From the title I was 50/50 on it being the CO union bitching or someone wanting compassionate release, and 0% on it actually being dangerous.

Richard Ferruccio, president of the R.I. Brotherhood of Correctional Officers (RICBO), told 12 News “it is not uncommon” to see fluctuations of extreme hot or cold temperatures inside facilities.

Ok, that still sounds like it could be shitty working conditions. And if it was dropping to freezing or close for days at a time that could get dangerous.

“The temperature fluctuated from warm to cool while they adjusted and calibrated the control for the various housing modules; it did not fall outside the regulated safety levels,” Ventura explained.

Oh, that doesn’t sound that bad.

In this case, he said the South side cooled off quicker than the North side. During the week in question, Ventura noted that, “temperatures oscillated at times from mid 50s into the 80s, but did not stay at those levels.”

So with the large swings in temperature and old equipment, some days they overshot heating or cooling? Doesn’t seem too bad. Maybe management was just really callous.

“As a matter of protocol and as added measure of precaution, officers distributed extra blankets to inmates for comfort. The fluctuating temperature was resolved,” he added.

🙄.

I'm just surprised to learn that babies can be correctional officers. I would've assumed only adults are allowed for that job.

😂

“Our working climate conditions are like a mild version of a day/night in the Fall! Please address ASAP”

“Can we grieve this?”

Ignoring the part where am inmate was taken to the hospital for hypothermia?

>Ignoring the part where am inmate was taken to the hospital for hypothermia?

No, mostly because it’s not there.

Ferruccio said in addition to correctional officers complaining of the cold, an inmate housed in the ISC was taken to the hospital on March 13 because he was “possibly suffering from hypothermia and some other complications.”

J.R. Ventura, a spokesperson for RIDOC, told 12 News the department could not confirm if the events were related, and did not clarify what the inmate’s diagnosis was.

“Out of an abundance of caution, an inmate was taken to the hospital from the Intake Service Center to be examined after displaying unusual behavior,” Ventura said in a statement Friday.

Ventura said that, as of Tuesday, the inmate was in stable condition, and “due to several underlying conditions, he remains at Rhode Island Hospital.”

I'm surprised by how little pushback the journalist gave the union reps on their statements in this piece.