By Corrections1 Staff
FORT MADISON, Iowa — Corrections officers with the Iowa Department of Corrections will rally Friday to call on Gov. Terry Branstad and DOC Director John Baldwin and demand they hear their safety concerns.
Labor union stewards have filed 42 under-staff grievances with the department in the past five months without any changes taking place, according to the Iowa Independent.
On October 5, an Iowa State Penitentiary recreational staffer working alone in the hobby and craft area in the basement was allegedly assaulted by an inmate.
Last month, a nurse was choked by an inmate as she performed her duties unescorted by security staff because positions had been cut.
The officers are asking the prisons to have the staff necessary to protect the public, staff and other offenders from victimization.