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| Colo. Prison staffing remains concern |
| By Denver Post |
| Published: 09/29/2003 |
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Almost a year after a 23-year-old Limon prison worker was beaten to death with a kitchen ladle, corrections officers say that prison staffing levels have gotten worse rather than better. About 30 workers at the Limon Correctional Facility and the victim's father met Wednesday with representatives from the Colorado Association of Public Employees. Prison workers told of 12-day workweeks, ever-changing work schedules and the fear that there aren't enough officers for the prison, which, with 974 inmates, is filled to capacity. The association is exploring ways of addressing the concerns. "When you walk through the gates at night, it's a good feeling to know that you're going to come back," said Sgt. Carla Milburn. "Sometimes, you don't (feel that way)." In October 2002, Eric Autobee was killed in the prison's kitchen by convicted child killer Edward Montour Jr. Montour was sentenced to death for Autobee's killing. Since then, Milburn and others said, there are even fewer uniformed officers guarding the prison. Attendees at the meeting cited numerous problem areas. Last year, for example, four officers manned the prison's courtyard, where at certain times 300 to 400 inmates can be found. This year, there are still four officers watching the courtyard, but often two of them are working overtime, officers at the meeting said. Meeting participants also noted that prison teachers are now required to help supervise inmates in order to fulfill minimum staffing requirements, including one rule that requires three supervisors in each dining hall during meals. The teachers, like many others at the meeting, would not give their names for fear of retribution. But they said they are uncomfortable filling a role usually reserved for uniformed corrections officers and would much rather be using the time for educational purposes. They said the training they get is only an abbreviated version of the kind uniformed officers receive. Alison Morgan, spokeswoman for the state Department of Corrections, said teachers get "the exact same training" as corrections officers, except for firearms training. Using teachers is "nothing new," she added. The prison has lost staff over the past year, Morgan said. Since last June, the prison has lost a total of 21 staffers, nine of whom were uniformed officers, she said, adding that, with budget cuts totaling $54 million over the past 2 1/2 years, all of the state's prisons are asked to do more with less. The uniformed officers took the smallest budgetary hit, Morgan said. |
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