RICHMOND – Joined by a group of prison guards, two legislators called for a budget amendment on Tuesday to increase the salaries of correctional officers in Virginia.
RICHMOND – Joined by a group of prison guards, two legislators called for a budget amendment on Tuesday to increase the salaries of correctional officers in Virginia.
Democratic Dels. Patrick Hope of Arlington and Kaye Kory of Falls Church said officers at the state’s correctional facilities deserve a pay increase and better working conditions. The lawmakers said their proposed amendment to the state budget would boost correctional officers’ salaries by 5 percent.
The last pay increase officers received was in 2007, Hope said at a press conference. He said he has seen firsthand what the officers must endure and the dangers they face dealing with potentially violent offenders.
“There is no reason why we have people in law enforcement that should be eligible for food stamps or other types of government programs,” Hope said.
Don Baylor (top image middle), an organizer for the Virginia chapter of the National Coalition of Public Safety Officers, also spoke at the press conference in support of the budget amendment. He said correctional officers who take on more than one job to make ends meets are putting themselves at risk because they get tired and working at a prison requires their full concentration and attention.
Baylor also said the men and women in the profession are dealing with higher stress levels and have higher suicide rates than most veterans returning from war.
Three officers from Sussex II State Prison of the Virginia Department of Corrections also spoke of their difficulties at the conference. Officer Veronica Knight (top image right) spoke about how prisoners go out of their way to create a hostile environment for the guards, sometimes even creating lies about being abused.
“An offender called the sexual abuse hotline and stated that I made a comment towards him saying that he had a small penis,” said Knight. “Within ten minutes I was in the investigation office.”
Don Baylor, a representative for the National Coalition of Public Safety Officers and a retired prison guard, had earlier alluded to this very issue, mentioning there was a need for better due process for prison guards.
“After eight years with the department, when I come to work I give 110%,” said Knight. “I don’t slack off because I have two kids also. We need your help to make our lives better, for us and our kids.”
Officer Deion Wyche (top image left) spoke about how it hurt her seeing her fellow officers come and give it their all and still be under appreciated.
“Nothing is given to us,” said Wyche. “We haven’t had a raise in several years. We’re struggling.”
Wyche went on to comment of the struggles of working multiple jobs, not just to support themselves, but in Wyche’s case, her extended family whom she has custody of as well.
“I have two daughters in college, and I’m raising two grandbabies,” said Wyche. “I can’t afford to put them on my insurance, they’re getting Medicaid.”
As a direct cause of the stress associated with the job, Wyche said many of the guards have experienced health issues, such as massive heart attacks.
“Before I working with the department my health was good. I’ve now been to the hospital several times,” said Wyche. “When I go in my eyes are swollen, like they’re on fire. No one sees the hurt; we feel it.”
They’ve lost coworkers due to stress related to the job, and yet most of the guards cannot afford some of the relative luxuries residents are given, such a flat-screen televisions.
“Our pay is ridiculous. And our health is declining, but you say ‘prove it’,” said Wyche. “It’s a need, it’s not even a want. We just want the things that are due to us.”
