On September 18, 2024, three inmates attacked five officers at the maximum-security Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Massachusetts. Two officers were repeatedly stabbed, with one being stabbed 12 times and sustaining a punctured lung. Three additional officers were injured while responding to the incident.
First of all, our prayers go out to those injured officers and their families. Before we review this incident, I want to point out that no one knows what they would do in this situation. We must take every incident, review it and learn from it.
Correctional officers run the risk of being blindsided by an inmate every day, which is why being a correctional officer is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. As security staff and managers, we may never be able to go without a critical incident occurring in a prison or jail environment. We can, however, learn from each incident and each other. Reviewing each individual incident will help us provide the proper training and make appropriate changes to adjust to our safety and security needs.
Questions to ask after a critical incident for safety and security training and support include:
- What was occurring before the incident started?
- What happened during the incident?
- What happened after the incident?
- What can we learn from this incident and move forward?
- How can we provide more support and better training for our officers’ safety?
The assault on Souza-Baranowski officers
In the video below, an officer is walking his dorm, making his rounds when it appears an inmate sitting at a table distracts him, causing him to expose his back to an inmate standing at a cell door. Once the officer’s back is turned, the inmate standing in the doorway blindside attacks the officer and punches/stabs the officer continuously.
The officer takes the inmate down, and a second inmate runs in and attacks the officer as well. At that point, a second officer arrives and assists the first officer, and then a third officer arrives to assist.
A third inmate moves in with what appears to be a weapon and attacks the officers. After a few moments, several officers arrive to assist and take control of the inmates and their weapons.
What areas should we concentrate on for training after this incident?
There are several areas to consider following an inmate assault on correctional officers of this magnitude:
Situational awareness: Know your surroundings and understand threats and how to avoid them. The inmate standing in the cell door with his arms crossed is a “red flag.” Consider the following:
- What is he up to?
- What is he hiding?
- Move away from the inmate and evaluate the situation.
Beware of the distraction game: In this video, the officer turns to talk to an inmate sitting at a table, leaving his back exposed to the inmate standing in the cell doorway:
- Was the inmate sitting at the table involved in setting up an ambush?
- The inmate at the table should be considered a suspect during the criminal investigation.
Keep your distance: When caught standing between two inmates, step back and face both of them.
Mentally prepare for an attack: Train your staff to role-play dangerous scenarios in their minds while on duty. It is good practice for an officer to go over different scenarios in the mind and prepare for inmate attacks.
Role-play training: Use realistic situations during training to help officers learn and understand what they may face during their careers.
Always expect the unexpected: As officers, we never know what is going on inside the mind of an inmate. As an officer, you must always stay alert and not let “complacency” set in and get the best of you. Nothing in corrections is guaranteed, and our safety is always at risk.
Conduct a workforce analysis: It never hurts to update your workforce through a study. This can help your agency reevaluate its staffing and properly place officers as security needs dictate.
Response time: In my opinion, the response time was as good as it could be. The first two backup officers got in quickly, and the other responding officers coming from throughout the facility arrived in a timely manner. The inmates were taken under control promptly.
Training recommendations
In class or online, my must-do list for training includes:
- Situational awareness
- Inmate manipulation
- Complacency
- Random cell searches, pat downs and shakedowns
- Responding to calls for backup
- Physical fitness training for correctional officers
- Role-play, real-life scenario training
The dangers are real in corrections; never let your guard down. Watch out for each other and stay safe.
