Sequestration makes its way to prisons

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - The sequestration cuts could be hitting home soon.

Federal budget cuts have hit across the board.

When you operate one of the nation’s high security prisons, budget cuts to staffing equal cuts to safety.

From April 21st to September 30th more than 700 prison workers at the US Penitentiary in Terre Haute will have to go on furloughs.

This means 14 days forced time off, without pay.

Naturally, that causes a wealth of concerns.

We sat down with David Gardner and Harold Smith.
    
They are the President and Vice President of the local workers union at the prison.
    
They're also correctional officers.

They say this act of congress is huge, in the worst possible way.
    
Not only will each worker lose pay for that time off, but they estimate 10 to 15 percent of the staff will be gone everyday during the furlough period.

They feel that could compromise security.   
    
"Well, we probably work in one of the most dangerous jobs in the country, and I don't think the public understand that we're in a housing unit pretty much all by ourselves with up to 150 inmates and carrying nothing but keys and a radio,” David Gardner, AFGE Local 720 President told us.

The reality is that even though they are against this furlough, there's very little they can do.
    
The workers will try to modify schedules to adjust as best they can, but only congress can reverse the decision.
    
News 10 tried reaching out to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, they were not available for comment.