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Bills regarding Correction Officers administering/dispensing medications to those incarcerated in our County Jails.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
In 2009, Council 82 formed a committee to address concerns regarding Correction Officers administering/dispensing medications to those incarcerated in our County Jails. While some of our members work in jails in which medical professionals dispense medications, some of our members work in jails where they are the ones who are tasked with the responsibility. In one of our counties, for example, Correction Officers hand a syringe to the inmate, the inmate draws the insulin, and then, while the syringe is still in the inmate’s hand, the needle is brought close to the Officer’s face to verify that the dosage of insulin is correct — prior to the inmate injecting his or her own dose. This is not safe for the Officer or those incarcerated. Some of our members are being placed in precarious situations, and, at times, have faced discipline involving circumstances surrounding the passing of medications. The practice of Correction Officers administering/dispensing medicine to those incarcerated NEEDS TO STOP NOW! The administering/dispensing of all medications needs to be administered/dispensed by a medical professional. We have bills introduced in both houses of the State Legislature (S. 7719) & (A. 9703). There is a good chance of those bills getting through the Legislature and on to the Governor this year. We ask that all of you follow this link: https://afsc.me/3QtODQX to sign a petition asking the State Legislature to pass our bill! Please share this link with your family and friends and ask them to support our fellow brother and sister Correction Officers across the state.
In Solidarity,
Ron Walsh
President, Council 82