Weekend Inmate Incident at SCI Shows Need for Corrections Reform

An incident at SCI in Georgetown last weekend resulted in 4 corrections officers being injured.  One inmate refused to return to his cell after performing his duties on the tier and began throwing punches at the CO, who sprayed the inmate to subdue him.  Three officers responding to the incident were also injured – one struck in the face and two who fell to the floor during the struggle.  The inmate was subdued – he was not injured, however he was involved in the Stephen Floyd incident at Vaughn Correctional and later transferred to SCI.  Officials with the Correctional Officers Association of Delaware say the effects of the murder of Stephen Floyd are still being felt – the DOC is short over 250 officers statewide.  However Governor Carney has proposed an increase in pay for corrections officers and while a handful of new officers enter the 10-week training CEIT courses – they lack the experience of the seasoned officers who have left corrections or retired.