Mass. Lawmakers are calling for state prisons to stop being searched after a violent attack

A group of Massachusetts lawmakers are calling for tightening prison security measures following violence at Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center last month.

Lawmakers have called, among other things, for all state prisons to increase the frequency of random searches and for prosecutors to quickly bring criminal cases against anyone accused of assaulting a correctional officer.

Dozens of deputies met with Massachusetts Department of Correction officials Friday to discuss safety issues following a Sept. 18 incident. That day, prisoners in Souza attacked and injured five correctional officers. One of the officers was in the hospital for several days with multiple stab wounds.

“It is clear that increased searches are warranted,” Rep. Jonathan Zlotnik, a member of the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, said after the meeting. “The manufacture of homemade weapons in prison continues to be a problem and the first step in making our entire prison safer for everyone is certainly controlling contraband.”

Following the attack, more than 70 guns have been confiscated at the prison in the past three months, according to the Massachusetts Correction Officers Federated Union. They also reported that there were more than 30 attacks on correctional officers during the same period.

The Department of Corrections said the prisoners involved in the violence have been moved to other facilities. The three prisoners, Jose Crespo, Heriberto Rivera-Negron and Jeffrey Tapia, are accused of various charges ranging from armed assault to murder.

Earlier this month, dozens of lawmakers sent a letter to Gov. Maura Healey They are calling for increased security measures, including more so-called “tactical response teams” that routinely search all state prisons. The letter said lawmakers are seeking a “common-sense approach” to address violence and contraband in Massachusetts prisons.

Lawmakers say the Department of Corrections must implement protections beyond those outlined by Interim Commissioner Shawn Jenkins shortly after the attack. In Jenkins’ letter to the correctional officers union, he promised a “thorough security assessment and review” at the prison.

“We look forward to building on this productive dialogue with our many stakeholders to advance our shared goal of ensuring our officers have resources and support while maintaining safe and rehabilitative environments throughout the correctional system,” Jenkins said in a statement Friday afternoon Explanation.