Rec yard fights leave two inmates slashed at Clinton Correctional

DANNEMORA | Days after two officers suffered lacerations in an inmate attack, union officials said multiple fights in the recreation yard at Clinton Correctional Facility recently left two inmates injured by contraband weapons. Officials with the New York State Police and Benevolent Association said the latest violence unfolded at the maximum-security prison Nov. 2 when three inmates began fighting in the rec yard. As they attempted to intervene, officers noticed one inmate making slashing motions and another bloodied as officers administered OC spray to quell the mayhem. The three inmates were handcuffed and brought to the medical facility, where one inmate was found to have been slashed on both sides of his head, leaving two 10-inch lacerations. After restoring order in the yard, staff observed the remaining inmates grouping up and within seconds three separate fights erupted. The inmates reportedly refused orders to stop, again prompting use of OC spray until the violence ceased. All inmates were then removed from the yard as those injured were taken to the medical facility. One inmate suffered a laceration to his head and two puncture wounds to his cheek, consistent with a make-shift weapon, which was not recovered. Several inmates now face disciplinary action. After the attacks, NYSCOPBA Northern Region Vice President John Roberts said "I think one aspect of the violence inside correctional facilities that gets lost on our elected officials and advocates who have pushed for a reduction in discipline is that discipline not only serves as a deterrent for inmates to not attack staff, it also serves as a deterrent against inmate on inmate attacks." "The same inmates the legislators want to protect are also the ones that become targets for violent attacks with a disciplinary system that has been severely weakened by their ill-conceived policies. All they have done is created a more dangerous environment for everyone."

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Rec yard fights leave two inmates slashed at Clinton Correctional

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