Video: Brutal attack by inmates: 2 correctional officers in Massachusetts are stabbed, 2 others injured

From Rick Sobey

source Boston-Herald

The attack and stabbing of prison inmates at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center earlier this week was captured on a “horrifying” video that “shocks the conscience.”

One of the officers was stabbed twelve times in the shocking attack.

Video from the maximum security prison shows a correctional officer being attacked from behind by an inmate who was seen waiting next to a cell.

The inmate then hits the officer several times with what appears to be a “knife” before he falls to the ground. Meanwhile, another inmate joins in the attack.

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A second correctional officer then runs to help his colleague. The two inmates and two officers are seen wrestling on the ground before a third officer comes in. A third inmate then joins the fight.

Several officers then respond to contain the inmate’s attack.

Five officers were injured in the attack, one of whom suffered 12 stab wounds and a punctured lung. His condition was still serious but stable on Friday and he was still in hospital.

“The video shocks the conscience,” the board of the Massachusetts Correction Officers Federated Union said in a statement. “Suffice it to say, the MCOFU board is stunned, appalled and angry at the level of brutality in this video, but unfortunately not surprised.”

“We have warned DOC about this sort of thing,” the committee added. “Our officers continue to be injured. This horrific video speaks for itself. Change must happen, and fast.”

The panel praised “the courage and will to survive and protect each other, as can be clearly seen on the tape.”

The officers “fighted for their lives. They fought for themselves, they fought for each other, they fought to go home to their families and they survived because of that,” the panel added.

“Every single person who came to their aid saved lives,” the plaque read. “That will to survive cannot be questioned. You deserve the highest praise and admiration for your actions that day, and on behalf of all your brothers and sisters in the Commonwealth, you are recognized.”

Meanwhile, the union president told the Herald that the DOC had sent out “specialized tactical units” to search the prison for weapons.

The union had called for this security measure in particular after finding dozens of knives in the prison last month.

“We have insisted on sending special tactical units to search the site and take as many weapons as possible,” union president Dennis Martin said Friday. “DOC has implemented this and is not finished yet. It will take several days to search the site.”

“It shouldn't take an officer nearly being killed to implement these safety measures,” he added. “We've been calling attention to this for over two years.”

According to DOC, operational searches were conducted at the prison, adding that this was part of an “ongoing comprehensive security assessment.”

The union is calling for a comprehensive security assessment and review of all security-related policies, procedures and protocols in all prisons in Massachusetts.

“We've seen this before,” wrote the union executive. “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Our members never want to be here again.”

Two Republican lawmakers in the state House are calling for an investigation into the DOC following this week's attack.

“This is not the first time prison guards have been seriously injured by inmates, and it is time to do something,” State Senator Peter Durant said in a statement. “The administration has pushed the issue aside too many times, and there is no reason why our prison guards should have to come to work and fear leaving their shift in an ambulance.”

“I am outraged that we are here again after lawmakers asked for a thorough investigation into why these incidents continue and what steps have been taken to prevent them,” said state Rep. Michael Soter. “We cannot wait until lives are lost before we address this problem.”

Recent DOC data shows that there has been a 13% increase in the total number of assaults on employees over the last three-year period.

In 2023, 260 assaults were reported, an increase of 13% from 230 assaults in 2021.

The number of assaults on staff in maximum security prisons has increased by 17% – from 149 assaults in 2021 to 175 assaults last year.

“The number of assaults has definitely increased,” Martin told the Herald. “We know there is an upward trend.”

During this three-year period of 2021, 2022 and 2023, DOC data shows a 42% decrease in attacks on employees resulting in serious injuries.

In 2021, 12 cases of serious bodily harm were reported, compared to seven cases of serious bodily harm in the previous year.

The number of assaults caused by throwing substances decreased by 35% – from 60 assaults in 2021 to 39 assaults last year.

Current data shows that over 64 percent of all attacks occurred in maximum security prisons.

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