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| Corrections officers lose bid to block recruitment drive |
| By Providence Journal |
| Published: 04/19/2004 |
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A judge last week turned down a union attempt to block a Rhode Island Department of Corrections effort to increase diversity among corrections officers in the state prison system. Afterward, about 30 prospective applicants, including some from minority groups, walked past union members who tried to discourage them from attending an evening information session at the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston. Some of the applicants questioned the motives of the union that would represent them if they became corrections officers. "They didn't want us here because we're Spanish," said Maria Delgado, a native of Puerto Rico and a single mother. The union maintains it doesn't oppose adding female and minority corrections officers. Yesterday afternoon, Superior Court Judge Daniel A. Procaccini declined to issue a temporary restraining order sought by the union against the Department of Corrections, and scheduled a court hearing for this week, lawyers said after meeting with the judge. Meanwhile, an official said, the Corrections Department's investigation into a racially offensive mock test found posted on a bulletin board in the ACI's Maximum Security prison, apparently in response to the diversity initiative, is moving forward and "narrowing in scope." A union official said officials investigating the incident have interviewed every staff member at Maximum Security. Corrections Department lawyer Paul Mancini said the agency was pleased with the judge's decision, and that the agency would proceed with its recruitment plans. The agency wants to hire 60 corrections officers, including women and minority-group members. |
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