| PEF’s violence prevention campaign takes off Verdict in attack spotlights need for change By DEBORAH A. MILES A female PEF member was brutally assaulted by an Elmira Correctional Facility inmate, Alton Hutchinson, last January during a counseling session in her office. A corrections officer and co-worker discovered the attack in progress, came to her aid and ultimately may have saved her life.  Hutchinson’s trial took place in October. After two days of deliberations, the jury found him not guilty on attempted rape and charges of assault in the first and second degree, but guilty on a second charge of second-degree assault. “We commend the district attorney for pursuing the charges and prosecuting this case, but the employees at Elmira Correctional Facility are extremely disappointed and frustrated that justice was not served in this case,” said PEF Region 2 Coordinator James Carr. “The verdict raises renewed concerns over the double standard when it comes to prosecuting workplace violence, as opposed to street violence. Hutchinson is already serving a maximum 50-year sentence for attempted murder, rape and sodomy. We are concerned this latest verdict sends the wrong message to inmates. This is a green light for them to continue to commit crimes while incarcerated,” he said. The Elmira incident is just one example of violent attacks against members on the job. PEF receives frequent reports of assaults on staff by inmates, patients, and clients in state institutions. Not part of the job “Part of the problem is people are told it’s part of the job, it goes with the territory,” said PEF Vice President Pat Baker and co-chair of PEF’s Stop Workplace Violence subcommittee. “It’s not. We have to educate our members, state management and the public.” To accomplish this goal and help curb the number of brutal beatings that take place throughout many state facilities, PEF launched a statewide campaign in October to prevent workplace violence. And since then, PEF leaders have been fine-tuning the plan. “Good suggestions came out of our October meeting,” Baker said. “We will begin by training 250 PEF activists, and we are planning a video and DVD for 2006 that will be used to educate legislators and other decision makers.” According to Rocco Brindisi, statewide health and safety chair and subcommittee co-chair, the one-day training is designed to assist members in identifying hazardous conditions. “Our goal is to teach them skills to work with management and eliminate the hazard, so our members will stop getting hurt,” he said. Stop cycle of abuse The campaign will also include an aggressive legislative agenda that would require state agencies to take all reasonable steps to reduce workplace violence. In October, the governor vetoed a workplace violence prevention bill (S.5773 Spano/A.8940 John) supported by PEF and passed by both houses of the Legislature. “The bill would have required public employees to assess their workplaces and develop and implement prevention programs,” said PEF Health and Safety Director Jonathan Rosen. “The Elmira attack is a reminder that failure to address workplace violence in state facilities allows criminals to continue their cycles of abuse. “It’s time for the state to recognize, as the Legislature has, that workplace violence in state facilities needs to be taken seriously,” he said. “PEF’s campaign will highlight this.” |
 If you were assaulted or threatened at work, your story could be a vital part of the documentation needed for legislation and effective workplace violence prevention programs. You have the option of remaining anonymous, but send in all the details of the incident, what could have been done to prevent it, and the type of support you received. Mail your story to: Workplace Violence Campaign, PEF Health & Safety Department, P.O. Box 12414, Albany, NY 12212 or e-mail it to JRosen@pef.org. |
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