Missouri Department of Corrections: A Look at the Past Year and What to Expect From 2019




Missouri Department of corrections had quite the year in 2018. Lawsuits, riots, attempted murders and escapes. We saw the department illegally threaten, harass and abuse staff like never before. We also saw an unprecedented response from staff and former staff standing up against DOC corruption. Let's look at some of the biggest moments from MODOC in 2018.

Court Cases and corruption

One could argue that court cases defined Missouri DOC in 2018. The smoking ban which went into effect April 1st was the result of a lawsuit by an inmate. Of course, the settlement and tobaco ban was less to do with the inmate legal action and more an opportunity for Director Precythe to push forward her policy changes. Numerous employee lawsuits came about in 2018 as a result of blatant harassment, discrimination, and unconstitutional application of policy. The most high profile legal case, however, had been in progress a lot longer. The class action suit against the department which addressed employees working mandatory overtime without pay was finally settled. The department was ordered to pay, and as of this writing has still refused to do so, in defiance of a court order.


Riots and Disturbances

As a result of the emergency shortage of Corrections Officers in the state, Numerous riots have taken place at different institutions. As of now, the department has not acknowledged any of them. When millions of dollars of damage was done in a riot at crossroads, DOC spokesperson/paid liar Karen Pojman called it a minor disturbance, when housing units were destroyed and rendered completely unusable at Tipton, the Lyin Queen called it a protest. The department even went far enough to send out an email redefining riots and disturbances in contradiction to policy. The department's "creative facts" have not changed the reality that disturbances and riotous actions are on a steady increase and it doesn't look like it's going to change for the better in 2019.

Violence against staff

Just like the increase in offender protests, disturbances, and riots, there has been a huge increase in the number of staff assaults. Among many assaults in 2018, we saw a non-custody staff member taken hostage with a sharp piece of metal to her throat, an officer cut in the face in a violent attack, and a Sargeant brutally beaten after breaking up a fight. All of the above took place at Jefferson City Correctional Center and is just a small sample of the violence the institution has seen. We saw a nurse taken hostage at PCC and almost daily assaults on staff throughout Missouri's prisons. All of this has been covered up by the department and staff have been repeatedly threatened to keep them from speaking out.

Exposing The Truth. The Social Media Revolution Takes Aim at the Department

In all the negative news from 2018, something really encouraging happened as well. While current staff are not allowed to speak about what is happening in the department for fear of losing their jobs, staff who have left the department and are under no such chains, have stepped up to be a voice for them. In addition to this blog, a group of retired corrections staff have come together to not only speak out but to demand accountability from the department.

MODOC likes to pretend that those who speak out are only a small few disgruntled staff with little knowledge or experience. In reality, this could not be more wrong. Two of the loudest voices in support of our Corrections staff are DOC veterans who retired at very high-ranking levels in the department with decades of service behind them. The coalition of voices against Missouri DOC's corruption includes COIs, supervisors and a multitude of people who still care about what is right and are willing to speak for those who can't. It is amazing to see the social media explosion which has forced the department into the light. Even local news has taken notice and it seems that the criminals running DOC are about to run out of places to hide.

2019 Is Here. What Now?

Unfortunately, we can expect more violence as the department is still unwilling to stand up for its staff. Things will get worse before they get better. Also, the efforts of the Administration to silence staff have, sadly, yielded some results. Information is more scarce due to threats from the director's office. We will, however, be stepping up efforts here shortly to remind the department that the people cannot be silenced and the truth will come out!

Follow us, contact us, and speak up. More on the way.

Comments

  1. UnknownJanuary 5, 2019 at 4:55 PM

    I just retired after 25 years of service due the seriousness of the staff shortage, danger of the job, the politics that goes with the job, and the people in Jeff City trying to make decisions instead of letting the wardens make the decisions. I will speak out/up to better my brothers and sisters that are still holding on inside the fences.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AdminJanuary 5, 2019 at 7:10 PM

      Thank you for your service! Let us know if you have anything specific you want to see us address here. Feel free to send a message here or on Facebook. Thanks.

      Delete
    2. UnknownJanuary 22, 2019 at 7:46 AM

      I was forced out of my job as a sgt because a staff member threatened me for writing them up and doing my job. If you was not part of the good boy club or wemt to their parties you was not treated fairly. Day in and day out of staff assaults, overtime, later injuries, and mental trauma of the job from seeing deceased inmates has taken its toll. Ive tried to contact the upper channels to talk about my bodily injuries after the job from so many movement teams/A-team responses that they dont care. They told me its not their problem. Well i didnt have back injuries or knee problems before i worked their. I was a working co/coII. Over 2,000 training hours and i planned on keep promoting in time but i was railroaded due to the buddy system. Its corrupted and now staff have left.

      Delete

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