Ronald W. Clark
The Death Row Poet
March 20, 2012

CORRECTIONAL OFFICER SAFETY

Correctional officer safety: a concern for all. A major tool for protecting them, training them, and ensuring that they are following the rules' regulations and procedures for their safety as well as for others is having personalized audio and video devices as a mandatory part of the correctional officer's uniform.

These personalized A/V devices would protect staff in numerous ways. The prisoner would know that his behavior was being recorded and therefore any verbal or physical threat would be recorded. The staff member would then have to conduct his or herself in a professional manner, where the staff member is not verbally or physically abusing the prisoner, using the prisoner for pushing drugs and other illegal contraband, or having sexual relations with the prisoner. All of which does take place.

On Sunday, March 18, 2012, at the Columbia Correctional Institution (CCI), a 24-year-old sergeant was wounded in the incident. These personalized AV devices may have prevented that and, even if it couldn't prevent it, it would have given the investigators a bird's eye view of the events that took place that day or what led up to the stabbing.

I've been pushing for these devices to be implemented into the uniform for the past eight months, to no avail. Whether people want to admit it or not, most contraband enters the FDOC through staff who are, for one reason or another, willing to gamble with their future and sell drugs, cell phones, weapons, escape paraphernalia, and/or any other contraband that is financially beneficial to staff.

This technology exists and therefore should be explored and implemented into the Dept. of Corrections to ensure the safety of correctional staff, as well as the prisoners and general public. The time for change is now. The technology is here and it's needed. it could very well prevent another death.

Please contact your local senator and push for these personal AV devices to be implemented into the FDOC. Thank you for your time.

Respectfully submitted,
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