LEWISBURG -- Officials with the union representing federal corrections officers say cost-cutting is putting workers at U.S. penitentiaries, including those in Allenwood and Lewisburg, at risk.
Tony Liesenfeld, secretary/treasurer of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 148 at the Lewisburg Federal Penitentiary, said for the past four years union leaders have been lobbying lawmakers and administrators to stem the staff reductions.
Liesenfeld, who has worked as a corrections officer at the Lewisburg penitentiary for nine years, said now he is in a position where he no longer feels safe.
"It all goes to funding," he said Monday. "Without funding, we can't get the staff."
The Federal Bureau of Prisons has proposed $143 million in possible spending cuts, including not replacing vehicles and equipment, eliminating overtime, reducing corrections officer training and a possible cut in officer staff positions.
As of Monday morning, the penitentiary was still on lockdown following a July 2 brawl involving five or six inmates, he said.
Liesenfeld pointed to the killing last month of a corrections officers at the U.S. Penitentiary in Atwater, Calif., as evidence of the increased danger facing staff in the federal prisons.
Officer Jose Rivera was stabbed to death by two inmates with homemade knives during a routine lockup.
"Atwater is one institution," he said, "but it's indicative of institutions across the United States, especially penitentiaries and medium (risk facilities). ... We are all surprised it hasn't happened before now."
Allenwood problems
Scott Mathna, president of the Local 307 at the Allenwood Federal Penitentiary, e-mailed The Daily Item, stating he and his co-workers have addressed concerns about the funding issues over the past seven years to prison administrators and federal lawmakers.
He added that safety equipment is needed -- including items such as stab-resistant vests, batons and pepper spray.
"We may not be able to prevent another tragedy," he said through e-mail, "however we may collectively be able to reduce the chance of a future occurrence by adequately funding and equipping our staff within the Bureau of Prisons."
In an e-mail Monday, a Bureau of Prisons spokesman said only that Congress has passed legislation to address some of the funding concerns.
"Congress provided the agency $109 million in reprogramming funds. Further, $178 million was provided in a supplemental bill to address operational needs," said Mike Truman, a spokesman with the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Mathna said approximately 1,500 people are employed at Allenwood, Lewisburg and in Schuylkill County and more than 7,500 inmates are supervised by staff at these facilities.
He noted that workers at the Lewisburg facility circulated a petition with the signatures of about 120 staff members and sent it to U.S. Rep. Chris Carney, D-10 of Dimock, and Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa. The petition states those signed are "petitioning for additional correctional officers to ensure the safety and security of staff, inmates and the surrounding communities of the United States Penitentiary in Lewisburg."
It also describes several recent incidents in which staff members have felt unsafe.
Changing duties
Because of the staffing cuts, Liesenfeld said, such workers as secretaries, pharmacists and non-subsidy staff have been known to be assigned to work custody posts.
"This is a penitentiary," he said. "We're not dealing with white-collar crime. There are drug dealers, murderers, rapists ... Our issue is, Hey, they're creating a situation where staff are going to get hurt.' We've been saying that for years, and unfortunately with the tragic murder, what we've been saying has been come to pass. Until something is changed, this could keep happening."
Liesenfeld said he has been working with Rep. Carney about these issues and has been able to set up a visit for him to tour the facility in August.
"Things are not going to get better," he said. "Unfortunately they are going to get worse before they get better. ... Inmates are at risk with no staff and staff are at risk with so many inmates."
A spokesman at the Allenwood penitentiary said he could not comment on the funding topic.
"It's brewing a recipe for disaster," he said. "I don't want to attend a funeral for one of my co-workers, and the community doesn't want to attend (a funeral) of a person in the community with family and friends here."
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