There has been a public outcry about the LSJ’s recent posting of state employee’s salaries.  Many claim it is an invasion of privacy and fear that the public’s knowledge of how much they make will lead to demands for pay cuts and more…

For corrections officers, the fear is far more serious.  We’re not concerned about the public knowing how much we make.  We do a job no one else wants to and thousands of officers short making it more dangerous than ever.  Our concern lies in the format in which this information was put in the public domain. 

Inside the walls we wear name tags with last names only…for a reason.  Prisoners can and have caused harm to officers in the past… through identity fraud, threats to family members and more.  The LSJ database allows any inmate, or relative of an inmate, to easily search by last name and the county where the facility is located to obtain full first names and middle initials.  With that specific information in hand, a few clicks of a mouse and one could get home addresses and phone numbers for every corrections officer in the state. 

This is where we find fault with the LSJ’s actions in providing this information.  It is not safe.  It was not responsible. It puts us further at risk. 

Some are concerned about the money.  We’re concerned about the lives and families of over 9,000 officers around the state.