Union again warns governor of prison problems

Oct. 25, 2006 - Two OCSEA leaders have again sent a letter to Governor Bob Taft concerning rising problems related to the growing population and understaffing in Ohio’s prisons.

President Ron Alexander and Executive Director Andy Douglas acknowledged that the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction’s re-opening of previously closed units in some prisons has helped, but noted that the move has also sapped resources from other areas and has occurred without a parallel increase in staffing.

“While it appears that the net number of available beds has increased, we have received reports that other units had to be closed to offset costs,” cautioned Alexander and Douglas. “The re-opening of these units has also occurred while the understaffing problems have been ignored. It is ‘pennywise and pound foolish’ to address one side of the problem while ignoring the other.

“Indeed, the inmate-to-correction officer ratio has slightly worsened. In August, it was 6.61:1, but the recent figures put the ratio at 6.62:1. Again, this benchmark is approaching pre-Lucasville riot levels.”

Alexander and Douglas issued a similar warning to the governor in August and asking that he lead an effort to obtain additional funding for DR&C, but the two never received a response.

“It appears that your Administration is still not seeking additional funding to alleviate the situation. We understand the political importance of you advocating further tax cuts, but we feel that it is short-sighted at best, and dangerous at worst, for you not to seek to provide more tangible funding assistance to the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. The situation is just as explosive as when we first wrote, we have been disappointed in the lack of response from your office. Leadership and corrective action is required immediately,” they wrote.

Copies of the letter were also sent to state legislative leaders.

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Text of letter sent to Gov. Taft, legislators regarding prison overcrowding

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