Category: Prisons
-
Behind Bars
(Published in the February 2011 issue of Stitches Magazine) Many U.S. prison systems allow inmates to work in in-house embroidery shops that service external clients. Brilliant rehab move or way to undercut competitors? It depends who you ask. By Daniel Walsh Pam Elliott sits at a computer in her workshop in Billings, MT, working on […]
-
Letters detail plans for state prison uprisings, murder
(Published in The Press of Atlantic City on Wednesday, June 21, 2006.) Letters found in a convicted killer’s prison cell indicate inmates have guns and cell phones available to coordinate uprisings at four state prisons and the subsequent attempt on the life of Newark Mayor-elect Cory Booker. The letters, found in the Rahway prison cell […]
-
Bridgeton prison increases security
(Published in The Press of Atlantic City on Tuesday, June 20, 2006.) Security was increased Monday at four state prisons as officers investigated a threat of simultaneous, armed prison uprisings and alleged attempts to organize the assassination of Newark Mayor-elect Cory Booker. The state Department of Corrections slashed inmate activities and movements as officers searched […]
-
One year later, no consensus on battle at Bayside
(Published in The Press of Atlantic City on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2005.) MAURICE RIVER TOWNSHIP It all started over a bag of chicken. Corrections Officer James Kita moved to frisk convicted drug dealer Omar McCray at the entrance to Bayside State Prison’s D trailer just before 4:40 p.m. Jan. 1. McCray had brought at least […]
-
Documents dispute DOC claims about Bayside melee
(Published in The Press of Atlantic City on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2005.) Department of Corrections documents contradict some findings of an internal DOC investigation that found only four inmates took part in the New Year’s Day violence at Bayside State Prison. A DOC spokeswoman acknowledged Monday more than four inmates could have taken part in […]
-
Bayside prison hearing gets only administration’s version
(Published in The Press of Atlantic City on Friday, Feb. 4, 2005.) TRENTON Department of Corrections Commissioner Devon Brown testified that only four inmates caused New Year’s Day violence at Bayside State Prison, while three injured eyewitnesses who contended otherwise were not heard at Tuesday’s state Senate hearing. Brown told the Senate Law and Public […]
-
Officers union says DOC covering up riot
(Published in The Press of Atlantic City on Jan. 7, 2005.) MAURICE RIVER TOWNSHIP It was a riot. It began Saturday afternoon with a standard frisk for contraband – food, in this case – in a Bayside State Prison dorm’s common room. One inmate didn’t like it, decked the corrections officer and yelled, “Rat-a-tat-tat! Blood […]