Lawmakers say they’ve got the Department of Correction’s ear after 66 representatives and senators wrote to Gov. Maura Healey last week asking for immediate action to improve prison safety in the wake of September’s attack at the Souza-Baranowski supermax facility.

The bipartisan and bicameral group of pols, led by Central Massachusetts legislators Rep. Jonathan Zlotnik (D-Gardner), Sen. Michael Moore (D-Millbury), and Rep. Kimberly Ferguson (R-Holden), called for a “commonsense approach” to tackle “recent upticks in violence, assaults, and illegal contraband” in correctional facilities.

“It has come to our attention that routine use of DOC Tactical Response Units to execute comprehensive searches has become exceedingly rare in recent years,” wrote the 66 officials, including Senate Majority Whip Michael Rush (D-Boston) and House Minority Leader Bradley Jones Jr. (R-North Reading).

Five correction officers at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley were injured and taken to hospitals after three inmates allegedly stabbed two COs, then attacked three others as a brawl continued on Sept. 18, captured on security footage.

The alleged assailants, Heriberto Rivera-Negron, Jose Crespo and Jeffrey Tapia  have been charged with mayhem, armed assault to murder, and assault to murder, according to the Department of Correction.

“In my opinion, and hopefully the opinion of everyone else who signed onto the letter, this is a comprehensive look at safety for everyone in there,” Moore told the News Service. “Not just for COs, not just the administrative staff. It’s to protect the inmates, also. There have been some serious injuries that have resulted recently that we haven’t seen publicized, and I think people don’t know are happening.”

Department of Correction communications manager Scott Croteau told the News Service last week that DOC was reviewing the letter, though Ferguson and Moore said they already received some outreach.

DOC invited lawmakers to a private informational meeting, slated this week, the lawmakers said.

“It was in response to the letter, so we’re pleased about that — that they took it seriously and would like to chat with us. And we’ll go from there,” she said.

Moore said he hoped lawmakers would be able to ask questions at the meeting and better define the path forward.

In a statement, the correction officers’ union said they were pleased to get backup from a bipartisan group of elected officials.

Lawmakers say they’ve got the Department of Correction’s ear after 66 representatives and senators wrote to Gov. Maura Healey last week asking for immediate action to improve prison safety in the wake of September’s attack at the Souza-Baranowski supermax facility.

The bipartisan and bicameral group of pols, led by Central Massachusetts legislators Rep. Jonathan Zlotnik (D-Gardner), Sen. Michael Moore (D-Millbury), and Rep. Kimberly Ferguson (R-Holden), called for a “commonsense approach” to tackle “recent upticks in violence, assaults, and illegal contraband” in correctional facilities.

“It has come to our attention that routine use of DOC Tactical Response Units to execute comprehensive searches has become exceedingly rare in recent years,” wrote the 66 officials, including Senate Majority Whip Michael Rush (D-Boston) and House Minority Leader Bradley Jones Jr. (R-North Reading).

Five correction officers at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley were injured and taken to hospitals after three inmates allegedly stabbed two COs, then attacked three others as a brawl continued on Sept. 18, captured on security footage.

The alleged assailants, Heriberto Rivera-Negron, Jose Crespo and Jeffrey Tapia  have been charged with mayhem, armed assault to murder, and assault to murder, according to the Department of Correction.

“In my opinion, and hopefully the opinion of everyone else who signed onto the letter, this is a comprehensive look at safety for everyone in there,” Moore told the News Service. “Not just for COs, not just the administrative staff. It’s to protect the inmates, also. There have been some serious injuries that have resulted recently that we haven’t seen publicized, and I think people don’t know are happening.”

Department of Correction communications manager Scott Croteau told the News Service last week that DOC was reviewing the letter, though Ferguson and Moore said they already received some outreach.

DOC invited lawmakers to a private informational meeting, slated this week, the lawmakers said.

“It was in response to the letter, so we’re pleased about that — that they took it seriously and would like to chat with us. And we’ll go from there,” she said.

Moore said he hoped lawmakers would be able to ask questions at the meeting and better define the path forward.

In a statement, the correction officers’ union said they were pleased to get backup from a bipartisan group of elected officials.