Toledo Correctional Institution employees have found an unusual way to address complaints about their work environment. Today they unveiled their grievances in a very public way.
Less staff and double the inmates means more prison violence! That's the message posted on a billboard by Toledo Correctional Institution employees.
Growing tension and violence at T-O-C-I has employees voicing their concerns on a billboard. The union president says T-O-C-I is understaffed and safety is problem. In may corrections officer Dennis Cowell says he was seriously injured in the prison cafeteria.
"Extensive damage to my teeth. I had two fractures to my upper jaw and six teeth knock loose concussion due to under staffing here" corrections officer Dennis Cowell.
He says a correction officer suspected drugs or a cell phone were being passed from inmate to inmate. Words were exchanged between the CO and an inmate. Cowell says he went to help and was punched and stomped.
"There should have been more officers there. 2 officers to 57 inmates roughly counting in the chow hall one side there are 10 tables per row 4 seats per table and 2 and a half rows were field out of the 5," said Cowell.
He's not the only employee who's been attacked by an inmate. According to the unions website CO Michelle Deiley was working alone in the maximum security unit. An inmate jumped on her and punched in the face more than 20 times. The report states she was unidentifiable.
"We had hoped sentence reform would help alleviate the overcrowding and understaffing of our institutions but that's not come to the fact," said OCSEA President Christopher Mabe.
A spokesperson with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction says they take prison assaults very seriously. She claims inmate on staff assaults are declining. In 2008 the prison recorded 30 assaults, 41 assaults 2009, 30 in 2010, last year 25 and so far this year 13. Employees say the assaults have not stopped them from going behind these four walls where they say danger lurks.
"It's prison it's going happen but it shouldn't happen this much. I am one of many that it has happen to here," said Cowell
The union wants you to call Governor John Kasich and demand he address prison staffing levels. His number is 614-466-3555
Wednesday, May 22 2013 12:08 PM EDT2013-05-22 16:08:02 GMT
(TOLEDO, Ohio) -- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is asking for the public's help locating a sexually oriented offender with a felony warrant out for his arrest. James Lee Smith, 50, last registered
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The Ohio Supreme Court will hear the appeal in the case of former Ottawa Hills police officer Thomas White. In January, the Sixth District Court of Appeals overturned his felonious assault conviction. In
The Ohio Supreme Court will hear the appeal in the case of former Ottawa Hills police officer Thomas White.
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NB I-75 shut down north of Cygnet due to accident involving school bus
Around two dozen people were injured Tuesday night in a bus crash on I-75. It happened around 10:30 p.m. in the northbound lanes of I-75, just north of the Cygnet exit
Wednesday, May 22 2013 7:47 AM EDT2013-05-22 11:47:17 GMT
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio state lawmakers moved boldly Tuesday against storefront sweepstakes parlors they have come to view as illegal gambling operations, advancing separate bills effectively banning
The bill to ban Internet cafes will head to the Ohio Senate floor today. Yesterday a Senate Committee overwhelmingly approved the plans. Two separate proposals would ban operations statewide and block new cafes until the ban takes effect. There are about 800 Internet cafes in Ohio.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 11:11 PM EDT2013-05-22 03:11:02 GMT
Imagine picking up the phone to hear your grandchild is in trouble. You're told not to tell any other family members, and send cash right away. Chances are, it's a crook trying to pull the 'Grandma Scam'.
Imagine picking up the phone to hear your grandchild is in trouble. You're told not to tell any other family members, and send cash right away. Chances are, it's a crook trying to pull the 'Grandma Scam'.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 11:37 AM EDT2013-05-22 15:37:02 GMT
The Ohio Supreme Court will hear the appeal in the case of former Ottawa Hills police officer Thomas White. In January, the Sixth District Court of Appeals overturned his felonious assault conviction. In
The Ohio Supreme Court will hear the appeal in the case of former Ottawa Hills police officer Thomas White.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 12:08 PM EDT2013-05-22 16:08:02 GMT
(TOLEDO, Ohio) -- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is asking for the public's help locating a sexually oriented offender with a felony warrant out for his arrest. James Lee Smith, 50, last registered
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is asking for the public's help locating a sexually oriented offender with a felony warrant out for his arrest.
The Boy Scouts of America will convene a two-day meeting of 1,400 local leaders to consider changing its long-standing ban openly gay boys belonging to the scouting movement.
The Boy Scouts of America will convene a two-day meeting of 1,400 local leaders to consider changing its long-standing ban on openly gay boys in the scouting movement.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 9:14 AM EDT2013-05-22 13:14:38 GMT
NB I-75 shut down north of Cygnet due to accident involving school bus
Around two dozen people were injured Tuesday night in a bus crash on I-75. It happened around 10:30 p.m. in the northbound lanes of I-75, just north of the Cygnet exit
Wednesday, May 22 2013 7:47 AM EDT2013-05-22 11:47:17 GMT
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio state lawmakers moved boldly Tuesday against storefront sweepstakes parlors they have come to view as illegal gambling operations, advancing separate bills effectively banning
The bill to ban Internet cafes will head to the Ohio Senate floor today. Yesterday a Senate Committee overwhelmingly approved the plans. Two separate proposals would ban operations statewide and block new cafes until the ban takes effect. There are about 800 Internet cafes in Ohio.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 7:32 AM EDT2013-05-22 11:32:46 GMT
LOGAN, Ohio (AP) - State officials say safety improvements are planned after a third fatal fall from a cliff recently in the Hocking's Hills region of southeastern Ohio. The Ohio Department of Natural
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Tuesday, May 21 2013 11:11 PM EDT2013-05-22 03:11:02 GMT
Imagine picking up the phone to hear your grandchild is in trouble. You're told not to tell any other family members, and send cash right away. Chances are, it's a crook trying to pull the 'Grandma Scam'.
Imagine picking up the phone to hear your grandchild is in trouble. You're told not to tell any other family members, and send cash right away. Chances are, it's a crook trying to pull the 'Grandma Scam'.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 8:22 PM EDT2013-05-22 00:22:27 GMT
Relatives of three teenagers killed in an Ohio school shooting are suing a charity that maintains a fund set up to benefit the families and support the well-being of students and others in the affected community.
Relatives of three teenagers killed in an Ohio school shooting are suing a charity that maintains a fund set up to benefit victims' families and support the well-being of students and others in the affected community.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:08 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:08:56 GMT
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