By taking time to read the letter, I know that you, too,
may be concerned about the current situation that exists
with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice -
Institutional Division. There more issues involved than
just salary.
The salary has been comparable for many years, however,
with the present shortage of staff and poor working
environment, it has become an issue. If staffing were up
to full capacity, and working conditions were better, it
may not have reached the point that is has now reached.
Here are a few of the things of which I speak.
Each day that a correctional officer walks from the free
world inside the wall of high fences and razor wire, they
wonder if they will walk out alive. If they say this
doesn't cross their mind, they are not being honest with
themselves. A better working environment would curb lots
of stress and problems, both for the officer and the
offender.
According to TDCJ, two hundred staff members were injured
during the month of July, 2000 ( TDCJ - Risk Management
). There have been 1258 reportable injuries since January
1, 2000. Of these, there have been more than 800 staff
members hurt in offender related assaults/incidents and
unsafe conditions (which are not identified). If you look
at this chart, you will not that during the summer months
these numbers rise.
IF
all TDCJ-ID facilities were temperature regulated year
round, I believe these numbers would decrease. When
people, whether officers or offenders, are hot and suffer
from the heat, tempers flare. This has been prove time
and again. Texas is spending billions of dollars on
prisons. A few more dollars spent on air conditioning
would improve the working environment. If we did have
air, perhaps the offenders wouldn't be so irritable and
lash out at staff. Of course, it would certainly make our
jobs a lot more comfortable.
Personally, I have suffered from heat exhaustion three
times this summer. I am seeing both officers and
offenders being affected by the sweltering Texas heat. At
times I work in 90 degree buildings with no ventilation,
and I work on a unit that has air part of the time. I say
this, because more than not, the air doesn't work for a
number of reasons. If the meteorologists are correct in
believing that before the year 2005, the average Texas
summer temperature will be 110-115, we are in serious
trouble.
IF we
were staffed at full capacity, there would be less
assaults and the injury rate would decline. Everyone
agrees that our job is extremely stressful. According to
the US Department of Justice, it is the 4th most violence
job in the nation. Another survey states that is the 2nd
worst job, just below that of sewer workers. Many of us
work on units that are so understaffed that we are
working double shifts just to cover our posts. The
majority of us can't get days off other than those
regularly scheduled. The state is paying overtime (roughly
$20 per hour for CO4 positions) to those working extra
hours. This money could be better served if we were at
full staff and it would cost the State of Texas less
money.
IF
the State would hire more qualified officers it would
help greatly. Too many of those hired are completing
their pre-service, going through their on the job
training and walking away. A person need only be 18 years
of age with a high school diploma or a GED to apply for
TDCJ. I am sorry, but I don't believe most 18 year olds
realize what they are getting in to when they accept a
position. They haven't seen enough of life and are too
immature to be exposed to the type of environment we face
daily. Their lives will be altered forever.
Some have never seen a person have a seizure, and still
they are putting themselves in an environment where they
will be spit on, have feces and other body fluids thrown
on them, kicked, cut, stabbed, sexually assaulted,
physically assaulted, or even murdered. The inmates know
how to play the game, and they prey on these youngster,
physically, mentally and sexually.
I have been in the military, have been a county detention
officer and a police officer, so I have somewhat grown
immune to inmate behavior as I have seen it often. At age
52, I still find it difficult to cope with the smell of
human blood when it smeared needlessly at the hands of
another person.
IF
our medical and dental insurance rates were more
comparable to our salary, this would be of great benefit.
Each time we get the slightest pay increase, our
insurance copay/deductibles increase. Yes, we received a
$100 across the board salary increase last Sept. But with
health insurance increase, few officers saw more than $5-25.
At the same time, the price of almost every consumer
product also increased.
Why are some many correctional officers having to work
two or more jobs to make a comfortable living? Why are
some of our HMO's considering dropping certain
occupations (including corrections) from their services?
An officer I know had open heart surgery last year. He
was told by his physician that his insurance may be
dropped because of his occupation. It was said that too
many officers are having heart attacks and heart related
problems due to their work environment.
Finally, IF
our salary were comparable to other states, perhaps we
could hire more professional correctional officers. Texas
now has over 150,000 persons incarcerated in 100 plus
prison facilities and state jails. These are monitored
and supervised by approximately 28,000 correctional
officers. Only California has a larger penal system than
Texas, yet our salary no where compares with the
correctional officers of that state.
The number of officers is growing less but the number of
offenders is getting larger. Newspapers report that the
Texas Congress is proposing to build a number of new
prisons because of the expected increase in the inmate
population between now and 2005. Who is going to
supervisor those offenders? Is it going to take another
Federal mandate such as Ruiz to bring the Texas penal
system up to its needed potential?
As you can see, I have many concerns when it comes to my
occupation as a Correctional Officer. I was not forced
into this profession, but I chose it. I have been
employed by TDCJ-ID for more than five years and have
seen it worsen greatly. I take pride in my job, as do
most officers. But pride doesn't keep us safe, nor does
it feed our families.
Respectfully, |