Corrections Officers Fighting to Keep Medium Security Unit Open

The recently-passed state budget includes a provision that calls for the closure of the Donald Price Medium Security Prison.

Corrections officers and Department of Corrections Director A.T. Wall argue that closing the facility would create chaos and put corrections officers at risk.

That's why the the R.I. Brotherhood of Corrections Officers has launched a campaign to protest the proposed closure.

“I cannot credibly advocate for this proposal," Wall said. “I couldn’t in good conscious house some of those inmates in facilities that were not designed for their level of risk and security.”

David Mellon, president of the Rhode Island Brotherhood of Corrections Officers said in a news release that the General Assembly and the Governor have "put money before public safety."

"“If this prison is shut down, havoc will be created within the walls of the prison. Inmates will be misclassified. Certain inmates–such as gang members–have to be separated from others, which will become a problem if this prison closes," Mellon said.  "Medium security inmates will be moved to minimum security, which is not a ‘secure’ facility with double fencing and towers. My members–the Correctional Officers–already walk the toughest beat in the state. We deal with murderers, gang members, drug addicts and sex offenders. We deal with fights, riots, stabbings and worse on a daily basis. The closure of this prison will only make our job more difficult.”

The campaign will feature print, radio, TV, Internet and grassroots components, the brotherhood said. It will run until the General Assembly's fall session ends.

"We want the general public to know that if tragedy strikes because of the General Assembly’s misguided public safety policies–specifically the closure of the Donald Price Medium Security prison–the blood is on their hands,” Mellon said.

The Donald Price facility is one of two medium security buildings on the campus of the Adult Correctional Institutions. 

The closure of the facility is supposed to save $6 million. But Wall told state leaders that the savings would be eaten up as other facilities are "hardened" to accomodate higher-risk inmates and now-closed sections of minimum security would have to be reopened.

The maximum capacity at Price is about 360 inmates. About 155 are living there now.