|
|
| N.H. Prison Commissioner Admits Mistakes Were Made Leading to Escape |
| By WMUR |
| Published: 07/03/2003 |
|
The commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Corrections admitted Wednesday that mistakes were made leading up to the escape of three inmates from the state prison last month. In the wake of a report from the Attorney General's Office on the escape, Commissioner Phil Stanley said there wasn't enough security staff in the building trades area where the inmates broke free. Staffing was reduced, and the watchtowers in the area were unmanned. 'Here was probably a situation where we did not make the right decision,' Stanley said. Stanley said he has permanently closed off the area where the escape began and is moving the trades program to a more secure location. It will now only be available to minimum-security inmates. The attorney general's report pointed out two red flags that might have prevented the escape. A bolt cutter was found inside the prison fence a week before the escape, and a tip about the pending escape came the night before the three broke out. 'Tidbits of information that come our way are not broadcast across the institution until we corroborate the information,' Stanley said. Stanley said a lack of funding is the reason surveillance cameras weren't covering the area and the fence wasn't electronically wired. But he denied claims the prisons are understaffed. He said the system just needs to make sure the right people are in the right places. Stanley has asked a national corrections group to audit the prison system next week. |
advertise
|
privacy policy
|
add URL
|
about us
|
terms/disclaimer
|
contact us
|
join our team
|
help
Comments:
No comments have been posted for this article.
Login to let us know what you think