Powered by Google
Home
Listings
Editors' Picks
News
Music
Movies
Food
Life
Arts + Books
Rec Room
Moonsigns
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Personals
Adult Personals
Classifieds
Adult Classifieds
- - - - - - - - - - - -
stuff@night
FNX Radio
Band Guide
MassWeb Printing
- - - - - - - - - - - -
About Us
Contact Us
Advertise With Us
Work For Us
Newsletter
RSS Feeds
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Webmaster
Archives



sponsored links
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
PassionShop.com
Sex Toys - Adult  DVDs - Sexy  Lingerie


   
  E-Mail This Article to a Friend

PRISON REFORM
Correction officers balk at change
BY DAVID S. BERNSTEIN

Earlier this year, when Kathleen Dennehy became commissioner of the Department of Correction, observers wondered whether a lifetime DOC-er would really take seriously the task of reforming the department. If whom she has antagonized is any indication, the signs are good: this week the Massachusetts Correction Officers Federated Union (MCOFU) gave Dennehy a vote of no confidence.

Although only a little over a quarter of the union’s 4000 members returned ballots, that was a record response, according to MCOFU. The result: 98 percent of respondents returned a vote of no confidence in Dennehy’s ability to run the department. Only two percent voted in her favor.

"They are entitled to their views," says former attorney general Scott Harshbarger, who chaired the Governor’s Commission on Corrections Reform. "During the time the commission was doing its work, we felt that Commissioner Dennehy exhibited strong and decisive leadership qualities. We were very hopeful that a constructive relationship could be worked out with the union."

That may be wishful thinking. A press release from the union lists a variety of grievances, but the ballot’s language makes pretty clear what’s got MCOFU riled up: disciplining of guards. "The DOC now values the testimony of inmates over correction officers," it says. "Officers have been demoted, suspended and terminated based solely on inmate allegations." Correction officers are "scapegoats" targeted by a "witch-hunt" and disciplined by a "kangaroo court," the ballot claims.

Dennehy declined to comment. Her spokesperson, Justin Latini, says that the vote is not surprising given the commissioner’s actions. "Since she’s taken over, she’s holding people accountable, and she’s firing people," he says.

"Part of the big problem over the years has been abusive guards, and a disciplinary process that looks the other way," says James Pingeon, an attorney with Massachusetts Correctional Legal Services. "Now there is an attempt to rein them in, and they are fighting back." Harshbarger concurs. "I hope the union can understand that she’s got to do some of these things to enact the kinds of reforms that are needed," he says.

Pingeon suspects that the vote is a signal of trouble to come when the department and the state legislature set about implementing the more fundamental reforms that the Harshbarger Commission recommended a month ago. "This vote of no confidence is a reflection of the kinds of pressures that will be brought to bear on the commissioner," he says.


Issue Date: August 6 - 12, 2004
Back to the News & Features table of contents
  E-Mail This Article to a Friend
 









about the phoenix |  advertising info |  Webmaster |  work for us
Copyright © 2005 Phoenix Media/Communications Group