By C1 Staff
AVENEL, N.J. — On New Year’s Eve, CO Daniel Campione was escorting inmates to their cells when one of them “began to verbally abuse” Campione, according to NJ.com. The inmate then charged and “hit [Campione’s] head with a closed fist.”
COs came to his aid and regained control of the area. Campione was treated for multiple injuries to his head and face and is expected to recover, but is unable to return to work for an unknown amount of time, the publication reported.
“Attacks like the one we saw ... are becoming all too common in New Jersey’s state prisons,” local union President Brian Renshaw said.
After the attack, the union is calling for the passing of a new bill to ensure COs “will not be asked to receive anything less than full pay for injuries suffered at the hands of inmates inside our prisons.”
Currently, corrections officers and prison workers are “making significantly less than their regular salary” when receiving worker’s comp for inmate-related injuries suffered on the job, the union said.
The union told the publication COs would receive similar pay like officers injured on duty if the bill is passed.
“It is my hope that the New Jersey Legislature will fully understand what is at risk when deciding on how to act on this legislation,” Renshaw said.