Inmate killings under scrutiny

[lizzi0067]

Sunday, April 18, 2004

Inmate killings under scrutiny

By Kurt Erickson



SPRINGFIELD -- Four Illinois prison inmates were killed by their cellmates in the past eight months, causing alarm bells to ring among corrections officials, a prison watchdog group and the state's largest public sector union.
The four homicides, two of which remain under investigation, have drawn attention because only four prisoners died under similar circumstances in the previous five years.

"There's something going on," said James "Chip" Coldren, executive director of the John Howard Association, a Chicago-based prison watchdog group. "We are concerned about any deaths behind bars."

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31, which represents the bulk of the Illinois Department of Corrections' 14,000 workers, also is keeping a close eye on the numbers, saying the violence might be caused by staffing shortages.

"There is activity on the uptick," said AFSCME's Buddy Maupin, who oversees labor issues in the state's sprawling prison system.

A spokesman for IDOC acknowledged that the spike has resulted in corrections officials studying what may have led to the slayings.

"I won't tell you that it isn't a concern to us," Sergio Molina said.

The latest inmate killing came March 26 at Western Illinois Correctional Center. Prisoner Michael J. Robinson, 33, was found with multiple stab wounds outside a cell. Authorities are investigating the incident.

In late February, a 22-year-old Menard Correctional Center inmate was found dead in a cell he shared with another inmate. Prison officials investigating Joshua Daczewitz's death saying he may have been strangled.

Also in February, Stateville Correctional Center inmate Riley McLarin, 18, was found killed in his cell. Department of Corrections records don't indicate how he died.

In August, another Stateville inmate, Andrew Clark, died after being strangled by a fellow inmate.

Before those incidents occurred, there had not been an inmate murdered by another inmate in an Illinois prison for nearly two years.

There were only three other inmate murders dating to 1997. None of them was a prisoner at the Pontiac, Dwight, Logan or Lincoln facilities.

Molina said the common denominator in all of the homicides is that the victims were killed by their cellmates. In three of the cases, the incidents occurred in the cells, meaning understaffing shouldn't have been a factor in the deaths.

The latest homicide, however, occurred outside Robinson's cell at Western Illinois Correctional Center in Mount Sterling.

"The issue at Western, if someone tells you there is not enough staff, I could argue that point because I know how many staff were in the cell house," Molina said. "I don't know how more staff in the cell house with the first three cases would have stopped what happened in those cells."

Correctional-officer staffing has dropped at the agency, but Molina said officials are in the process of boosting the number of front-line workers.

The department also has been undergoing changes among its top administrators since Gov. Rod Blagojevich took office. Donald Snyder, who ran the department under former Gov. George Ryan, was replaced by former Cook County Jail Superintendent Ernesto Velasco.

Velasco, however, quickly was replaced by former Macon County Sheriff Roger Walker. In addition, one of Blagojevich's close aides, Deanna Benos, was transferred to the department to serve as assistant director under Walker.

Molina said he doesn't believe changes in top brass are playing a role in the recent spate of murders.

"I don't believe that's been a component here," Molina said. "Those incidents could happen at any time."

In response to the deaths, the agency is investigating whether officials need to improve how they match cellmates in the future.

"There is a process that we go through to try to match up people as appropriately as we can, but it's not a perfect science," Molina said. "We may discover that we went through all the steps appropriately and it still happened."

Coldren said the John Howard Association wants more information on other inmate deaths in the system. For example, his organization surveyed operations at the maximum-security Pontiac facility in the wake of the death of inmate Preston McDowell.

McDowell died in a Peoria hospital in October after being removed from his cell by guards.

Figures provided by corrections officials did not detail those types of deaths among inmates.

"That's something we want to look at more closely," Coldren said.

[Rostonhall]

And if you really believe that the John Howard Association will pay anymore than lip service to this 'problem' then you'll believe that pigs can fly!!!

Rose

[jdswifey02]

I hate to have to agree with you.... because I think the IDOC could really USE a "watch dog group" on their booties... but JHA is definitely not the group....

I learned the truth about that organization when I worked within the walls and saw them come for a visit.... you could tell the very IDEA of having to speak to an inmate intimidated and frightened the John Howard Association representatives that visited the facility I was at... At most they said "hi" and "how are you"... but didn't wait for an honest response from the inmate!! They spent ALL of their time smoozin' with the white shirts and other administration!!

[Rostonhall]

And that's exactly what I've been told about the JHA. They suck up to the people who run the prisons and put in glowing reports just so they can pick up the $$$ from all the subsidies they get!! It's such a shame because there's such a need for an honest prison reform group.

Rose

[alanmill]

We have much info on this death--but no hint of family member to follow up with. Any ideas?

[jude]

Does anyone know who he shared his cell with, or any of his neighbours? Maybe they could throw some light on if he had family or friends

[jimsenglishgeek]

I don't believe he had been there very long. I think he was in on a fairly short gig, 7 years or something for burglary? He had been sent from a medium facility due to disciplinary problems, and was put in with a cellie who was a violent offender. The cellie killed him and then went to bed. That's the scuttlebutt anyway.

[Rostonhall]

Welcome back, jim's. You are, of course, referring to the Menard death.

Which one do you need info on alanmill? There are a couple mentioned in the article.

[jimsenglishgeek]

Yes, that's true. I am referring to the Menard killing for sure. Thanks, Rose, and yes I'm back, but leaving again for my trip! I got into an accident which put me out of commission for a bit but I'm well on the mend now.

[Rostonhall]

So sorry to hear that, we have missed you here.

Rose

[alanmill]

I was referring to the Menard death--Joshua Daczewitz. I have heard from a couple of his neighbors at Menard, but no info yet on his family--and the DOC took his info off the website, so I don't even know what county he was convicted in!

[lizzi0067]

I havent read any articles on this lately, or even just on him. Which is a shame. Seems tho the family of the inmate that froze to death around christmas time at Menard is pushing the issue.
No matter what excuse the DOC gives for their lack of supervision, somethings gotta give sooner or later. I just hope it wont take another incident to make it happen.

[Rostonhall]

The Chicago Tribune covered this death, so I should think you'd be able to get whatever you need from them. It's far too sensitive an issue to be discussed in an open forum. If you have that much info then surely, as an attorney (as your profile states) you'd know exactly what to do with it, and who you should contact. Or am I missing something here???

Rose

[CET]

sorry to hear about your accident jim'sgeek!