is getting $495,000 and being transferred to Shakopee Women's prison.

Full story here: https://kstp.com/kstp-news/minnesota-news/doc-settles-trans-rights-lawsuit-to-transfer-first-inmate-under-new-policy/ 

This creates another quandary for Corrections Officers. The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) has many requirements.

Inmates are routinely searched in jails and prisons. 

For one PREA States, "The Facility shall not conduct cross gender strip searches or cross gender visual body cavity searches..." (ss115.15) 

Facilities with less than 50 inmates cannot perform cross gender pat searches of female inmates. What is Minnesota considering a female inmate now? Maybe someone can ask Justice Ketanji Brown.

The facilities are to "implement policies and procedures that enable inmates to shower, perform bodily functions and change clothing without nonmedical staff of the opposite gender viewing their, breasts, buttocks or genitalia..." Are inmates to be unsupervised in showers?

All PREA violations are required to be investigated. A PREA violation can be inmates alleging sexual misconduct from other inmates, staff, or staff ignoring a complaint. This means CO's face the very real possibility of spending time on Administrative leave, harm to their reputations and of course more staffing shortages.

In New Jersey a trans inmate got two other inmates pregnant before being transferred to a male prison. Like Minnesota this trans inmate also won a lawsuit to be placed in a Woman's Prison. https://www.metroweekly.com/2022/04/female-inmates-pregnant-after-having-sex-with-transgender-inmate/

In New York a Trans Rikers Island  inmate was convicted of raping two female inmates and sentenced to 7 years. https://nypost.com/2022/04/25/transgender-rikers-inmate-gets-7-years-for-raping-female-prisoner/

In Illinois an inmate is suing the Illinois Department of Corrections under the Prison Rape Elimination Act claiming she was raped by a trans inmate and the incident was swept under the carpet. https://news.wttw.com/2020/02/19/lawsuit-female-prisoner-says-she-was-raped-transgender-inmate

One of the primary jobs of a CO is the safety and security of the facility. Rulings like this make keeping inmates safe infinitely more difficult. I'm afraid Minnesota is going to learn what New Jersey, New York and Illinois learned the hard way. Sadly some female inmates will bear the brunt and some CO's may be caught in a web of conflicting laws and regulations. 

48 Hour rule change may impact jails, again

Fox 9 is reporting that an amendment to the 48 hour rule will cause more issues for local jails. Currently if an inmate is determined to need mental health care they are to be transferred to a State Hospital within 48 hours. That's not always happening and apparently MN AG Keith Ellison is tired of the State getting sued. So the solution appears to be an amendment to have the 48 hours begin after a bed is available! Those of us who have worked in County jails know the danger to both staff and inmates when they don't receive prompt mental health care. Jails are not mental hospitals.

Full Story

Waseca women's prison using non-correctional staff!

 According to KSTP TV 

“While FCI Waseca is generally well-run and both inmates and staff reported feeling safe, it suffers from a significant shortage of correctional officers,” said Inspector General Michael Horowitz.

According to the report, the prison is running with only 67% of its correctional service positions filled, leading to the temporary assignment of non-correctional officer personnel into correctional officer positions, a practice known as augmentation.

Correctional officer posts were filled most commonly with personnel from the Facilities Department, Unit Team and Education Department.

“If you’re a maintenance man, you certainly don’t have the qualifications to be a corrections officer,”  said Sheila Gardner, whose sister is serving a sentence at Waseca right now. 

FULL STORY and Video