WHEREAS:

More than one million inmates were confined in American prisons, detention centers and jails on January 1, 1995, as the number of persons incarcerated in this country continues its upward spiral; and

WHEREAS:

This continuing expansion of inmates severely strains the ability of state and local correctional systems to keep pace, with the average correctional institution operating at 115% of capacity. Only 16 state prison systems were operating at or below capacity at the beginning of 1995, while many of the prisons and jails where our members work hold up to 170% of the inmates they were designed to house, despite a massive prison construction drive adding 49 new institutions and 41,227 prison beds during 1994, with construction under way on an additional 108 institutions holding 124,962 beds; and

WHEREAS:

The growth in prison inmates continues to outpace the growth in staff hired to work in our prisons and jails, creating hazardous conditions and security risks for prison inmates, corrections employees, and the communities within which they work; and

WHEREAS:

One result of massive overcrowding and serious understaffing is a high level of assaults and violence within the correctional system. In 1994, there were 13,379 reported inmate assaults against corrections staff, a 24.5% increase over the preceding year.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That AFSCME continue to provide assistance and support to its affiliated councils and locals in carrying an effective message to communities and elected officials regarding the dangerous conditions created by prison overcrowding and understaffing; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME councils and locals utilize both the collective bargaining and the political/legislative process to fight for minimum guarantees of staffing levels and patterns in prisons and jails; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

That AFSCME supports the efforts of councils and locals to ensure adequate training and other effective strategies for reducing the risk of inmate assaults and violence within our corrections systems.

SUBMITTED BY:

Ronald C. Alexander, President & Delegate
Vanessa Tolliver, Secretary-Treasurer & Delegate
OCSEA/AFSCME Local 11
Ohio