Lancaster, MA – A disturbing incident resulting in the hospitalization of five correction officers occurred at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Massachusetts. Surveilled footage of the attack, which was released on Friday, vividly captures the alarming moment two officers were ruthlessly stabbed, while three others sustained injuries during the response earlier this week.
The violence has prompted the Massachusetts Correction Officers Federated Union (MCOFU) to demand immediate reforms and a comprehensive security review of all state prisons to ensure the safety of staff and inmates.
According to union officials, the surveillance video, which documents the Wednesday assault, is profoundly shocking. A statement by the union’s executive board expressed their deep concern and anger over the brutality displayed in the attack. But despite their dismay, they confessed that the incident was not entirely unforeseeable, citing continuous warnings given to the Department of Corrections regarding escalating dangers within the facility.
In their statement, the union underscored their astonishment at the officers’ bravery and determination under such perilous conditions. They highlighted the courage of those who, in facing direct danger, not only fought for their own lives but also for the safety of their fellow officers.
The union has been outspoken about the unsafe conditions in the state’s maximum security prisons, where they claim a rise in the presence of weapons and drugs threatens daily operations. Just last month, union president Dennis Martin reported the discovery of numerous homemade weapons made from metal strips sourced from the facility’s freely supplied tablets.
In response to these ongoing security issues, MCOFU is spearheading a push for a full-scale security assessment and policy overhaul within Massachusetts correctional facilities. This initiative calls for collaboration among the Legislative, the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS), and security professionals across the state to protect all those within prison walls.
Martin detailed a horrifying account of the day’s events at a press conference, where he shared that during routine rounds, one officer was stabbed a dozen times in the back, while another suffered a stab wound to the back of the head. Quick reactions from responding officers helped to manage the chaos and ensure their survival, though one of the critically injured remains hospitalized in a stable but serious condition, while his colleagues have been released.
State lawmakers, including Sen. Peter Durant and Rep. Michael Soter, have called for an in-depth investigation into the incident, emphasizing the need to understand fully and address the failures that led to the attack.
This recent violence underlines a critical and growing issue within the state’s penal system, calling into question current safety protocols and the effectiveness of the existing security measures within Massachusetts’ highest-security prisons. Concerned authorities and union representatives are collectively raising their voice to instigate meaningful and prompt changes to safeguard those who serve on the front lines of corrections.