DES MOINES – State corrections officials Tuesday confirmed that three homemade knives and two partially made “zip guns” were discovered last week concealed in a common area of the yard at the Anamosa State Penitentiary.
However, John Baldwin, director of the state Department of Corrections, downplayed concerns raised by a union representing correctional officers and prison staff that understaffing at a time of record inmate population in the state’s prison system is putting citizens, employees and inmates in a potentially dangerous situation.
“These times are challenging for corrections, as our budget reductions over the last several years have been significant and our offender numbers have increased,” Baldwin said in a statement. “It is important to know that staff continues to do their jobs and support each other. Any corrections system is balanced on mutual trust and respect between staff and offenders. It is important that the balance not be lost in the course of any discussion about staffing or budget.”
Baldwin also commended Anamosa prison employees for discovering the contraband items and for maintaining a positive atmosphere in the institution, but added “it is concerning anytime dangerous contraband is found as safety is our No. 1 priority.”
The corrections director also noted that Gov. Terry Branstad last week signed a supplemental spending bill that included $14.2 million to fund corrections operations through June 30. He said the governor’s fiscal 2012 budget recommendations also called for added money to fund an extra 40 correctional officers for the budget year beginning next July 1. “Through these efforts, Gov. Branstad understands and recognizes the importance of staff safety and will continue his efforts to restore staffing to a more acceptable and safe level, both in the prisons and community corrections,” Baldwin said in his statement.
Baldwin’s comments came on the heels of statement issued by officials with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 61 indicating that the recent discovery of several dangerous weapons being concealed at the Anamosa penitentiary raised concerns that the issue of prison understaffing was not getting the attention from state officials that it deserved in demanding that more staff be hired to supervise dangerous inmates.
Anamosa correctional workers found three “shivs” — two that were 8-9 inches long and one 13 inches long, sharpened on both ends, according to the AFSCME statement. In addition, these correctional workers found two zip guns that were in the process of being built. “It does not take any stretch of the imagination to know what these items would be used for,” the union statement added.
“Iowa’s prisons now are holding a record number of inmates. As long as our prisons are staffed at these levels, we as a state are choosing to put our citizens, correctional employees, and the inmates under their supervision in a dangerous position,” said Marty Hathaway, president of AFSCME Local 2985.
“While the union is extremely grateful for the discovery of these weapons and for the correctional employees who did their jobs well, AFSCME Iowa Council 61 is demanding that Director Baldwin hire more staff in Iowa’s prisons,” said AFSCME Council 61 President Danny Homan. “We are headed towards a potentially deadly situation, and if any correctional workers are seriously harmed or injured in the line of duty due to the inadequacy of staffing, this Union will take every action possible to see that Director Baldwin and the Department of Corrections are held accountable.”
Baldwin, in his statement, said the contraband items that were discovered had been concealed for some length of time, noting that there was significant rust and deterioration of the items. He said the items were found through some routine maintenance work in the area that involved the demolition of a cement structure.
A short time after the discovery, inmates were held in their cells and work assignments while the yard and other common areas were searched, according to the department’s statement. No other dangerous contraband was found. The prison administration had no indication of a larger problem that could be related to the contraband and it was determined that there was no significant reason to believe there was a threat to staff or offenders, Baldwin added. The inmates were then released to resume normal activities and the institution has been under normal operations since, he said.
“There is little disagreement that the corrections system needs additional staff and treatment programs. However, the department must function within the resources appropriated to it by the Legislature and signed into law by the governor,” Baldwin added. “The expectation of safety for staff and offenders is shared by all in corrections. However, every employee knows that in any correction setting whether it be a community-based corrections residential facility, a field office, or prison an absolute guarantee of safety is difficult to promise.
“What is possible is providing as many staff as the budget will support; treatment and reentry opportunities for offenders including: education, jobs and life skills that will allow for reduced criminal behavior when offenders return to society,” he said.
Branstad spokesman Tim Albrecht said the governor views public safety as a top priority, which is why he approved the supplemental spending bill last week.
“The governor has made it clear through the supplemental, as well as increased funding for corrections officers, that this is an important issue and a priority for him,” Albrecht said.
On Tuesday, the overall prison count stood at 9,006 inmates in facilities with total design capacity for 7,209 offenders. The head count at the Anamosa facility was 1,185 inmates compared to a design capacity for 911 offenders.

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