A major riot took place at the Raymond Detention Center in April when power failed and the emergency generators ran out of fuel. No media covered the April riot. The Sheriff issued no statements or press releases about the riot. However, buried in the 100+ pages of the Jail Monitor's June report is a report on the riot. The monitor reported:
In fact, a major riot occurred in Pod A on April 19, 2019, during which the inmates from three of the four housing units broke out and attempted to take over the pod control room. (p.15)...
Excessive turnover of staff continues to be a problem, particularly at the RDC where none of the housing units are staffed, leaving inmates unattended and unsupervised.
On April 19, 2019, a major riot occurred at the RDC. (Incident Report # 1900748) During a storm, all power to the facility was lost. At that time the emergency generator kicked on and, for a while, operations continued as usual until the generator shut down several hours later. Apparently, no one had tracked of the fuel level in the emergency generator tank and it ran out of gas. At that time, with absolutely no lighting in the facility except for hand held flashlights, the inmates in Pod A broke out of Housing Units 1, 2 and 3. The inmates in HU 4 refused to come out, possibly because an inmate in their unit had been stabbed eight times earlier in the day. Over 100 inmates did their best to break into the control room by pulling open the door and by going up into the ceiling. Fortunately, neither effort succeeded, but the officers in the control room had to physically hold the sliding door shut because the locking mechanism could be overridden manually. When command staff and backup arrived to assist, they were unable to open the main entrance to the facility with keys because the locks require electricity to function.
This critical design flaw must be rectified immediately. During the May site visit the Corrections Operations member of the monitoring team asked for a copy of the After Action Report regarding this serious incident. None had been prepared, however, command staff immediately set to work and a comprehensive After Action Report, involving appropriate personnel, was provided to the Monitor. (p.28)...
A transcript of the monitor's court testimony provides more information as well:
The Justice Department submitted the exhibit as part of a motion to show cause against Sheriff Victor Mason and Hinds County. The agency asked U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves to hold the defendants in contempt for violating a consent decree for the operation of the Hinds County detention centers.
Three of the housing units managed to leave their unit and get into the common area of the pod and were attempting to get into the control room, and so it was out of control for some period of time.
And four or five lines from this incident report: The inmates can somehow unlock the cage door. The inmates from A-3, one of the housing units, were the first to jimmy the cage door open. They then forced the exterior door open, which has been broken with the exterior cover off for months. Once they got out, they ran and opened A-2 and A-1. These doors are also broken and have to be opened by hand from the horseshoe. It's part of the common area. All of the doors in A Pod are broken and maintenance is waiting on parts. They then tried to get into A-4, but the inmates in A-4 kept them from getting into their housing unit.
The inmates tore down the cameras and exit signs in the horseshoe area. Detention officers had locked themselves in the control room. The inmates were physically pulling on the pod control doors, but the officers were holding them shut. These doors are also broken and can be opened manually from the horseshoe.
The inmates then went into the old visitation room. The door is also broken, and pried open the wire-mesh ceiling cage door. They then attempted to -- they got into the ceiling. They attempted to go through the ceiling to get into the control room. They were unable to do that. They went back, and the incident proceeded. It was eventually under control....
Most recently, again on the same day as the riot, the incident I had mentioned earlier, there was an inmate-on-inmate assault where the inmate had eight stab wounds and had to go out to the hospital with pretty serious injuries...
Kingfish note: Failure to check generator fuel, no after action reports, no public acknowledgement of riot. Incompetence. Pure incompetence.
23 comments:
That's exactly how government operates in a Banana Republic. Zero transparency, always CYA. We haven't got to the point where people are being executed for exposing the incompetence of leadership yet.
I also suspect within a decade using the term "Banana Republic" will be considered offensive.
Kingfish: In your opinion, what's the answer to the repetitive problems at this facility?
I agree. In the near future "banana republic" will become non-PC, just like "gorilla tape."
Once the PC Police (libtards, MSM, progressives, socialists, left-wing politicians) have spoken, it because the law, and you vill komply!
We need the dang national guard to come in and take over that jail.
This is not mere incompetence. At this point, it is gross malfeasance.
If you live in Hinds county, and can afford to move, move. It isn't getting any better and it won't get any better. Sad, but true. I know. I lived in Hinds county, went to church and school in Hinds county, and worked in Hinds county. I moved north (Madison) and have not had a moment of regret.
There is simply no way the current sheriff or the Board of Supervisors can operate Hinds County safely and efficiently within their current budget constraints. Same thing with Jackson. They need millions and millions more money to fuel their idea of government. The problem is, THEIR idea of government drives off the money and they can't get blood from a turnip or taxes from people who don't have it. So you end up with a jail run by the inmates and streets that resemble a bombing range. If they build a new jail it will be the same thing, pay twice as much for half the value, in a county that's broke. But the sheriff, the board, the clerks, the councilmen etc. all have jobs, so that's something, right?
We need a new jail. Period. Downtown. If the county doesn't have the money, then perhaps the state should include funding in a bond bill.... with one caveat. DFA is in charge of the construction. Hinds had its chance and blew it. Hinds needs a large, functioning jail. The surrounding burbs and counties have a vested interest in this. They have to spend much more money on more police. Jackson crime spills over into their areas. One reason there is catch and release is because of the jail (and the D.A. and the judges). Too many prisoners have been killed in that jail as well.
Don't say it can't be done. The Madison County Detention Center is run very efficiently and actually is an asset in the county. I drive by it often, but I wouldn't drive by the Hinds unit without locking my doors. Hinds County people, It isn't just going away.
@10:49 & KF, well said.
What is everyone up in arms about. The RDC, Hinds County, Jackson are what they are and we all know why. Things ain't gonna get any better. The ignorant, racist voters in Jackson and Hinds County keep electing the same incompetent people because the competent people running for office are the wrong color. Folks this is the way it is and it is the way it is gonna be.
I don't see anywhere where the inmates that broke all of the county property were charged with a crime and sent to a higher security prison for that action.
Several tv stations were told about the riot back in April. however, the Sheriff told them it was just a small fight between a couple of inmates and wouldn't confirm anything.
Imagine the horror of the guards. Dark, flashlights, probably not armed. 100 guards trying to invade the control center known as Mason's Bluff.
There is no way in hell the National Guard can be mobilized in Jackson. No way the Governor nor the President would ever order it. Lumumba Jr and the council would never ask the government to send in troops.
With all the feel good crap of prison reform getting play on both sides of the aisle, the Feds aren’t going put a smack down on the jail, sheriff or county
It’s just a lose / lose situation.
Jesus what a shitshow. I'll be interested to see what comes down the pipe from US District Judge Carl Reeves.
Madison County Jail is run better than any detention center in the state! Kudos to everyone that takes a part in running it to keep the citizens of this county safer!
Believe it or not it all starts with the people. The people vote and this is what we have. Honest, hard working people will vote into office honest hard working people. The people get what they ask for.
2:17, the issue is not how well the DC is run, its how quickly the DA gets people out and passes them over to MDOC. The Madison-Rankin DA is going a good job and always has. Hinds biggest issue is people rot in their detention center because the DA won't move them.
Why not construct a regional jail and pay the guards a living wage?
If all the Hinds County Politicians are smelling ass and cat, we are wasting our time talking about the freaking jail conditions. Just a matter of time before one of the guards get hurt real bad. Then, they will have a meeting and say, “ We have a real problem, why wasn’t I informed”.
Is that leadership or lack of? I really feel sorry for the Correctional Deputies in Hinds County.
Why not construct a regional jail and pay the guards a living wage?
Don't need to wait on a regional jail to start paying the guards a "living wage".
Don't expect the taxpayers in surrounding communities/counties to pay to clean up the Jackson/Hinds mess.
4:30 - Nope. Plenty of people in Madison County detention center that have been there a significant amount of time and the DA isn't pushing to get them out. They also house federal inmates and inmates from other cities/counties that Madison/Rankin DA has no say-so about. The DA has absolutely no impact on how a jail is managed. KUDOS to all of the employees at Madison County Detention Center and to the leadership there that keeps it safe and secure!
Hinds County doesn’t have enough competent voters to elect capable government. It will deteriorate completely until nothing but criminals are left
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