Jessup Correctional Institution

Jessup Correctional Institution
Location Jessup, Maryland
Status Operational
Security class Maximum adult males
Population 1,396 (daily average) (as of 2010)
Opened 1991
Managed by Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services
Warden John Wolfe

Jessup Correctional Institution (JCI) is a maximum security prison operated by the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services in Jessup, Maryland. It was formerly called the Maryland House of Correction-Annex.[1][2]

Prisoners

In 2013, inmates from JCI helped remove asbestos from contaminated buildings at the Maryland House of Correction.[3] A lifer at JCI, Larry Bratt, wrote about dying in prison.[4] Inmates at JCI participated in the Beyond Scared Straight program.[5] Inmates at JCI participate in the Prison Puppy Raising Program.[6] A 2010 phone call to a college class by Marshall Conway, a former black panther in Baltimore, from inside JCI inspired an award-winning documentary, Comrade Sunshine.[7]

Education

Inmates have a library that they use for legal research and writing, writing letters, and other purposes.[8]

JCI has a college program, called the Prison Scholars Program, run by Joshua Miller.[9] Many of the courses in the JCI Prison Scholars Program are on philosophy.[10] A chapter in "The Beautiful Prison" discusses a philosophy course run by Loyola University Professor Drew Leder and the scholars at JCI. The chapter is entitled: "The Enlightened Prison: Drew Leder and the Jessup Correctional Institution Scholars."[11]

Starting in August 2016, the University of Baltimore has begun offering Bachelor's Degrees JCI prisoners in Community Studies and Civic Engagement.[12] This program is a part of the US Department of Education's Second Chance Pell Experiment,[13] which involves 66 other universities. However, University of Baltimore is the first to implement the program.

Notable incidents

In 2008, Kelvin Poke, a man who was serving a life sentence at JCI, escaped from a local hospital and was killed by police.[14]

In 2012, a man killed his cellmate and eventually pleaded guilty to the crime.[15]

In 2015, three correctional officers were placed on administrative leave after an inmate was found dead inside a cell full of steam.[16] Visits were halted after an outbreak of an illness.[17] A former JCI guard was suspected of shootings in Maryland.[18]

In August 2016, an inmate was stabbed to death by other inmates in the F building. Officers responded to the call of a fight around 10 AM and found the victim, John A. O'Sullivan lying on the floor with multiple stab and puncture wounds. [19]

References

  1. "Emptying the Maryland House of Correction eases community safety concerns and prosecution costs". tribunedigital-baltimoresun. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  2. Baltimore Sun (17 January 2014). "Demolition of House of Corrections [Pictures]". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  3. Matas, Alison. "Inmates help tear down House of Correction, earn professional certifications". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  4. Bratt, Larry. "Dying in prison can be cruel". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  5. Dehnart, Andy. "Beyond Scared Straight's Real-Life Controversy". yahoo. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  6. "Our Puppies". Canine Partners for Life. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  7. "Documentary featuring AFSC staffer wins top prize". afsc.org. American Friends Service Committee. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  8. "Prison Library Offers A Place To Escape". npr.org. NPR. Retrieved 4 August 2015. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
  9. "JCI Scholars Program". Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  10. Woods, Baynard. "A prison philosophy program tells us what we can learn about life from lifers". City Paper. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  11. Leder, Drew. "The Beautiful Prison". EmeraldBooks. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  12. "Give Prisoners a Second Chance: Pell grants for prisoners reduce crime, save taxpayer dollars and prevent recidivism." US News and World Report, http://www.usnews.com/opinion/knowledge-bank/articles/2016-10-18/pell-grants-are-a-good-investment-for-prisoners-and-taxpayers
  13. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2016/06/24/12000-inmates-to-receive-pell-grants-to-take-college-classes/
  14. Schoetz, David. "Cops Kill Prison Lifer Who Escaped Hospital". ABC News. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  15. Pratt, Tim. "Convicted murderer pleads guilty to killing cellmate at Jessup Correctional Institution". Capital Gazette. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  16. Anderson, Jessica. "3 correctional officers placed on leave after inmate found inside cell full of steam". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  17. Wenger, Yvonne. "Visits halted at Jessup prison after outbreak of illness". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  18. Molinet, Jason. "Former corrections officer going through divorce charged in five Maryland shootings, including gunfire at NSA building, police say". NY Daily News. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  19. http://patch.com/maryland/columbia/jessup-prison-fight-leaves-one-dead-police

Coordinates: 39°8′40″N 76°46′40″W / 39.14444°N 76.77778°W / 39.14444; -76.77778

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