Lima prison staffing and security questioned in wake of trio’s escape

[alp227]

Source: Toledo Blade

LIMA, Ohio — The escape by three inmates, including the killer of three students in the 2012 Chardon High School shooting rampage, from the Allen Oakwood Correctional Institution drew accusations from union officials about inadequate staffing levels and security problems at the facility.

Christopher Mabe, president of the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association, said officials at the minimum-medium security prison had been warned by unionized correctional officers that an escape had been planned the day before, and the only action taken was to put an inmate in segregation.

“We have some serious concerns about security at this facility and why more was not done after we warned (prison officials) about some major security risks,” he said.

The incident was followed by the escape on Thursday by Thomas ‘TJ’ Lane, who was the Chardon High School shooter, Lindsey Bruce, and Clifford Opperud. All three inmates were apprehended by early Friday. The escape began at 7:38 p.m. Thursday.

Read more: http://www.toledoblade.com/Police-Fire/2014/09/13/Lima-prison-staffing-and-security-questioned-in-wake-of-trio-s-escape.html

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Cleveland Plain Dealer: Union that represents Lima prison guards releases report that warned of inmate escape

[freshwest]

1. They should be called to account. People could have been killed, more than one murderer escaped.

[riversedge]

3. Why is a killer of 3 at a medium security institution??

just wondering if this was normal?

[freshwest]

4. That's what I don't get, either. And wondering if it was privatized and cutting corners?

Having never worked in that sad 'industry,' which should not be treated as it is in the public mind and using the public dollar, I don't know the difference in the levels of prisons. I'm guessing that 'medium' is regular style prison, but them being able to get over a fence seems negligent. Lane and the others had nothing to lose, they were in prison for life and in Lane's case, likely looking for revenge.

[Uncle Joe]

6. It seems so, freshwest, from these two paragraphs.

LIMA, Ohio — The escape by three inmates, including the killer of three students in the 2012 Chardon High School shooting rampage, from the Allen Oakwood Correctional Institution drew accusations from union officials about inadequate staffing levels and security problems at the facility.

(snip)

Following a campaign event, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ed FitzGerald criticized efforts under the Kasich administration to privatize prison services, although he said it’s too soon to know whether that played a role in the escape.


Read more at http://www.toledoblade.com/Police-Fire/2014/09/13/Lima-prison-staffing-and-security-questioned-in-wake-of-trio-s-escape.html#Qrw3LhKR0leIuUHB.99

[rpannier]

2. Do an inquiry

It's a minimum-medium security. There's got to be a few non-violent drug offenders in it.
Release them and focus on the truly dangerous

[murielm99]

5. Better yet,

transfer the escapees to a maximum security prison. That little psychopath has vowed to kill again. He should be in a more secure prison.