Prison guards criticize plan to man towers with cameras

An armed guard or a video camera? Which would you rather see on top of the walls at Pennsylvania's maximum security prisons?

The union representing state corrections officers is taking out newspaper ads across the state criticizing a Rendell Administration plan to replace 24-hour armed guards in towers with a system of video cameras.

The ads start out with the provocative question: "Which do you want as your family's last line of defense?" with a guard tower on one side and a video camera on the other.

The Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association says it's a safety issue. Rendell officials say they can save taxpayers about $5 million a year.

Prison guards criticize plan to man towers with cameras - The Mercury

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For more information about the PSCOA, visit the group's Web site.