Prison guards to be issued vests
Bureau changes policy after slaying of Atwater officer.
By Michael Doyle / Bee Washington Bureau
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WASHINGTON — Under a new Bureau of Prisons policy, guards at high-security
federal prisons will now be provided the kind of stab-proof vest that might
have saved Atwater correctional officer Jose Rivera.
Facing pressure from unions and lawmakers, the bureau has told union leaders
the vests can now be worn by guards at U.S. penitentiaries. These are the
facilities, like Atwater, that house the most dangerous federal prisoners.
And the new protective vest policy would be expanded even further under a
bill introduced by Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced, that would require all 16,400
Bureau of Prisons guards to wear vests while on duty. Cardoza’s bill would
provide the Bureau of Prisons $20 million to buy the vests.
“Like our soldiers and our police officers, these individuals help to ensure
the protection of the American public,” Cardoza said. “This bill is a
necessary step towards helping prevent another tragedy like the one that occurred at
… Atwater on June 20.”
Officials say two inmates at the high-security penitentiary stabbed the
unarmed Rivera with prison-made shanks. He was a 22-year-old Navy veteran. The
FBI is still investigating the slaying, which occurred when Rivera was
single-handedly overseeing more than 100 prisoners.
Following Rivera’s death, the union that represents federal correctional
officers began increasing public pressure for enhanced safety measures. Union
leaders met with federal Bureau of Prisons Director Harley Lappin last week.
The new policy is “a good plan to start off with,” said Bryan Lowery,
president of the Council of Prison Locals. “However, I feel the protective vests
should be allowed for correctional officers at all security level prisons.”
Lowery said he has been advised that penitentiary guards will be permitted,
but not required, to wear the relatively heavy outer vests now stocked for
special purposes like subduing unruly inmates. This could start within a week,
Lowery predicted. Over the longer term, officials will begin evaluating what
other kind of vests might be bought.
The high-security federal prisons also will provide additional staffing on
both the day and night watches and control inmate movement more rigorously,
according to a briefing provided to union officials. Bureau spokespersons could
not be reached by phone or e-mail Friday afternoon.
Cardoza and Lappin will meet on Capitol Hill next week to further discuss
safety policies. Until now, federal prison guards have not been routinely
equipped with the safety vests customarily worn by some state prison guards.
Federal prisons reported 1,362 armed and unarmed inmate-on-staff assaults in
the 2006 fiscal year. The prisons also reported 1,780 armed and unarmed
inmate-on-inmate assaults during the same period.