Pontiac prison employees call attention to inmate violence

Posted on March 15, 2017

Pontiac Prison Demonstration — Attacks at the prison increased 50percent in 2016 compared to the previous year. (Cynthia Grau/WJEZ)

By Adam Studzinski

PONTIAC – AFSCME union workers at the Pontiac Correctional Center held a demonstration Wednesday to raise awareness of inmate assaults and call for steps increasing their safety.

The demonstration comes after a recent attack by an inmate on a corrections officer. AFSCME Local 494 President William Lee said their job is challenging and dangerous.

“It’s very real. We risk getting diseases, and HIV, and AIDS, and broken bones and everything else that somebody can do to another human,” said Lee. “We face that every single day and you don’t know if you’re going to get out and go home to your family or not every day.”

Data shows Pontiac has the highest rate of assaults on staff of any state prison. Attacks increased 50 percent in 2016 compared to the previous year.

“We have raised the fact that front line employees don’t have enough input in the decisions that are made about how things are going to change,” AFSCME Council 31 Executive Director Roberta Lynch said.

AFSCME Council 31 Regional Director Eddie Caumiant said actions which happen inside prisons need to have consequences.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].

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