Protests over closure of Cranston jail

CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) - State correctional officers are protesting the closure of a state prison in Cranston in the name of public safety.

The outcry comes after the general assembly passed a budget that would close the Donald Price Medium Security Prison in order to save $6 million.

The Rhode Island Brotherhood of Correctional Officers have started a new ad campaign slamming the general assembly, asserting that if tragedy strikes, "the blood is on their hands." They object to the prisoners being moved to other facilities, some of which are minimum security.

"They're violating their own classification policy and putting inmates in a facility that's not designed for them, they don't belong there," said David Mellon, president of RIBCO.

However, Corrections Director A.T. Wall says otherwise. "We are looking at each case individually, making very careful decisions. The recommendations are being reviewed by managers and we are going to do this without jeopardizing institutional security or public safety," Wall told Eyewitness News.

The General Assembly released a statement saying that they are confident that the Department of Corrections has the tools and resources to manage these efficiencies in an effective manner.

The deadline to close the building is January 1st.