FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — Correctional officers in Fresno and San Joaquin counties are pushing for a change in state law that would recognize them as “peace officers,” a designation supporters say would expand protections and benefits without adding costs to taxpayers.

A new assembly bill headed to the state Legislature would add Fresno County and San Joaquin County correctional officers to the list of correctional officers considered peace officers.

“It’s about protection. It’s about safety. It’s about equity,” Ricardo Necochea, a Fresno County senior correction officer, said.

Correctional officers in Fresno and San Joaquin counties are pushing for a change in state law that would recognize them as “peace officers,” a designation supporters say would expand protections and benefits without adding costs to taxpayers (FOX26).{ }

Peace officers are civil servants whose duty is to preserve the public peace, a label typically used for police officers.

Supporters of the bill say more counties across California are moving to recognize correctional officers in the same way.

Ruben Rodriguez of the San Joaquin County Correctional Officers Association said correctional officers’ responsibilities have expanded and require them to adapt constantly inside facilities.

“Correctional officers today have to wear many hats, our duties are not linear at all in the least,” Rodriguez said. “Correctional officers are having to be very dynamic in the way that they maintain control, the way they maintain authority in the way.”

Bill supporters pointed to legislation passed in 2011 that shifted supervision of non-violent, non-serious and non-sex offenders to the local county level, saying conditions became more difficult for county correctional staff after that change.

Rodriguez said maintaining order inside facilities depends on correctional officers’ daily work.

“For every moment that we don’t have a full-on riot in any of our Correctional facilities is because there are correction officers that are maintaining the peace,” Rodriguez said. “There are correction officers that are bringing peace to those units.”

Currently, correctional officers are considered “public officers.”

Supporters say changing their status to “peace officers” would ensure protections such as critical injury and death benefits, survivor protections and allow certain correctional officers to carry a weapon.

Rodriguez said the lack of those provisions affects hiring and retention.

“It’s hard to hire Correctional staff and retain them when they can see other areas that have those protections in place for them,” Rodriguez said.

The proposal is also referred to as the “Scanlon bill,” referencing a correctional officer who was injured in an incident in 2016 and later died due to his injuries in 2021.

Supporters said that if the county had recognized him as a peace officer, his name would be included on the Fresno County Peace Memorial.

“He did put his life on the line.” Necochea said. “He tried to control the subject with a taser, but he didn’t win.”

Necochea said the public often does not see the risks officers face inside jails.

Necochea also spoke about the people in custody.

“They’re human beings, they have families, they have mothers, they have fathers,” Necochea said. “Maybe they’re currently at a rough time on their life right now.”

Under the proposed change, supporters said that if a correctional officer were assaulted, it could be considered a felony instead of a misdemeanor.

Necochea said the bill is not about expanding authority.

“It’s about protection, it’s about safety, it’s about equity,” Necochea said. “That’s what it’s about It’s not about a power grab,”

Rodriguez said the designation would provide reassurance for officers and their families.

“It takes those protections in the mind of an officer to know that in the worst case scenario where maybe, ‘I may not make it home, at least my family is going to be taken care of and at least my sacrifice will be honored and in the best way that it can be,'” Rodriguez said. “That’s a piece of mind.”

Officers leading the bill said the name change would require no additional training and would not cost taxpayers anything.

They also said they have received support from Fresno County supervisors, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and Fresno city councilmembers.

The bill is set to be heard on Tuesday, March 24.

41 counties listed on the bill already consider their correctional officers to be peace officers.