By Robert Swift
The Daily Review
HARRISBURG — A Schuylkill County senator is pushing legislation to provide legal safeguards for state corrections officers involved in disciplinary proceedings.
Sen. David Argall, R-29, Tamaqua, calls his legislation a “Corrections Officers Bill of Rights.”
The measure provides that information relating to the nature of a complaint must be provided in writing to an officer not less than 24 hours prior to an interrogation. It gives officers legal cause to seek action for damages if a complaint is found to be without merit, frivolous or in bad faith. “Prison inmates have fundamental rights and a myriad of safeguards to protect and exercise those rights,” said Argall. “If we recognize that convicted criminals retain certain rights when they enter prison to serve their punishment, surely we can insist on the same for corrections officers when they enter prison to serve the public.” The legislation stems from a case where corrections officers were suspended without pay and benefits for nearly a year without the ability to ask questions related to why they were suspended or to defend themselves at a hearing, said Argall.
Notwithstanding the bill, Argall said he strongly believes that any corrections officer found guilty of a crime should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
The bill was subject of a recent joint hearing by the Senate and House Labor and Industry Committees.
Full story: Bill addresses corrections officers rights during disciplinary actions