Jon Zumkehr, President of AFGE Local 4070, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the alarming suicide rate among correctional officers, efforts to improve mental health support and challenges facing the Bureau of Prisons. Zumkehr highlighted the partnership with The Gray Matters Collective, proposed legislation and ongoing staffing issues.
Correctional officers face a suicide rate seven times higher than the general population, a crisis Zumkehr and his team are actively addressing. In response to this issue, AFGE Local 4070 partnered with The Gray Matters Collective to provide suicide awareness training and resources. The union has invested in training 24 staff members in advanced suicide prevention techniques and installed prominent signage displaying the 988 suicide prevention hotline. Zumkehr emphasized the importance of these initiatives in creating an "army of suicide prevention advocates" capable of recognizing warning signs and preventing tragedies.
Zumkehr discussed the Blake Schwartz Suicide Prevention Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at funding mental health resources in federal prisons. The bill would mandate mental health referrals for staff following traumatic events and provide paid time off when recommended by a doctor. Zumkehr stressed the importance of raising awareness about mental health issues not only in the Bureau of Prisons but also among first responders, veterans and agricultural workers.
Staffing shortages and inadequate pay continue to plague the Bureau of Prisons, impacting recruitment efforts and daily operations. Zumkehr revealed that Thompson prison had to lock down nine times in the previous month due to staffing issues, disrupting crucial rehabilitation programs. He emphasized the need for competitive pay to attract and retain qualified staff, noting that current salaries lag behind those of state prisons and local factories. The threat of government shutdowns further complicates recruitment and retention efforts.
Listen to the full episode for an in-depth look at the challenges facing correctional officers and efforts to address the mental health crisis in federal prisons.
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