Friday August 8 2003, Delmarva News 47 conducted a interview with the president of C.O.A.D., Cpl. Allan Deal, on issues concering corrections. The interview lasted well over a hour. Here is just a small portion of the interview.
Sussex Prison Guards-Intro
Is a shortage of money bankrupting Delaware's prisons of correctional officers?
Goodevening. Thank you for joining us.
Correctional officers know how dangerous their job can be- But some officers are saying working in Delaware's prisons is a dangerous job that is now life threatening.
WMDT's Josh Davidsburg talked to the president of the Correctional Officer's Union- who says as a result- it's difficult to keep officers on the job.
Allan Deal says He's able to leave his job alive every day because the inmates let him- He's the president of Delaware's correctional officer union- The Delaware Department of Corrections is facing a shortage of prison guards-.
18:57-"We don't have the staffing we used to have. We're outnumbered."
16-hundred correctional officers in Delaware- oversee 68-hundred inmates. At Sussex Correctional Institute Deal says the ratio at times is as low as one officer to 64 inmates.
Deal says the Union is lobbying for better benefits and pay to help make the job more appealing.
16:31-"We understand there's a budget situation. We're not trying to come across greedy we are trying to solve a problem."
A Delaware Department of Corrections spokeswoman says they are doing their best to remedy the situation.
40:39-"We want them to feel safe and secure in the facility and we hope they would advance those concerns to their supervisors."
To cover the shortage, Deal says he and other officers are regularly required to work up to 16 hours- Mandatory overtime.
18:50-"You have got to have a very very strong family life because your families don't understand you can't come home."
Deal says the administration has been cooperative-- but even though it may be only money to some, Deal says it's his life.
Josh Davidsburg WMDT Delmarva 47 News. Return to index of stories...
