WHEREAS:

Correctional, parole and probation officers, as well as other correctional employees, perform some of the most critical functions within our complex criminal justice system; and

WHEREAS:

The crisis in corrections, precipitated in part by rapidly increasing prison populations, deteriorating physical facilities, increased caseloads, and limited financial resources, has placed even greater physical and emotional pressure on correctional employees, clients and on inmates, and

WHEREAS:

This pressure has led to increased incidence of violence against staff, inmates, and clients; and

WHEREAS:

Such increased violence has been cited as a major source of stress among correctional, parole, and probation employees leading to heart attacks, suicides, higher than average divorce rates and extremely high rates of employee burnout.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That this 27th International Convention urge all AFSCME locals and councils to continue to fight for correctional employees' right to work in safe and adequately staffed correctional institutions and to caseload size limitations which allow employees to monitor their clients' re-entry into the mainstream of society; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME continue to urge federal, state and local governments to confront this growing problem of violence by developing adequate training programs, by limiting the size of caseloads, and by providing adequate staffing levels.

SUBMITTED BY:

Richard J. Bischert, Director
Joseph P. Puma, President
AFSCME Council 82
Albany, New York