Governor Patrick signed into law the "Bodily Substance" Bill.  This new law provides enhanced protection for all correctional employees from contagious diseases such as MRSA, HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis, etc. by utilizing additional incarceration as a deterent to inmates in assaults by use of bodily substances.

The new law states, any inmate who commits an assault and battery by means of bodily fluids (i.e. blood, mucous, feces, urine, saliva, etc.) on any correctional employee will face an additional period of incarceration.  The statute provides for two and a half years in the house of correction or 10 years in state prison.  It also allows correctional employees to file complaints against inmates directly with the district courts instead of seeking an indictment in superior court.

President Nessinger stated, "This is another great tool to protect our correctional employees and their families.  This law allows the affected employee to file a charge directly with the court regarding the assault.  The jail time is an "on and after" sentence not concurrent with any sentences that an inmate may be currently serving. Its a great deterent and hopefully it reduces the number of assaults on correctional staff."

The NCEU  worked with certain legislators to support and ultimatley pass this law.  It is a significant win for the hard working men and women in corrections.