Jessup Correctional Institution
Jessup Correctional Institution (JCI) is a maximum security prison operated by the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services in Jessup, Maryland. It was formerly called the Maryland House of Correction-Annex.[1][2]
Location | Jessup, Maryland |
---|---|
Status | Operational |
Security class | Maximum adult males |
Population | 1,396 (daily average) (as of 2010) |
Opened | 1991 |
Managed by | Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services |
Warden | Casey Campbell |
Prisoners
In 2013, inmates from JCI helped remove asbestos from contaminated buildings at the Maryland House of Correction.[3] A lifer at JCI, Larry Bratt, wrote about dying in prison.[4] Inmates at JCI participated in the Beyond Scared Straight program.[5] Inmates at JCI participate in the Prison Puppy Raising Program.[6] A 2010 phone call to a college class by Marshall Conway, a former black panther in Baltimore, from inside JCI inspired an award-winning documentary, Comrade Sunshine.[7]
One prisoner, Wes Moore, is one of the subjects of the 2010 book The Other Wes Moore by Westley "Wes" Moore, who shares a similar name.[8]
Education
Inmates have a library that they use for legal research and writing, writing letters, and other purposes.[9]
JCI has a college program, called the Prison Scholars Program, run by Joshua Miller.[10] Many of the courses in the JCI Prison Scholars Program are on philosophy.[11] A chapter in "The Beautiful Prison" discusses a philosophy course run by Loyola University Professor Drew Leder and the scholars at JCI. The chapter is entitled: "The Enlightened Prison: Drew Leder and the Jessup Correctional Institution Scholars."[12]
Starting in August 2016, the University of Baltimore has begun offering bachelor's degrees JCI prisoners in Community Studies and Civic Engagement.[13] This program is a part of the US Department of Education's Second Chance Pell Experiment,[14] which involves 66 other universities. However, University of Baltimore is the first to implement the program.
Notable incidents
In 2008, Kelvin Poke, a man who was serving a life sentence at JCI, escaped from a local hospital and was killed by police.[15]
In 2012, a man killed his cellmate and eventually pleaded guilty to the crime.[16]
In 2015, three correctional officers were placed on administrative leave after an inmate was found dead inside a cell full of steam.[17] Visits were halted after an outbreak of an illness.[18] A former JCI guard was suspected of shootings in Maryland.[19]
In August 2016, an inmate was stabbed to death by other inmates in the F building. Officers responded to the call of a fight around 10 AM and found the victim, John A. O'Sullivan lying on the floor with multiple stab and puncture wounds.[20]
References
- "Emptying the Maryland House of Correction eases community safety concerns and prosecution costs". tribunedigital-baltimoresun. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
- Baltimore Sun (17 January 2014). "Demolition of House of Corrections [Pictures]". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
- Matas, Alison. "Inmates help tear down House of Correction, earn professional certifications". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
- Bratt, Larry. "Dying in prison can be cruel". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
- Dehnart, Andy. "Beyond Scared Straight's Real-Life Controversy". yahoo. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
- "Our Puppies". Canine Partners for Life. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
- "Documentary featuring AFSC staffer wins top prize". afsc.org. American Friends Service Committee. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
- Baker, Jeff (2011-01-15). "Q&A with the other Wes Moore: Why him and not me?". Oregonlive.com. Retrieved 2019-03-19.
- "Prison Library Offers A Place To Escape". npr.org. NPR. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
- "JCI Scholars Program". Retrieved 4 August 2015.
- Woods, Baynard. "A prison philosophy program tells us what we can learn about life from lifers". City Paper. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
- Leder, Drew. "The Beautiful Prison". EmeraldBooks. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
- "Give Prisoners a Second Chance: Pell grants for prisoners reduce crime, save taxpayer dollars and prevent recidivism." US News and World Report, https://www.usnews.com/opinion/knowledge-bank/articles/2016-10-18/pell-grants-are-a-good-investment-for-prisoners-and-taxpayers
- Douglas-Gabriel, Danielle (24 June 2016). "12,000 inmates to receive Pell grants to take college classes". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 18 January 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
- Schoetz, David. "Cops Kill Prison Lifer Who Escaped Hospital". ABC News. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
- Pratt, Tim. "Convicted murderer pleads guilty to killing cellmate at Jessup Correctional Institution". Capital Gazette. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
- Anderson, Jessica. "3 correctional officers placed on leave after inmate found inside cell full of steam". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
- Wenger, Yvonne. "Visits halted at Jessup prison after outbreak of illness". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
- Molinet, Jason. "Former corrections officer going through divorce charged in five Maryland shootings, including gunfire at NSA building, police say". NY Daily News. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
- "Jessup Prison Fight Leaves One Dead: Police". Columbia, MD Patch. 15 August 2016.