Correction officers at the Nassau jail have responded to four-gang related slashings since January, including one where the victim's face required hundreds of stitches, according to officials and reports

The violence, from mid-January through early April, is some of the worst in decades, said John Jaronczyk, president of the Nassau County Sheriff's Correction Officers Benevolent Association

"In my 25-year career we've never had a three-month period where we've had four slashings, Jaronczyk said yesterday. He added the jail is experiencing more conflict because of Sheriff Michael Sposato's attempts in the last couple of years to house a decreasing inmate population in fewer housing units to save money on staffing.

As inmates are transferred from lesser populated units and condensed into fewer units, the consolidation, Jaronczyk said, frees up some housing units but creates an "artificial crowding" in the ones to which the inmates are transferred. The practice, he said increases friction among rivals who would not normally come in contact with each other.

"If there's an increase in inmate violence, it could potentially lead to inmates getting injured and also officers getting injured," he said.

But jail officials said they have seen no spike in violence or the severity of injuries. Capt. Michael Golio, speaking for Sheriff Michael Sposato, denied yesterday there was an increase in violence at the East Meadow facility and the premise that any violence was a consequence of a change in housing policy.

Original article by Zachary R. Dowdy. Read more at newsday.com.