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State Senator John A. Kissel today
is calling for a full investigation into the apparent
escalating violence at Northern Correctional Institution
in Somers, Connecticut’s super max prison. Following
news that yet another instance of violence occurred
at Northern last night, resulting in an inmate death,
Sen. Kissel called for a top to bottom
investigation.
“Our super max facility is supposed to be the
most secure prison in the state,” said
Sen. Kissel. “But in just the past month
alone they’ve had three serious instances of violence
and now someone is dead. Something is not right here.
If you can’t be safe in a prison with the highest
level of security, something is wrong. There needs to
be an immediate and comprehensive investigation into
the safety plan at Northern.”
In a letter to acting Commissioner Brian Murphy, Sen.
Kissel expressed the same concerns and asked the state
Department of Correction to immediately begin an investigation.
“Just last week an inmate was found dead from
an apparent suicide,” said Sen. Kissel.
“Why wasn’t he on suicide watch? And two
weeks before that, four correctional officers were assaulted
by an inmate. Back in June a CO was assaulted and needed
medical attention.”
“Something needs to be done,” said
Sen. Kissel. “The level of violence we
are seeing right now at Northern appears unprecedented.
I have not seen anything like this at any of the other
five prisons in my district, yet Northern is supposed
to have the highest level of security. I understand
that the inmates at Northern are among the most dangerous
and violent in the state, but that’s why they’re
at a super max. No one should have to go to work in
fear of being assaulted by an inmate and quite frankly,
no inmate should have to be in fear of his life.”
Read Letter to
Acting Commissioner Brian Murphy from Senator Kissel
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