& # 39; Whitey & # 39; Bulger was the third inmate who died this year and legislators warned him of his violence

But a union representing prison workers believes that the violence should highlight two major staffing issues: dozens of authorized correctional officer positions are vacant at the Hazelton Prison Complex and, as in the case of the United States, there is a lack of staff. other federal prisons, agents such as housekeepers and nurses. Act as guards when the number of regular correctional officers is insufficient.

"This stuff happens regularly"

The first two deaths at Hazelton led to Congressional investigations and the October watchdog.

Thorne and Porter were residents of DC and their deaths attracted the attention of the DC Corrections Information Council, which oversees institutions in which district residents are incarcerated. Convicted criminals in the District of Columbia are sent to federal prisons.

"This kind of thing happens regularly," says the report, quoted by the anonymous inmate.

According to data from the local AFGE chapter representing Hazelton staff, violent incidents occur frequently, or even daily. More than 130 violent incidents – mostly inter-prisoner fights – were recorded this year until October 30, said Justin Tarovisky, executive vice president of Local 420 of AFGE.

The detainees also told the council of assaults by staff, including that workers in the prison's special housing unit "beat, beat, kick, choke and stomp where they knew that it did not show. "

Holmes Norton asked Horowitz, in his letter, to investigate the operations at Hazelton, citing reports of abuse in the council's report, as well as two deadly fights between inmates.

The BOP did not immediately respond Saturday to CNN's questions on the council's report.

Tarovisky said that the Bureau of Prisons took the abuse charges seriously and that since he was executive vice president of the local, he had never known that such allegations were true.

"My staff does not in any way beat the prisoners," said Tarovisky, also senior officer specialist at Hazelton. "It does not happen."

A few days before Bulger's death, lawmakers alleged a lack of prison staff

The deaths of Thorne and Porter also drew the attention of US senators from West Virginia, Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito, and three other lawmakers who wrote October 25 – five days before Bulger's death – that they were concerned about the Bureau of Prisons "have not followed the clear guidelines of Congress to hire more full-time correctional officers".

In the letter to US Attorney General Jeff Sessions, lawmakers said the deaths in April and September in Hazelton were unacceptable.

They also wrote that Congress had granted the balance of payments "additional funds to support additional correctional officers for each housing unit in high security institutions" since 2016.

According to the AFGE union, many of the country's prisons are understaffed, including those of the Hazelton Federal Penitentiary Complex, which includes USP Hazelton, a high-security center, as well as three other institutions: l & # 39; medium security federal prison Hazelton; a prison for women; and a minimum security satellite prison camp.

There are 403 correctional officers in the complex, but another 42 positions are vacant, said Tarovisky, the local union leader.

Hazelton's prisons are in dire need of these 42 positions, Tarovisky said. Shortages highlight the ability of staff, among other things, to find contraband, he said.

"With 42 other officers, we might have found the weapons" that were used during the killings in April and September, he said.

"In my opinion, some things could have been avoided" with a full complement, Tarovisky said, referring to the violence in the complex.

The BOP announced Friday to CNN that it has eliminated several thousand previously authorized vacancies in the country, while trying to cut costs in accordance with the congressionally approved budget plan at the Justice Department.

The number of vacant correctional officer positions in Hazelton's 36-year-old FCC office was lower than the union's. The office indicated that it expected that 21 of these 36 positions would be filled, without specifying when.

"With respect to the recent incidence of violence at FAC Hazelton, the BOP has sent a team of subject matter experts to the complex to assess operational activities and correctional security practices as well as measures to address these issues. determine any relevant fact that may have contributed to the incident, "added the manager. The balance of payments representative said Friday. "The team will make recommendations to BOP senior leaders to help mitigate identified risks."

Teachers, accountants filling in as guards

The letter of the legislator also worried about the "excessive dependence on prisons", a term that describes the practice of the office of using prison staff, such as teachers and cooks, to ensure the guard.

Legislators asked the sessions to inform them of how the balance of payments was reducing the practice.

An increase takes place every day of the week at Hazelton FAC, said Tarovisky. On Tuesday, five to ten staff members of the complex were appointed correctional officers, Tarovisky said.

According to the BDP, all federal prison staff are law enforcement officers and are initially considered correctional officers, even though their main job is different.

All staff members are informed upon hiring that they are expected to perform law enforcement duties; they receive the same initial and continuing training as law enforcement officers; and they are paid accordingly, says the office.

But in their letter to the sessions, lawmakers wrote that a Senate report accompanying the 2018 Appropriations Act included instructions to the BDP "aimed at reducing the over-reliance on strengthening and hiring full-time prison staff. before continuing to increase existing staff ".