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| More inmates, fewer workers - are Iowa prisons safe? |
| By desmoinesregister.com - WILLIAM PETROSKI |
| Published: 12/19/2011 |
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ANAMOSA, IA. — They call it the “Animal House,” a rowdy facility with tiers of cells inside the Anamosa State Penitentiary holding 471 inmates convicted of crimes ranging from murder and rape to drug dealing. The old limestone-walled cell house — officially known as Anamosa’s Living Unit B — could also be described as a symbol of worries by correctional officers about staffing reductions in Iowa’s prisons. Throughout Iowa’s nine state prisons, the inmate population grew by nearly 15 percent between June 2000 and June 2011, totaling almost 8,800 offenders. At the same time, the number of prison employees declined by 10 percent to 2,728 workers, state records show. The union representing prison workers claims those numbers make for a dangerous situation that puts them increasingly at risk. But a Des Moines Register analysis of prison data has found that Iowa’s prisons have largely remained calm and the number of reported serious incidents is stable. Indeed, the ratio of offenders to correctional officers in Iowa’s prisons has been creeping higher, but is still better than the national average, the Register’s analysis shows. There have been no riots or other major disturbances in the state prison system since 1981, and it appears the prison staff and administration clearly remain in charge. But those who work in this noisy, crowded place say the conditions are such that seemingly routine situations can quickly turn dangerous. “It’s hectic here, and I have had my days when I have been afraid,” said Brian Horak, a correctional officer inside Living Unit B. “Considering what we are working with, I feel that we are doing an exceptional job. But it’s due to a lot of dedication from a lot of people, and yes, it’s stressful.” To protest staffing reductions, correctional officers represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees have been rallying outside Iowa’s prisons, holding red signs that read, “Enough!” They have demanded that Gov. Terry Branstad hire 40 more prison officers authorized last session by the Iowa Legislature. But Branstad’s aides said the Iowa Department of Corrections’ $347 million annual budget was strained by a hefty $30 million, two-year pay raise awarded to prison workers by former Gov. Chet Culver, a Democrat, that was part of a larger contract for unionized employees across state government. Aides say Branstad, a Republican, actually averted hundreds of prison worker layoffs by restoring $26 million earlier this year for prisons and community corrections programs. AFSMCE President Danny Homan counters that the state has a $1 billion budget surplus and Branstad could easily find money to hire more prison officers. Ratio of offenders to officers climbs The historic Anamosa penitentiary, an example of Gothic Revival architecture surrounded by towering 30-foot stone walls, has been a focal point in the policy debate over Iowa prison staffing. The institution, which was founded in the 1800s, has 312 employees responsible for 1,130 inmates in Anamosa, plus another 75 inmates at the Luster Heights prison camp. The penitentiary’s employment total is down 22 percent from a peak of 399 employees in 2000. The ratio of offenders to correctional officers at Anamosa is 6-to-1, up from 5-to-1 just two years ago. Correctional Officer Kathy Condon, who has worked for 22 years at the Anamosa prison, runs the main desk in Living Unit B. She describes the cell house as boisterous with lots of young, feisty offenders, including some who have previously caused trouble and have just left disciplinary lockup units. On a recent day, Condon said two Mexican gang members arrived in the cell house with the intent of beating up a younger inmate, who promptly took off running past her into the prison yard followed by his assailants. She immediately called a “code,” alerting two officers outside who quickly responded and stopped the fight. “This happens all the time around here,” Condon said. “I don’t think things are out of control. We have a lot of really well-trained officers who keep it in check as best they can. But for the safety of the staff and the inmates, I definitely think we need more officers.” Warden John Fayram, who grew up in Anamosa and played Little League baseball in the prison yard as a youth when security rules were less restrictive, said he won’t argue with critics who say the prison is “resource challenged.” But the penitentiary hasn’t had problems with escapes, and it’s been decades since there was a major disturbance inside the institution, he said. “For the most part, things are running very well. I am just very proud of our staff, and the inmate population has been understanding as well,” Fayram said. “You will always have pockets of inmates that you have difficulties with, but for the most part they understand that cutbacks can affect them, too.” Read More. |
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