OT? How did 83 prisoners get out?

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Go over to abcnews.com and read how 83 prisoners in a *maximum* security unit managed to 'manipulate theri cell doors' and get partially out- they were contained in the cell block. Now, either 83 were behind one door,(stupid) 83 slipped credit cards through the crack,(yeah, sure) or something happened to the elctronic door system. Wardens don't walk around with keys any more, cell doors are computer operated now.

Somebody from Texas keep up with this and see if there was a 'non-y2k' problem.

-- Forrest Covington (theforrest@mindspring.com), December 20, 1999

Answers

As a reminder for the ultimate Y2K prison door security system:

Oxy-Acetylene welding sets *ARE* Y2K compliant. Got welding rods?

WW

-- Wildweasel (vtmldm@epix.net), December 20, 1999.


Max Security jail I worked in 2 years ago had magnetic doors and deputies carried keys for backup. Also carried keys for quick access, when they didn't want to bother using their radios to have central open the doors electronically. Of course prisoners were strip searched and given jump suits before being placed in a cell. They have all their personal belongings put into holdings. They do not have credit cards. They only can have delivered white cotton undergarments. Even personal items like shampoo and deodorant must be purchased from the jail (called "canteen"). Certainly items available to inmates cannot open those doors. If by chance someone lifts an object off a deputy that can be manipulated to pop a door open, then if the electronics are functioning, an alarm will sound and the unit will go into auto lockdown.

-- Hokie (nn@va.com), December 20, 1999.

I currently work in a maximum security jail. As stupid as most inmates are, you would be amazed with the ingenious things they come up with. When you have 24 hours a day to do nothing but think of ways to get out or make the guards miserable, you come up with amazing techniques.

As soon as one inmate figures it out, it spreads through the jail and believe it or not to other jails and prisons like a wildfire. This is done by transfer and "kites" (written messages).

The jail I work in has electronic and manual override. I can't even venture to guess how they did what they did, but i'm not very surprised. I have no doubt that it was NOT Y2K related. As much as we search inmates, they do get contraband in...on a VERY regular basis. I've found everything from screwdrivers to Leatherman Tools to a steady diet of every drug you can think of.

I have seen inmates take doors off without a single tool, they make weapons as hard as pipes out of newspaper and toothpaste, and make 40 foot ropes out of torn bedsheets. They never cease to amaze me.

And if you are wondering, yes, they know about Y2K and its potentials. They get newspapers. It's going to be interesting...I am scared...our contingency is to have extra people on hand suited up for a riot situation. I have no idea what happens if distribution goes down. We have food for 2 days in the kitchen.

-- Not (Today@But.Thanks), December 20, 1999.


"Not", thanks for the update! Leatherman? Hope he smuggled in some preparationH with that! Hey, if you watch who orders prep-H from the canteen then maybe you'll know who the smugglers are (j/k :-)~

Luckily the only thing that turned up in my cell was smokes (not allowed!). The deputies driving her 3 hours for a hearing wanted to smoke in the car, so hooked her up, then didn't see to it that she was adequately searched prior to reentering gen pop.

I've heard of inmates using foil candie wrappers to access an outlet, hooked up to a wall clock as a detonation device (too McGuyver, I can't figure out how it worked...)

Some inmates have internet access, and may be reading this page to keep current.

I remember seeing on the tube a few years back someone ordering airline tix. they followed the call all the way to a prison, where inmates with computers were taking credit card orders for tix, all on the up-and-up through the airline company. Cheap labor. Don't know if it's still going on, but it always makes me think twice about ordering online or over the phone.

-- Hokie (nn@va.com), December 20, 1999.


We're all gonna bust outta here at the rollover!!

-- Porky (Porky@in.cellblockD), December 20, 1999.


Didn't you catch the post on this yesterday? This was a confessed Y2K problem: the doors on this max-security facility were pneumatically operated; the system shut-down and the keepers were able to jummy their doors open with spoon handles, etc. Maybe someone will post a link or two.

-- SH (squirrel@huntr.com), December 21, 1999.

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