Prison Guards Hold Informational Picket
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Posted: 9:10 AM Nov 14, 2008
Prison Guards Hold Informational Picket
Federal corrections officers at the Big Sandy Federal Prison are calling for increased safety on the job.
Reporter: WSAZ News Staff & WYMT
Email Address: news@wsaz.com
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MARTIN COUNTY, KY (WSAZ)--Federal corrections officers at the Big Sandy Federal Prison are calling for increased safety on the job.

Thursday, a number of union employees held an informational picket out of the prison to talk about the issues they say are putting their lives at risk.

Senior correctional officer James McCarty says patrolling prison cells like these are a far cry from his years as a sheriff's deputy.

“We were well equipped, we were given a weapon, bullet-proof vest, pepper spray,” James McCarty said.

At the Big Sandy Federal prison, the guards say they carry none of those. Union employees also say the prison is overcrowded and understaffed and say they do not feel safe on the job.

In 2006 two inmates were stabbed to death. A December 2007 assault sent four to the hospital. And so far in 2008, officers estimate another 15 assaults.

A prison spokesperson says safety remains the top priority, and employees can expect to have stab-resistant vests in the coming weeks.

“We have adequate staff to do the very difficult job that we have to do. Whatever funding we are provided, we take that and do the best we can,” said Phil Heffington, Bureau of Prison spokesperson.

Bureau of Prisons officials also say guards do have access to less-lethal devices in emergencies, but if guards routinely carried 'less lethal devices' like mace or pepper spray, inmates could easily get a hold of them.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Fed CO on Jan 1, 2009 at 06:48 PM

Posted by: Mushroom on Nov 14, 2008 at 04:41 PM Please tell me you are joking. Do you think a cop on the street in say NYC where he is outnuumbered by approx 1:3,0000 or so could not be overpowered. You idiots should have to apply to have kids so you dont fill the world with more of your kind. If you would ever have to respond to(break up) a knife fight like we do on monthly occasions or greater, would you attempt to disarm the convict with your bare hands? Im going to say you wouldnt, well at this time we have to. We dont have the luxary of waiting for additional help to arrive or we will be sued for allowing the other convict to get stabbed. A can of pepper spray aimed from 15 feet away in order to break up the fight would be much safer than attempting to disarm the convict. People are not asking for a handgun, you idiots all give the same response in that it could be taken away. WE ARE STILL WAITING ON THE VEST TO BE ISSUED THAT WE WERE PROMISED MONTHS AGO.
Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 16, 2008 at 07:36 PM

for the idiot talking about inmate getting abused this is not a regional jail it is a federal institution and inmates are treated very well probably better than they should be but good officers follow policy and at big sandy we have alot of good staff.If you have not worked at a federal prison are been in one you should not try and compare the difference between a regional jail and a federal pennitentary there are big differences.
Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 15, 2008 at 10:57 AM

This is a good paying job and although dangerous I would rather work here than a deep mine. We need more "qualified" people to apply for jobs at the prison. However the pool of applicants locally is shrinking because of criminal records and poor education. The Bureau of Prisons would save money by hiring more officers nation wide rather than paying time and a half to fill vacant positions. Show me a job anywhere that there are not rumors flying, back stabbing, favoritism(real or perceived), and lazy employees and I'll show a dream world. This is a stressful place to work but I don't worry about being laid off as long as I'm doing my job.
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