Mass. Lawmakers call for “immediate action” in Souza-Baranowski after attack on conscientious objectors

By Charlie McKenna
masslive.com

BOSTON (AP) — A group of state lawmakers has called on Gov. Maura Healey to take action to secure the state’s prisons following an attack that injured five correctional officers at the Souza Baranowski Correctional Center.

State Rep. Kimberly Ferguson, R-1. Worcester, Jonathan Zlotnik, D-2. Worcester, and state Sen. Michael Moore, D-2. Worcester, wrote the October 8th letter to Healey.

In it, they call for the “immediate implementation” of “appropriate policy adjustments” in correctional facilities across the state.

The lawmakers called on the Democratic governor to conduct regular, routine tactical searches of all facilities, particularly those classified as medium or maximum security, to ensure “expeditious prosecution” of inmate assaults on correctional officers and to schedule monthly meetings between the department and the union that represents civil servants.

Prison inmates who attacked and stabbed correctional officers at the Souza Baranowski Correctional Center in September were captured on video.

Specifically, lawmakers called for the inmates to be prosecuted under “Body Fluids Act“This provides that any incarcerated person who assaults an officer with a bodily fluid must serve a prison sentence.

This prosecution “was not carried out consistently enough to provide an effective deterrent,” the letter said.

The letter also calls on Healey to create a so-called “blue ribbon task force” to review safety protocols, provide transparency and make additional recommendations for the department.

“We strongly believe this will provide greater safety for officers, staff and inmates,” the letter said.

Implementing the measures called for in the letter would be “significant progress toward creating a safe environment for all in our correctional facilities,” the lawmakers wrote.

The Attack of September 18th Two officers suffered stab wounds, including one with a punctured lung. After the attack, the civil servants’ union called for sweeping reforms in Souza-Baranowski, which it described as unsafe.

Three inmates were charged with the attack: Jose CrespoHeriberto Rivera-Negron and Jeffrey Tapia. All three men were charged with assault, armed assault and battery.

According to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the men were being held at the Chesterfield County Detention Center

October 17, 2024 9:56 am

Ironwood State Prison Warden Daniel Torres said he wanted to use his participation in the Battle of the Badges boxing match to “break down the barriers around mental health.”

October 15, 2024 2:52 p.m

—

©2024 Advance Local Media LLC.
Visit masslive.com.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.