SATF, an organization who’s time has come.

Upon request of the author, this Letter-To-The-Editor, which was submitted to the Daily Bulletin for publication, is being reprinted here. It comments on the article in the same newspaper entitled, "CIM officer wins spitting lawsuit" published today, May 3, 2007.

With a totally politicized California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations, the California Staff Assault Task Force is certainly a force who’s time has come.

Since secret agreements between Wardens and District Attorneys absolving inmates of accountability for their assaults on staff, such as the one posted on the CIM Chapter CCPOA Blog at http://cimccpoa.blogspot.com/2007/04/another-brick-in-wall.html, fail to provide any deterrence for assaults on staff by inmates, the staff members themselves must take matters into their own hands through the civil court system. Joint statements between CDCR and District Attorneys that narrowly define the types of assaults on staff that will be referred for prosecution, send a clear message to CDCR staff that they are, truly, on their own and the Staff Assault Task Force fills the vacuum left by CDCR/San Bernardino County politics.

Additionally, time is cheap for convicts and, even if prosecuted, assaulting staff is considered a badge of honor among the inmate population. What embarrasses them the most is when they have to explain to their prison associates that they can’t purchase any products from the prison store because a Correctional Officer, whom they assaulted, is taking their money until the judgment is satisfied. In the game of one-upmanship that inmates often play against staff, the SATF has found the perfect solution - Game Over.

Joe Bradley

Newport, VT