Many prison officers in Eastern Iowa 'don't feel safe'

More than 100 correctional officers at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center in Coralville "don't feel safe," according to veteran officer Marty Hathaway, who serves as President of AFSCME local 2985, the union that represents the workers.  According to Hathaway, 59 positions have been cut over the last two years, leading to concerns about overall prison safety.

At a news conference Tuesday afternoon about 15 corrections officers stood in support of the Union representatives calling for changes.  Iowa Council 61 President Danny Homan said Governor Branstad and Department of Corrections Director John Baldwin are to blame for the reductions.

"We're 40-50 officers short at Anamosa, 40-50 short at (Iowa State Penitentiary)," said Homan.  "It's time to quit playing games with these correctional officers' lives."

Homan blamed a 2005 prison escape in Fort Madison, in which two inmates -- one convicted of murder and the other of kidnapping and attemped murder -- scaled the wall, on similar job reductions.

"That escape was facilitated by not having (enough) staff on duty," he said.  "We are back to that situation again."

Homan said Iowans need to be able to trust the prison system because people don't get placed in it for "singing too loud in church."  People like Minnesota teenager Michael Swanson, who was recently convicted in the murder of a gas station clerk, are housed in Iowa's prisons, said Homan.

In a statement to the media, Iowa Department of Corrections spokesman Fred Scaletta said the department is working to "provide safety, security, treatment and reentry services within the appropriate resources available."

Scaletta also pointed out that Governor Branstad recommended and that the legislature approve funding for 40 additional correctional officer positions in the FY2012 budget.

"The Department has and will continue to present funding requests for more adequate staffing levels across our system," the statement said.