ATTICA, NY - The lockdown at Attica Prison is over.
Correctional Facility staff have concluded their frisk of inmates, cells, common areas and vocational shop locations.
All general confinement inmates were let out of their cells starting with the breakfast mess hall run and also were allowed to participate in limited afternoon and evening scheduled programs and recreation. Full programming and rec will resume Thursday following the morning mess hall run and the facility will return to normal operations.
"Our highest priority is the safety and security of our staff and the offenders we supervise," said Corrections Commissioner Brian Fischer. "The inmates who assault others can be assured that they will face swift and appropriate disciplinary sanctions and, where applicable, criminal charges as well."
Last week, for the first time in nearly five years, the maximum security facility was locked down after two separate, unrelated fights in two days in the prison's "A" yard.
Last Wednesday, 123 inmates were in the yard when a fight broke out among six of them. One of the six was taken to ECMC for treatment of a minor injury and returned to the prison.
The next day, 121 inmates were in the yard when a fight broke out among 26 of them. Two of the prisoners were taken to Wyoming County Community Hospital for treatment of minor injuries and returned to Attica.
In both cases, Cutler says inmates refused orders to cease and desist. He says both Wednesday and Thursday, what he called, a long-range chemical agent projectile, was fired into the area where the fight was taking place. Inmates then obeyed orders.
Based on two incidents in two successive days, the Superintendent of the maximum security prison, along with the Corrections Commissioner and other staff, determined that the lockdown was necessary.
Due to safety and security issues, no information will be released on any contraband or weapons seized during the course of the five day lockdown.