• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / News / AFSCME leader asks legislators to investigate causes of Anamosa prison murders

AFSCME leader asks legislators to investigate causes of Anamosa prison murders

April 1, 2021 By O. Kay Henderson

The president of the union representing employees in Iowa’s correctional system says violence inside the prisons has become commonplace, due to depleted staffing.

In a letter to legislative leaders, AFSCME Council 61 president Danny Homan said since a nurse and a correctional officer were murdered inside the Anamosa prison last week, there have been “at least three other assaults against corrections employees.” According to Homan, there are 234 vacant correctional officer positions in the system today, including 14 at the Anamosa prison.

Senate Minority Leader Zach Wahls, a Democrat from Coralville, said last week’s attack at the prison in Anamosa should prompt “decisive” bipartisan action in the legislature.

“It was obviously a tragedy and we’re at a point now where thoughts and prayers and flying the flag at half staff are not enough,” Wahls said during a news conference earlier today. “We need action.”

Last week, Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver indicated Senate GOP budget plans had already included $4 million more dollars for the Iowa Department of Corrections, so more prison guards may be hired. House Speaker Pat Grassley today said House Republicans are planning something similar.

“Obviously, we had a terrible situation happen at the prison,” Grassley said during a news conference. “I think you were going to see a strong number in our budget, but I think it just further strengthens our option that was the right decision that we were working off of.”

Wahls said policy reforms are needed, too, like letting prison staff collectively bargain over workplace safety issues, “in order to truly make sure that our corrections officers and staff are able to work and do their jobs and that they can leave home without having to worry about whether or not they’ll come home that evening.”

Homan, in his letter, also called on legislators to conduct their own investigation of the causes of last week’s attack at the Anamosa prison.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: News, Politics / Govt Tagged With: Democratic Party, Legislature, Prisons, Republican Party

Featured Stories

Finalists chosen for the state’s top burger

Paintings by Clinton woman gain a following in Europe

Iowa deadline for individual income taxpayers moved to June 1

Dialing rules changing for two area codes in Iowa

Assistance available for low income Iowans with overdue rent, utility bills

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Cedar Rapids preparing for big return of sports events

Iowa Games returning with full slate of sports

Iowa’s Garza sweeps national awards

Iowa’s Garza claims three national awards

Iowa’s Jack Nunge to transfer

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2021 ยท Learfield News & Ag, LLC