32 inmates participated in Mass. Prison ‘disturbance,' report shows

SHIRLEY, Mass. — An early report on the 'disturbance' at Souza-Baranowski Correctional Facility in Shirley, Massachusetts was instigated by 14 'ringleaders,' according to a preliminary report from the Mass. Department of Corrections.

A fight broke out while P1 Unit inmates were moving to the recreation area, but it wasn’t until they were coming back to the unit that another fight gave way to the riot.

According to the report, prisoners began refusing to be locked in their cells and demanding a shower before they would do so. That’s when negotiation teams were brought in to ‘de-escalate’ the situation, officials say.

When that failed, prison personnel were pulled out of the unit and 32 inmates began to actively destroy property in the unit, the report states.

Of the 32, 14 were identified as the ‘ringleaders’ and another 18 were identified as active participants in the destruction, according to the report.

“As command staff watched the disorder unfold, inmates were seen destroying furniture, computer equipment, and making homemade weapons from broken debris,” the report states.

Officials are not releasing any names of those involved as the investigation is on-going and charges have yet to be filed against those involved.

According to the preliminary report, maintenance crews are still assessing the damages.

Cox Media Group