RELEASE: AFSCME MARYLAND RESPONDS TO VIOLENT INCIDENT AT VCC

AFSCME MARYLAND STATEMENT ON VICTOR CULLEN CENTER VIOLENT INCIDENT

April 8th, 2018

Contact:
Katie Moy-Santos

410-350-9756

[email protected]

BALTIMORE, MD AFSCME Maryland President Patrick Moran released the following statement in response to an incident injuring eight staff today at the Victor Cullen Center in Sabillasville, Maryland: “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the wounded staff members and their families.”

“For months, we have consistently warned that an incident like this was inevitable because of the ongoing staffing crisis in detention facilities, hospitals and departments across Maryland. This is the second time Maryland State Police have responded to an outbreak of violence at Victor Cullen Center in two years.”

“Governor Hogan is risking the safety of staff and of our communities through his failure to address the critical understaffing in state facilities. State budget analysts found the Department of Juvenile Services is short 268 positions including vacancies and additional positions needed to meet safe staffing levels.”

“Every day staff at Victor Cullen Center go into work unsure of when they’ll be able to leave because of short staffing. Employees are routinely mandated to stay for involuntary overtime for up to 24 hours just to meet minimum staffing levels.”

“Our kids deserve better. Our staff deserve better. Maryland deserves better. For years, we have warned about the dangerous impact short staffing has on our communities. We fear that incidents like this will become more and more common unless Governor Hogan starts to prioritize Maryland families.”

 

###