UPDATE
A lockdown at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison was caused by a staffer.
Prison officials said a staffer smuggled contraband into the penitentiary and executive officer for the Iowa Department of Corrections, Fred Scaletta, said in a statement on March 21, that the security breech is under investigation and the staffer is on administrative leave.
The penitentiary's maximum security unit has been on lockdown since March 12. The unit holds about 560 prisoners, many serving life sentences for rape and murder.
Union president Danny Homan says Thursday the prison is understaffed and dangerous. Homan represents correctional officers in Iowa Council 61 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
Prison officials responded by saying they have worked to reduce the prison population and improve the ratio of guards to inmates.
ORIGINAL STORY
The state prison in Fort Madison, Iowa is on lockdown for what the Iowa Department of Correction is describing as a breach of security.
There have been no violent incidents and the staff and inmates are in no immanent danger, but officials say contraband was found amongst the population.
The DOC says the lockdown only involves the maximum-security unit and does not apply to the penitentiary's medium-security unit or the Clinical Care Unit.
The unit has been on lockdown since March 12, 2013.
