News
The
Friends & Family of Correctional Officers Holds Rally
August
12, 2008 ATWATER, CALIFORNIA – The Friends &
Family of Correctional Officers organization, formed
around the issue of safety for correctional officers
at US
Penitentiary in Atwater, held a rally in Atwater at
noon, Tuesday, in the parking lot across the street
from Gonella Realty in the 2500 block of First Street
in Atwater. Speakers included organization members
Andy Krotik, Flip Hassett and Dennis Anderson. The
purpose was to raise awareness of correctional officer
safety at the Atwater prison, following the recent
murder of a correctional officer by inmates.
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July
11, 2008
Congressman
Cardoza Introduces the "Jose Rivera Correctional Officer
Protection Act"
Bill Provides Stab-Proof Vests for Every Federal
Correctional Officer
WASHINGTON, DC - Yesterday afternoon Congressman Dennis
Cardoza introduced HR 6462, the "Jose Rivera Correctional
Officer Protection Act" to provide all federal correctional
officers with stab-proof vests. The bill authorizes $20
million for the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to purchase the
vests and mandates that officers wear them while on duty.
"The
workplace safety of our federal corrections officers is
of the upmost importance to me. Like our soldiers and our
police officers, these individuals help to ensure the protection
of the American public," said Cardoza. "This bill
is a necessary step towards helping prevent another tragedy
like the one that occurred at USP Atwater on June 20th."
On June 20, 2008, two inmates brutally attacked and killed
Correctional Officer Jose Rivera at the Federal Penitentiary
in Atwater, California. The two inmates who attacked Officer
Rivera had been classified by the BOP as 'unable to rehabilitate',
and were among the most dangerous in the prison population.
California
state correctional officers and local city and county law
enforcement officials are issued protective stab-proof vests
while on duty, BOP correctional officers are only issued
protective vests for use in responding to emergencies and
when escorting inmates in the community, not during the
routine, everyday performance of their responsibilities.
Thus, BOP correctional officers are the only segment of
the correctional workforce not afforded this additional
safety precaution.
"I
have written to the Bureau of Prisons in the past about
the safety of our prisons. In addition to providing vests
I believe we need to address overcrowding, staffing shortages,
locality pay, and prison management techniques. I am considering
further legislation to address these problems and in the
coming days and weeks I will work with BOP to ensure that
safety is improved," said Cardoza.
Congressman
Cardoza is meeting with BOP Director Harley Lappin next
week to discuss safety issues at federal prisons.
September
17, 2008
Congressman
Cardoza calls for hearing on Atwater prison
WASHINGTON,
DC - Congressman Dennis Cardoza formally requested today
that the House Judiciary Committee a hearing on the ongoing
incidents at U.S. Penitentiary Atwater.
The request follows a string of inmate-on-inmate assaults
since prisoners were released from a nearly three-month
lockdown that resulted from the stabbing death of Correctional
Officer Jose Rivera.
"What I am concerned about most is the fact that we
still are seeing a high number of inmates with weapons in
their possession," Congressman Cardoza said. "How
much longer will it be before a correctional officer is
again assaulted? We have a responsibility to protect the
safety of our officers and our community."
READ
CARDOZA'S LETTER TO CONGRESS
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