Page 6 - ARUBA TODAY

A6 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 18 July 2018

Report touts progress, but riot survivor blames officials

By RANDALL CHASE tives and six correctional ered with blood. ... I didn't
Associated Press staffers. In settling, state of- know whose blood it was,"
HOCKESSIN, Del. (AP) — ficials didn't acknowledge she said.
Patricia May had a feel- any wrongdoing. An inmate later held a
ing of dread when she But the review found that phone or radio to her
reported to work at Dela- prison administrators dis- head, ordering her to ex-
ware's maximum-security missed warnings of trou- plain "how serious this is."
prison last year. For months, ble, including Floyd's plea "There's blood everywhere,"
she'd worried about her to move some inmates to May said numbly, unable
safety after being assigned another building for secu- to think of a better way to
to C Building at James T. rity. That was indicative of explain.
Vaughn Correctional Cen- an overcrowded, under- In an effort to calm May, a
ter in Smyrna. staffed facility plagued Christian, inmates brought
As she walked to her office by mismanagement, poor her a Bible. She clutched it
Feb. 1, 2017, the veteran communication, a culture to her chest. Too nervous to
Department of Correction of negativity, and adver- eat, she declined food.
counselor voiced her con- sarial relationships among An inmate brought her a
cerns to a colleague. staff, administrators and in- radio, but there was no
"I thought I was going to mates, investigators found. reception. Instead, the in-
get killed in there," May Former Department of Correction counselor Patricia May "I'm just ticked off that no- mate sang to her.
told The Associated Press in displays examples of paintings by Delaware prison inmates that body talked to me," said Eventually, May was al-
her first interview since last decorate her home in Hockessin, Del., Monday, July 16, 2018. May, who did arrange lowed to remove her hood.
year's deadly prison riot. Associated Press a meeting with Carney's Three inmates had joined
"It was common knowledge chief legal counsel before her in the cell and vowed
that the riot was going to on 41 recommendations cancies, including 98 at Carney announced the to protect her. They shared
come about," she added. in an independent review Vaughn. A staffing analysis hiring of DeMatteis. In an their life stories; she told
"We just didn't know when." ordered by Democratic recommends an additional email Tuesday, DeMatteis them how she relied on her
A few minutes later, in- Gov. John Carney after the 137 positions at the Smyrna said, "I greatly respect Ms. faith and recounted Bible
mates staged an uprising uprising. The Department prison. But enhanced re- May's service and the trau- stories.
in which officer Sgt. Steven of Correction has imple- cruiting efforts could take ma she experienced." An hour later, shouts rang
Floyd was killed, two others mented and "measurably another 18 to 24 months to In describing the riot to the through the hallways.
were beaten and torment- addressed" 40 recommen- yield results, the report says, AP on Friday, May, 68, said "They're coming at us with
ed, and May was held hos- dations, according to the and administrators are it broke out shortly after she a backhoe!" inmates hol-
tage for almost 20 hours. report by Claire DeMatteis, seeking interim solutions. received clearance from lered.
May, who retired in March, a lawyer hired by Carney The report also says officers Floyd for an inmate to visit May and the inmates
blames prison leadership: to oversee reform efforts. continue to express con- her office. Roughly 30 min- closed their cell door. The
"They knew it was going to The remaining recommen- cerns about understaffing, utes into the meeting, an- inmates shouted to re-
happen. They did nothing. dation, she wrote, is the overtime, improving com- other prisoner burst in, hold- sponders to let them know
When they put me in that one to reduce mandatory munications, and rebuild- ing a sharp weapon. May was with them, and
building, they knew they overtime. ing trust. "He said, 'Ms. May, I don't told them where to find the
were putting me in a dan- The state spent nearly $31 Overall, according to the want to hurt you, but if electrical panel to unlock
gerous situation." million on overtime in the report, Carney and law- you don't do everything I the door.
Prison officials have not fiscal year that ended makers have committed tell you, I'm going to have May was worried that "my
responded to the details June 30, which the report $62 million to the depart- to stab you,'" she said. guys would get hurt ... they
of May's interview. But on describes as "an essential ment since the riot. She was tied up, a hood cared about a counselor
Tuesday, they released a public safety expense." Former counselor May was placed over her head. She they hardly even knew."
report touting progress in Part of the reason: Dela- included in a $7.55 million could hear the violence May, who holds a degree in
prison reform efforts. ware's prisons have 227 settlement of a lawsuit filed outside her door. Inmates criminology and previously
The report updates work correctional-officer va- on behalf of Floyd's rela- ransacked the building, set worked as a probation and
fires and barricaded doors. parole officer before be-
As she was led to a cell, coming a counselor, says
May was able to look down inmates need better condi-
through the bottom of the tions and that officials "are
hood. Claustrophobic, she antiquated in our thinking
had warned an inmate that about treatment."
if he tied the hood around "They have to take these
her neck, she would "freak reforms seriously," she said.
out." "If you take all their hope
"When I walked out of the away, what do they have
office, the floor was cov- left?"q