Union Speaks Out After Staff Assaulted at Corrigan CI

New Britain, CT, Dec. 23, 2018 – AFSCME Local 1565, the union representing more than 1,900 front line prison employees raised concerns about safety and security after an inmate assaulted two correction officers at Corrigan-Radgowski Correctional Center in Montville.

The assault took place the evening of Dec. 22 at Corrigan, which is a level 3-4 high security prison. The injured correction officers received serious injuries which required hospitalization and have been released.

Local 1565 President Michael Tuthill, a veteran correction officer, questioned why the inmate had not been placed in administrative segregation after threatening violence on staff.

“This attack never should have happened,” Tuthill commented. “We fault the facility warden (Steven Faucher) and his supervisory staff for creating an atmosphere that puts us at risk. We have no confidence in this warden's leadership.”

The inmate who committed the attack threatened first to maim and then to kill Corrigan staff before assaulting the two correctional officers. He had been transferred from Northern Correctional Institution in Enfield, the state’s only maximum security institution. The inmate was slotted for residence at one of Corrigan’s two “security risk group” (or SRG) units.

Local 1565 also believes the assault on Corrigan staff is a reminder that criminal justice reform measures designed to reduce the inmate population and down-scale state prison operations pose risks to staff.

“Over the last several years, we have seen a major weakening of the deterrents to violent and anti-social behavior by inmates. The Lamont administration and the Department need to take steps to improve safety and security at our facilities and in our communities,” Tuthill added. 

Local 1565 represents correction officers, parole officers, maintenance officers, counselors and others at facilities throughout Connecticut, including Bridgeport Correctional Center, Brooklyn Correctional Institution, Corrigan/Radgowski, Garner Correctional Institution, Hartford Correctional Institution, New Haven Correctional Center and York Correctional Institution.

Click here to read The Day's coverage of the assault and our reaction.