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Written by Megan Hansen, The Triplicate September 20, 2010 04:15 pm

Prison officers: shift changes could prevent volunteering Correctional Officer Sean Harper, left, and Sgt. Jesse Puente, both employed at Pelican Bay State Prison, coach kids during a youth football practice on Thursday. The Daily Triplicate/Rick Postal Correctional peace officers at Pelican Bay State Prison are asking for support in protesting shift changes they say will limit their ability to serve as volunteers in the community. Officers recently requested letters of support from the Del Norte County Board of Supervisors and the Crescent City Council to send to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). Paul Wenning, Pelican Bay chapter president of the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, said CDCR is proposing a switch from 8-hour shifts to 12-hour shifts. “Currently we work three 8-hour shifts,” Wenning said. “It will save money by eliminating one shift.” However, Wenning said the change will greatly impact more than a hundred officers who volunteer with the city’s fire department and local sports teams. He said some of the officers help out the high school football team. “I believe there’s a total of 10 officers that assist with that program,” Wenning said. Correctional Officer Sean Harper is one of many youth football volunteers. Harper said the new shifts would be from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., effectively erasing time for afterschool activities. “I coach football and baseball,” Harper said. “The kids can’t wait around until 8 p.m. to start practice.” Harper said the new schedules would also rotate their work shifts every couple of weeks, making it impossible to have a set itinerary. He said workers will no longer be allowed to trade shifts either. “That’s how a lot of us accomplish getting days off for practices and games,” Harper said. “We will not be able to volunteer.” Peggy Bengs, spokesperson for CDCR, said the alternative work schedule seeks to deal with more than $1.2 billion in budget cuts during 2009-2010. “It’s a way to create more flexibility,” Bengs said, “and still keep the institution safe.” Correctional Officer and Coach Sean Harper runs drills with a youth football team. The plan is still preliminary and Bengs said nothing has been decided. “If the department does move forward, we will discuss appropriate options with labor (unions),” Bengs said. According to Bengs, 12-hour shifts have been successfully implemented in police and nursing fields, and throughout prison systems in other states. “Thirteen states use alternative work schedules in their prison systems,” Bengs said. “A number of California county jails are also on 12-hour shifts, including Sacramento County Jail.” The shift changes are proposed for Pelican Bay, High Desert State Prison and Salinas Valley State Prison. Bengs said these are areas where recruiting is difficult. According to Wenning, residents in these areas will suffer because officers are typically very involved in their small, tight-knit communities. “They need to take into consideration the impact it’s going to have on the rural communities,” Wenning said. Sgt. Jesse Puente is a Pelican Bay employee who also coaches youth football. Puente said without prison employees, many of the youth sports programs would cease to exist. Puente said kids would then miss out on an opportunity to learn how to be good, productive citizens. “We’re trying to teach the kids respect and discipline, not only on the field but in the community,” Puente said. CDCR is aware of concerns surrounding the work hour changes, and Bengs said the department is open to discussion. An aerial view of Pelican Bay State Prison.