August 22, 200917 yr I wanted to let everyone know that my family and I are safe and sound in a Morehead motel. We made the decision to leave since we were coming to Morehead anyways tomorrow as a riot broke out at Northpoint, which is about 1/2 mile from our house. We were told many prisoners escaped and there were large clouds of smoke from fires, etc. I'm not sure what the accurate report it, but it definitely looked bad and I made the executive decision to get out of town.
August 22, 200917 yr Author Latest update from WKYT: 27 Newsfirst continues to follow breaking news out of Danville. Reporter Dave Spencer is on the scene of what officials are calling an organized riot at the Northpoint Training Center. It started about 6:30 tonight when prisoners set simultaneous fires in trash cans inside prison dorms. The Kentucky Department of Corrections says fire crews are on the scene extinguising the flames. Officials say the fire has damaged the medical building, kitchen, canteen and multi-purpose room. Staff from the Department of Corrections, the departmental Special Operations Response Teams, Kentucky State Police riot response teams and other law enforcement agencies are also on the scene. Northpoint has a population of 1,229 inmates. Prisoners were loose within the prison walls. Officials say they were subdued by about 10:30 tonight. Officials say they used chemical agents to get inmates to surrender. No prison guards were hurt, but some inmates suffered minor injuries. No one has been killed and no prisoners have escaped from the prison. There is no word on where the prisoners will be taken once authorities get the situation under control. 27 Newsfirst will be on the scene all night. Check back with wkyt.com for more information.
August 22, 200917 yr Pretty wild stuff. I applied to be a corrections officer in Kentucky not long ago, even after reading this I still hope I get the job. Any job at this point would be nice.
August 22, 200917 yr I just saw this on CNN's website. Authorities quell inmate riot at Kentucky prison
August 22, 200917 yr Wow! Crazy stuff. Just curious, is this a private, for-profit prison? It's a medium-security prison run by the state and has been there since around 1980 I believe. My Father-in-Law worked there from its beginning until he retired about three years ago. He was actually hurt (concussion) in the first prison riot there back in the early 80's. From what I have heard, all inmates are accounted for and control has slowly come back. However there is severe damage to several buildings. My biggest (and most selfish) fear is that the damage may be so severe as to cripple the facilities' ability to stay open. With so much state financial issues, "rebuilding a prison" might be beyond what is possible. They could just transfer all the inmates to other places (overcrowding them) and close Northpoint down. I hope not. I wonder if part of the problem is what every state is facing; overcrowding of current prisons (few new ones being built), which leads to more "hardened" criminals being placed in "medium security" facilities that aren't able to keep the inmates in check as well as maximum places.
August 22, 200917 yr It's a medium-security prison run by the state and has been there since around 1980 I believe. My Father-in-Law worked there from its beginning until he retired about three years ago. He was actually hurt (concussion) in the first prison riot there back in the early 80's. From what I have heard, all inmates are accounted for and control has slowly come back. However there is severe damage to several buildings. My biggest (and most selfish) fear is that the damage may be so severe as to cripple the facilities' ability to stay open. With so much state financial issues, "rebuilding a prison" might be beyond what is possible. They could just transfer all the inmates to other places (overcrowding them) and close Northpoint down. I hope not. I wonder if part of the problem is what every state is facing; overcrowding of current prisons (few new ones being built), which leads to more "hardened" criminals being placed in "medium security" facilities that aren't able to keep the inmates in check as well as maximum places. Thank you for posting some very good info. I am glad that no one was killed and that no prisiners escaped (per:wkyt news last night). My prayers go out to the community and prison guards and workers.
August 22, 200917 yr It's a medium-security prison run by the state and has been there since around 1980 I believe. My Father-in-Law worked there from its beginning until he retired about three years ago. He was actually hurt (concussion) in the first prison riot there back in the early 80's. From what I have heard, all inmates are accounted for and control has slowly come back. However there is severe damage to several buildings. My biggest (and most selfish) fear is that the damage may be so severe as to cripple the facilities' ability to stay open. With so much state financial issues, "rebuilding a prison" might be beyond what is possible. They could just transfer all the inmates to other places (overcrowding them) and close Northpoint down. I hope not. I wonder if part of the problem is what every state is facing; overcrowding of current prisons (few new ones being built), which leads to more "hardened" criminals being placed in "medium security" facilities that aren't able to keep the inmates in check as well as maximum places. What was there before the prison? Wasn't it a mental hospital or home for wayward kids or something?
August 22, 200917 yr What was there before the prison? Wasn't it a mental hospital or home for wayward kids or something? You are right on both counts if I recall. It was a Juvenile Detention home/center before Northpoint and a State Mental Hospital before that. I understand that six of the structures have been badly burned and the inmates shipped out to other places right now.
August 22, 200917 yr I understand that six of the structures have been badly burned and the inmates shipped out to other places right now. I'd throw them a pillow and blanket in the burnt dorms and say "You made your bed, now lay in it"
August 22, 200917 yr You are right on both counts if I recall. It was a Juvenile Detention home/center before Northpoint and a State Mental Hospital before that. I understand that six of the structures have been badly burned and the inmates shipped out to other places right now. It was called Kentucky State Hospital I would say about..and this is a guessamation....45 years ago and it was a mental hospital. We used to go out there once a month, with our church and have a birthday party for the patients. There was this one little man who thought his birthday was every month...we just sang to him and cut the cake and he never knew the difference. Like Hatz, I am afraid that this might just be the undoing of this place and if that happens it will be a big blow to the people and the community. I am furious to think that they allowed smoking in some part of this prison. As an ex-smoker I understand how hard it is on people who aren't allow to smoke but come on now. When I worked for the state, and my tax money helped pay for this prison, I wasn't allow to smoke inside. I had to stand out in the rain, sleet, snow, hot sun, whatever the weather was to smoke. If I had to do it then by george so should they:madman:
August 22, 200917 yr I'd throw them a pillow and blanket in the burnt dorms and say "You made your bed, now lay in it" You are a lot nicer than MrRk..:sssh:...How are you Rebel?
August 23, 200917 yr Author They are transporting about 700 prisoners elsewhere. I actually saw 5 busloads just about 20 minutes ago. Ironically enough, they were watching t.v. on the buses. You know - riot and we'll do our best to make you comfortable. There were 16 people injured - 8 inmates and 8 guards. Four inmates remain hospitalized tonight.
August 23, 200917 yr They are transporting about 700 prisoners elsewhere. I actually saw 5 busloads just about 20 minutes ago. Ironically enough, they were watching t.v. on the buses. You know - riot and we'll do our best to make you comfortable. There were 16 people injured - 8 inmates and 8 guards. Four inmates remain hospitalized tonight. I don't know, I wouldn't really want rioting on the bus. I think TV might not be a back distraction. Keep in mind, there was a large segment of the prisoners who had nothing to do with the riot. Sort of a "wrong place, wrong time" type of deal.
August 23, 200917 yr Author I don't know, I wouldn't really want rioting on the bus. I think TV might not be a back distraction. Keep in mind, there was a large segment of the prisoners who had nothing to do with the riot. Sort of a "wrong place, wrong time" type of deal. Those are the 500 or so that remain at Northpoint.
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