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| N.Y. Officers Union Warns Against Understaffing |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 10/07/2002 |
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The recent confiscation of inmate weapons at three state prisons highlights a continuing problem with understaffing, according to the union representing state prison officers. The New York State Correction Officers & Police Benevolent Association said Tuesday that the prison system is deemed to be at about 124 percent of capacity. 'This means that officers are being asked to account for 24 percent more prisoner than is deemed their maximum ability, and New York State is looking to cut more,' said Richard Harcrow, union president. NYSCOPBA said understaffing makes the officers ' daily job 'an enormous task,' shown by the recent weapons cases. They include Sept. 14 at Gowanda Correctional Facility, where 10 weapons, including sharpened Plexiglas knives, were found in a workshop; at Wyoming Correctional Facility, where 200 chain link fence tie rods were discovered missing, prompting a Sept. 18 lockdown; and at Fishkill Correctional Facility, where Sept. 20 an inmate was found with a bullet and tubing for a 'zip' gun. James Flateau, spokesman for the state Department of Correctional Services, countered that New York prisons are staffed at an overall ratio of 1 officer to 3 inmates, with roughly 22,000 officers and 68,000 inmates, twice as good as the prison staffing ratio nationally. In March 2000, the state prison system had 72,400 inmates, meaning the population is dropping, Flateau said. The union suggestion that corrections is a target for budget cuts is 'absolutely untrue,' he said, adding that Gov. George Pataki has kept a promise not to reduce the number of correction officers by layoffs. |
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