Correctional Officers Say Prison Proposals Will Devastate Their Communities

Workers Come To Statehouse To Protest Closures, Privatization

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Jan. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Correctional officers and other prison workers today said proposals to privatize and close Florida corrections facilities will throw thousands of people out of work and endanger local communities. A dozen correctional officers converged on the Statehouse today to urge lawmakers to reject the plan.

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Bill Curtis, a correctional officer with Charlotte C.I., said privatization of his facility would cost him his job, his insurance and possibly his wife's life.

"It's going to throw everyone out of work," said Curtis. "I'm going to lose my insurance, and that's important to me because my wife had a stroke. It's a matter of life and death."

Curtis says he doubts he could get another job because he's 61 and likely to be discriminated against.

"This state prison system is running as lean as it can," Curtis said. "When a private company comes in, they'll cut quality and staff. They'll take shortcuts to make money. The people working there will be less safe, the people incarcerated – they're citizens too – will be less safe, and ultimately the community will be less safe."

David Thomas is a lieutenant at the Hendry Work Camp in Immokalee, which is slated for closure. He and his wife both work for the state, so closing the camp would mean unemployment for both of them.

"With ties to the community we don't have the opportunity or the funds to move to North Florida," he said. Correctional officers will be given the opportunity to transfer, but Thomas said that option is impractical for most employees. He estimates between 700 and 1,000 people will be unemployed if the plan to close the prison facilities goes forward.

"Eighty-five people at Hendry, they don't have a place to go," Thomas said.  "It's just devastating."

The plans include closures of the New River Correctional in Raiford, Jefferson Correctional in Monticello, Demilly Correctional Institute in Polk City, Gainesville C.I., Indian River C.I. in Vero Beach, and the women's prisons Broward C.I. in Fort Lauderdale and Hillsborough C.I. in Riverview near Tampa.

The department also plans to close work camps in Gadsden, Washington and Hendry counties and the Levy forestry camp.

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SOURCE Teamsters Local 2011