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| Senate approves creation of corrections code of conduct |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 05/24/2004 |
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The state Senate approved a bill last Wednesday that would require the state's troubled prison system adopt an employee code of conduct that would clearly state workers' responsibility to report wrongdoing. The code of conduct would also require employees to cooperate in any law enforcement investigation, said Sen. Jackie Speier, the bill's author. The measure is necessary to "to replace what has been a horrendous code of silence," said Speier, D-Daly City, and would apply to the California Youth Authority and the Department of Corrections. Investigations into the state's troubled system have been hampered by a "code of silence" among adult and youth prison employees that protects wrongdoers while punishing whistleblowers, according to a series of national experts' reports, a scathing review by a federal court-appointed monitor and Senate hearing witnesses. The measure would also require the systems' directors to set up a program to ensure the protection of employees who report improper conduct, to clearly define prohibited behavior, and to adopt a schedule of sanctions for employee misconduct. It's the third move in three days to rein in the state's politically powerful prison officer union. Last Tuesday, a majority of Senate Democrats promised to block prison officers' lucrative pay raises this year, which would force the union to renegotiate what senators said is an unaffordable contract. Last Monday, senators voted 32-0 to block a contract provision that requires investigators to turn over confidential information to prison employees who are under investigation. Speier's bill was approved 38 to 0. The bill moves to the Assembly. |
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