NCJ Number
171884
Journal
Governing Volume: 9 Issue: 11 Dated: (August 1996) Pages: 38,40-41
Date Published
1996
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article profiles the history and power of the California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA), the union of State prison guards.
Abstract
Currently, California prison guards rank among Sacramento's most powerful interest groups. They have been able to expand their issues beyond the usual union menu of benefits, wages, and work conditions. Their purview now includes prison construction, prison management, and sentencing policy. The rise to prominence of this relatively new policy lobbying force is starting to occur in a growing number of other States. Prison-guard groups break with organized labor on some issues and sympathize with Republicans rather than Democrats on others. Much of the reason for their power is increasing numbers. Prison building is a growth industry, requiring the hiring of increasing numbers of corrections officers. Not all the fights prison guards take to the legislatures are winners for them, however. The one area in which unions have had much to say but little success is in for- profit corrections management. Corrections unions oppose the privatization of correctional facilities. As crime fears remain at the top of voter concerns, legislators are listening closely. In the short term, both in California and elsewhere, this likely means continued corrections budget growth, tough sentencing measures, and more prison guards.