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AFSCME Says DOC Isn't Doing Enough to Slow Prison Assaults

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The labor union representing Illinois prison guards says assaults on staff are way up - and state officials aren't doing enough about it.

Roberta Lynch is the head of AFSCME. She says too often, the Department of Corrections only increases staff or repairs equipment AFTER correctional officers are assaulted.
"We don't want people to have to be injured in order for change to come about."
 
Both AFSCME and DOC agree that assaults on staff have increased in recent years.

Gladyse Taylor is assistant director of corrections. She says inmates are only transferred to lower-level security prisons when their progress and behavior warrants.

Corrections Department Director John Baldwin says the department is training officers to deal with a large number of mentally ill prisoners, has increased staffing and is seeking money for new equipment.

 

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