The imposing, castle-like architecture of the front of Marquette Branch Prison is shown. (Journal file photo)

MARQUETTE — A corrections officer at Marquette Branch Prison on Monday was assaulted by an inmate.

“On Monday, July 6, a prisoner at the Marquette Branch Prison stabbed a corrections officer in the face with a prison-made weapon and punched another corrections officer in the face when he came to the aide of the other officer,” said a statement from Ken Holan, Marquette Branch Prison chapter president of the Michigan Corrections Association.

“The repeated assaults committed by prisoners against corrections officers is a constant reminder of the fact that the Michigan Department of Corrections has major problems with its security classification process and its lack of adequate segregation beds and high security level prisons.

“In this latest incident, the prisoner was returning from an outdoor yard period when he violently attacked these officers.”

“The MDOC’s security classification system is putting our correction officers and facility staff at risk,” said Tim Fleury, vice president of the Michigan Corrections Association. “This prisoner’s recent behavior and threats to assault staff warranted him to be in segregation and was approved for segregation placement by the local administration only to be denied by MDOC Central Office.

“It’s bad enough to have to work excessive overtime during this staffing crisis but also have to deal with prisoners who aren’t being housed at the correct security level. MCO has been requesting MDOC convert some level 4 facilities to level 5 to add additional segregation space.”

The state of Michigan has three, level 5 correctional facilities, and two of them are in the U.P. — Marquette Branch Prison and Baraga Correctional Facility.

MDOC also released a statement in response to the assault.

The officer “sustained no injuries consistent with the use of a sharp weapon,” according to the MDOC statement. “Multiple officers came to aid in restraining the prisoner. One of those officers also sustained injuries, but it is unknown if it was caused by a weapon. The two officers were sent to UP Health System for assessment and treatment for minor injuries after the altercation, but were not admitted.

“The Michigan Department of Corrections appreciates the dedication and commitment of these officers, and all officers across the state, who use their training and experience to keep Michigan communities safe.”

The assault came at a time where the Upper Peninsula is experiencing a shortage of corrections officers. In May, MDOC announced an increased pay rate of approximately $10,000 per year for new corrections officer recruits at five Upper Peninsula correctional facilities — Baraga Correctional Facility, Alger Correctional Facility, Kinross Correctional Facility, Chippewa Correctional Facility and Marquette Branch Prison. The pay increase was implemented to improve recruitment and retention.

“The department has been working to increase the number of higher security beds in the state and announced the addition of 190 new level 4 beds at Macomb Correctional Facility in March,” said MDOC’s statement. “The addition will allow for closer supervision, more limited movement and ultimately increased safety for officers and the prisoner population. The transition will also allow for further opportunities, which the department is currently working on, to optimize prisoner bed space availability across the state to meet the evolving management needs of the modern prison population.”

Annie Lippert can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. Her email address is alippert@miningjournal.net.