In February 2013, Federal Corrections Officer Eric Williams was brutally murdered by an inmate at USP Canaan. Eric was my son. As a result of this tragedy, my family members and I set out to seek justice for Eric’s death. The justice I sought was in the form of improving the safety conditions for federal corrections officers. At that time, a newly elected congressman, Matt Cartwright, was very impacted over Eric’s murder, and was concerned over the lack of safety equipment in our federal prisons—equipment which could have saved Eric’s life. 

Upon learning that Eric, like all corrections officers then, was unarmed at the time of his murder, Congressman Cartwright sponsored a bill in the House of Representatives calling for the provision of pepper spray in federal prisons. 

The pepper spray bill passed, but Congressman Cartwright stayed the course. He became a champion for the corrections officers and has introduced multiple bills to help improve the safety of our federal prisons and for those employed there. He has fought for and obtained money to improve staffing and has been a strong and vocal leader in the effort to have the Federal Bureau of Prisons bring their staffing levels up to safety standards. Congressman Cartwright supported an advocacy group I formed to raise awareness of the safety issues for corrections officers. He followed through on every single promise he ever made. 

As the father of a fallen Federal Corrections Officer, I would be remiss if I did not let the constituents of Congressman Cartwright know what this man has done for the memory of my son, and for the safety of all corrections officers. 

Don Williams is the father of fallen Federal Corrections Officer Eric Williams. He lives in Nanticoke, PA.