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| Ten Inmates Punished Following Disturbance at Va. Women's Prison |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 06/26/2003 |
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The Virginia Department of Corrections is investigating a disturbance at the state's largest women's prison that inmates say was triggered by threats from a correctional officer. Ten inmates were removed from the general prison population and placed in the isolation unit because of the June 11 disturbance at the Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women in Fluvanna County, department spokesman Larry Traylor said Wednesday. Traylor said there were no injuries to staff or inmates. A 'disciplinary offense report' issued by prison officials accused inmate Dana Parsons of 'inciting to riot or rioting' and recommended she be placed in the isolation unit for 30 days and lose 120 days of good time. 'Inmate Parsons engaged in disruptive behavior by jumping on top of a table in the wing, screaming and yelling to inmates, who gathered around her resulting in a table being turned over, mops and brooms, trash can tops and chairs being thrown,' the report said. The report said Parsons was passing out complaint forms to other inmates shortly before the disturbance. 'Inmate Parsons' actions resulted in refusal of the inmates to obey the floor officer,' the report said. Parsons, in a letter to The Associated Press, described the disturbance in the Structured Living Unit as 'a riot in the unit after an officer had an argument with other inmates in the chow hall. The wing was very uncontrollable.' Another inmate placed in the isolation unit because of the disturbance said a male officer in the dining hall was bragging to fellow officers 'how he'd beat us like men.' 'The verbal attack on his part got the 30 or so inmates that came out to eat upset,' Felecia Shearin said. 'Outside the dining hall he walked up on inmates waving his fist saying what he'd do and how he'd do it.' 'Things got out of hand from there on,' Shearin said, and the melee erupted shortly after the inmates were returned to the Structured Living Unit. Traylor said that 'as to the officer's involvement in this situation, it is being addressed at the supervisory level and is considered a personnel matter. 'Because this incident is under investigation, I cannot release any further details,' he said. The Structured Living Unit is a general population housing unit that provides a less restrictive alternative to isolation. Inmates who are frequently assigned to isolation because of bad behavior are candidates for the unit, Traylor said. In addition to controlled movement and a lower inmate to staff ratio, the unit provides programs such as anger management and conflict resolution. Fluvanna County Commonwealth's Attorney Jeff Haislip said there were no legal grounds to bring criminal charges against the inmates. |
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