THE FIRST
HIGH-SECURITY
PRISON BREAK AT
CLINTON
CORRECTIONAL IN
OVER A CENTURY.
THE OVER 150-
PAGE REPORT
CALLS THE
PRISON'S
SECURITY AND
MANAGEMENT
"INADEQUATE."
SOT: CATHERINE
LEAHY SCOTT,
NEW YORK STATE
INSPECTOR
GENERAL "the
extent of
complacency and
failure to adhere to
the most basic
security standards
uncovered by my
investigation was
agregious and
inexcusible."
NEW YORK STATE
INSPECTOR
GENERAL
CATHERINE
LEAHY SCOTT
RELEASED HER
REPORT ON THE
UNPRECEDENTED
PRISON BREAK.
IN HER REPORT,
SCOTT POINTS
OUT SEVERAL
FLAWS AT THE
PRISON THAT
CONTRIBUTED TO
THE BREAK -
INCLUDING:
GFX:
-NEGLIGENT OR
NONEXISTENT
NIGHT COUNTS,
FLAWED CELL
SEARCHES AND
WEEKLY
INSPECTIONS,
INADEQUATE
EMPLOYEE
SCREENINGS AND
POOR SECURITY
OVERSIGHT.
AND
RECOMMENDS
STRENGTHENING
FRONT GATE
SCREENING,
MORE DILIGENT
NIGHT COUNTS,
MORE THROUGH,
FREQUENT CELL
SEARCHES AND
EXPANDED
SECURITY
CAMERAS.
BUT THE REPORT
DIDN'T STOP
THERE, SAYING...
GFX:
"Cell searches were
hasty and cursory,
and failed to find
any contraband 96
percent of the time.
In fact, a
documented search
of Matt's cell on
March 21, 2015
failed to detect the
18 inch By 14-
inch hole in the rear
wall of cell that is
only approximately
48 square feet. A
proper cell search
would have found
the breach and
thwarted the
escape."
BOTH MATT AND
SWEAT WORKED
IN THE PRISON'S
TAILOR SHOP.
BUT SWEAT WAS
REASSIGNED TO
WORK IN THE
LIBRARY IN
SEPTEMBER 2014
AFTER SECURITY
STAFF REPORTED
CONCERNS
ABOUT SWEAT'S
SEXUAL
RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE SHOPS
CIVILIAN
SUPERVISOR,
JOYCE MITCHELL.
THE IG'S REPORT
CONFIRMS
ALLEGATIONS
THAT SHE WAS IN
A SORT OF
RELATIONSHIP
WITH SWEAT -
AS WELL AS
WITH MATT.
GFX:
"In addition to
smuggling escape
tools and maps,
Mitchell agreed to
be a conduit to
obtain cash for Matt
and gathered items
to assist their flight,
including guns and
ammunition,
camping gear,
clothing, and a
compass. Even as
she professed her
love for Sweat
in notes she secretly
sent him, Mitchell
engaged in
numerous sexual
encounters with
Matt in the tailor
shop."
THE REPORT
GOES ON TO
READ:
GFX: CCF TAILOR
SHOP
"Mitchell's improper
interactions with
inmates in the tailor
shop were long
known to her civilian
supervisors and
observed by correct
ion officers assigned
to ensure security in
the shop,
yet no effective
action was taken."
IN FEBRUARY 2015
DOCCS's Office of
Special
InvestigationS - OR
OSI -
INVESTIGATED
ALLEGED
RUMORES OF AN
IMPROPER
RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN
MITCHELL AND
SWEAT.
THE REPORT
READS:
GFX:
"By OSI's own
admission, this
investigation, which
wrongly concluded
the rumors were
baseless, failed to
interview a number
of relevant
witnesses and
evaluate other
evidence. A
thorough
investigation could
have revealed
Mitchell's criminal
acts and foiled the
escape."
THE INSPECTOR
GENERAL MADE A
SPECIAL NOTE OF
THE FACT THAT
THE
INVESTIGATION
WAS MADE "MORE
DIFFICULT BY A
LACK OF FULL
COOPERATION"
FROM MANY
PRISON STAFF.
HER REPORT
SITES
INCOMPLETE
TESTIMONY THAT
WAS "SOMETIMES
NOT CREDIBLE."
--SAYING SOME
EMPLOYEES SAID
THEY DIDN'T
REMEMBER THE
NIGHT'S EVENTS
AND THAT
EVERYONE KNEW
ABOUT THE
LONGSTANDING
SECURITY
LAPSES.
SCOTT WRITES
SHE FINDS THESE
MEMORY LAPSES
"REPREHENSIBLE"
AND "A VIOLATION
OF STATE ETHICS
LAWS."
LIVE IN THE
NEWSROOM
RENEE
WUNDERLICH,
WPTZ, NEWS
CHANNEL 5.
THE FORM
SUPERINTENDENT
OF CLINTON
CORRECTIONAL
FACILITY -- STEVE
RACETTE --
REACTED TO THE
INSPECTOR
GENERAL'S
REPORT TONIGHT.
SPEAKING ON THE
PHONE TO WPTZ,
RACETTE
DEFENDED THE
C-O'S AT THE
PRISON...
SAYING THE
REPORT "POINTS
OUT SPECIFICS
OF WHAT LED TO
THE ESCAPE, BUT
DOESN'T TALK
ABOUT THE
MAJORITY OF THE
STAFF THAT DOES
A GREAT JOB,
WITH EXTREME
PROFESSIONALIS
M, UNDER
OVERWHELMINGL
Y DIFFICULT
CONDITIONS."
RACETTE NOW
ADMITS HE WAS
FORCED TO
RETIRE BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF
CORRECTIONS
ACTING
COMMISSIONER
ANTHONY
ANNUCCI. AND
ANNUCCI
INSINUATED THAT
DEMAND CAME
FROM GOVERNOR
CUOMO.
FORMER
SUPERINTENDENT
RACETTE HAD
BEEN IN CHARGE
FOR ONE YEAR --
AND NOT ONLY AT
CLINTON, BUT SIX
OTHER PRISONS
IN THE REGION.
RACETTE SAYS IF
HE KNEW SOME
CORRECTIONS
OFFICERS WERE
NOT DOING THEIR
JOBS
CORRECTLY, HE
WOULD HAVE
TAKEN
APPROPRIATE
ACTION, BUT THAT
INFORMATION
NEVER GOT TO
HIS LEVEL.
ALSO -- RACETTE
SAYS IN HIS FIVE
YEARS AS
SUPERINTENDENT
AT PRISONS
AROUND THE
STATE, HE HAD
NEVER ASKED
FOR A LOCKDOWN
OR FRISK OF A
FACILITY BEFORE
-- BUT WHEN HE
DID DAYS BEFORE
THE ESCAPE -- HE
WAS REJECTED.
THE REASON?
ALBANY SAID THE
PRISON WAS
RUNNING WELL.
HE SEES MANY
CONTRADICTIONS
IN THE REPORT -
AND SAYS HE
HASN'T YET
DECIDED IF THE
REPORT IS FAIR
OR NOT.
HE DID POINT
OUT, THIS
REPORT SHOWS
HOW JUST A
COUPLE OF
PEOPLE,
SPECIFICALLY
JOYCE MITCHELL
AND GENE
PALMER, CAN
CAUSE A LOT OF
HARM AND
DAMAGE.
BUT RACETTE
SAYS HE'S
GRATEFUL FOR
THE SUPPORT
HE'S RECEIVED
FROM THE
CORRECTIONS
OFFICERS AND
THE COMMUNITY
AND
ASSMBLYWOMAN
JANET DUPREY IN
THE PAST YEAR.
WE CONTACTED
CLINTON
CORRECTIONAL
FACILITY FOR A
RESPONSE.
AND LIEUTENANT
GREGORY
LAFRANCE TOLD
US QUOTE
"THERE IS
NOBODY
AVAILABLE TO
MAKE A COMMENT
ON THE REPORT
AT THIS TIME.
BUT WE
RECEIVED THE
FOLLOWING
STATEMENT FROM
A DOCCS
SPOKESPERSON...
SAYING THE
DEPARTMENT IS
REVIEWING THE
FINDINGS... AND
PLANS ON
WORKING WITH
THE I-G'S OFFICE
TO IMPLEMENT
THE
RECOMMENDATIO
NS TO IMPROVE
OPERATIONS AT
CLINTON... AND
HELP ENSURE
SOMETHING LIKE
THIS NEVER
HAPPENS AGAIN...
THE STATEMENT
ALSO SAYS
REFORMS THAT
HAVE BEEN MADE
SINCE LAST JUNE
AT THE PRISON...
INCLUDING
INSTALLING NEW
CAMERAS AND
SECURITY GATES,
RETRAINING
STAFF,
DISCIPLINING
RESPONSIBLE
EMPLOYEES,
APPOINTING A
NEW
SUPERINTENDENT
AND REPLACING
OTHER SENIOR
ADMINISTRATIVE
PERSONNEL.
THE REPORT
ALSO
EXPOUNDED ON
SOME CHANGES
THAT ARE BEING
IMPLEMENTED...
LIKE INCREASED
USE OF METAL
DETECTORS AT
THE FRONT
GATE... AND
RANDOM
EMPLOYEE PAT
DOWNS...
USING
ELECTRONIC
DEVICES TO
VERIFY NIGHT
COUNTS WERE
DONE... AND
THERMAL
IMAGING
SENSORS TO
MAKE SURE
INMATES ARE IN
THEIR CELLS.
MAKING CELL
SEARCHES MORE
THOROUGH --
INCLUDING
CHECKING THE
INTEGRITY OF
CELL WALLS...
AND INCREASED
ENFORCEMENT
OF POLICIES
REGARDING
PROPER
CONDUCT
BETWEEN
INMATES AND
EMPLOYEES
WE ALSO
REACHED OUT TO
CLINTON COUNTY
DISTRICT
ATTORNEY
ANDREW WYLIE --
WHO OVERSAW
THE
PROSECUTION OF
THREE PEOPLE IN
CONNECTION
WITH THE
ESCAPE...
HE SAID HE
NEEDED TO READ
THE MORE THAN
150 PAGE
DOCUMENT
THOROUGHLY
BEFORE HE
WOULD HAVE A
FORMAL
COMMENT...
EVERYONE IN
THE NORTH
COUNTRY WAS A
PART OF THIS
STORY...
OVER THE PAST
SEVERAL DAYS
WE CAUGHT UP
WITH MANY
PEOPLE WHO
SAID THAT
MANHUNT WAS
SOMETHING
THEY'D NEVER
FORGET.
19:59:03
bob: dannemoras a
small community
way in upstate new
york that most
people don't know
about
06:07:05
bob: ive lived here
my whole life went
to school right
across the street
20:44:20
joe: i was born and
raised here
24:58:21
john: weve been
here about six
years
40:48:25
tina: my husband
grew up here in
lake titus
42:36:06
tina: on tv we heard
on the news that
they broke out of
dannemora
08:26:17
bob: i remember
getting a phone call
from my daughter
and said that two
inmates had went
through the tunnel
in front of my house
16:52:20
bob: weve always
known this tunnel
was here
17:00:08
bob: it's a pretty big
tunnel
12:34:07
joe: sleeping. We
were home. We
were here
26:05:00
john: when the
word got out there
was quite a bit of
excitement
41:45:04
tina: get in the
house lock the
doors
26:11:10
john: at the
beginning they
thought the
prisoners might be
in this area
11:37:15
bob: it was kind of a
crazy time
10:06:21
bob: i remember
coming back to the
area
11:12:07
bob: you cant go
down that street
that's where the
inmates got out I
said i know that but
i live in that little
beige house right
there
12:44:18
joe: we went up to
go to the bank and
we couldn't get
through
26:19:24
john: they were
lined up with buses
and the troopers
were all over the
place
15:33:29
bob: we used to sit
on the front porch
15:15:13
bob: there was 900
people here
15:25:25
bob: theyd all come
out and line up in
the street here like
military gear
15:18:03
joe: they were
watching around
the house and they
kept their eye on us
28:46:27
they had road
blocks in several
places
29:09:01
just ask you to look
in the trunk and we
just cooperated with
whatever they
needed
27:16:02
john: we had plenty
of protection that's
for sure
27:12:04
john: i wasn't too
worried about it
16:24:11
bob: we had the
nastiest weather the
nastiest june I think
weve had in 30
years
16:29:17
bob: youd watch
those poor guys
come back and they
were soaked you
know right down to
their socks
27:05:27
john: i had a feeling
these guys were
long gone they
werent in this area
42:43:26
tina: we found out
they were out in
mountain view and
then that's when we
found out they were
here
NATS
43:50:00
tina: we had the
helicopter circling
right here
43:56:20
tina: it was scary
44:42:12
tina: never have no
commotion like that
going on
34:41:02
john: im glad
nobody else was
hurt
34:35:01
john: they got what
they were looking
for
46:32:19
tina: im glad its over
with
32:57:01
john: i don't think of
it at all
20:45:13
bob: who knows
where dannemora
is until this and that
kind of put us on
the world map
33:43:07
john: i cant think of
a better place to be
27:23:18
bob: no place li
home I guess
YOU MIGHT BE
WONDERING
WHAT EVER
HAPPENED TO
THE $100-
THOUSAND
DOLLAR REWARD
FOR
INFORMATION
LEADING TO THE
ARREST OF
RICHARD MATT
OR DAVID SWEAT.
WE SPOKE WITH
THE GOKEY
FAMILY WHO'S
CAMPER WAS
SHOT AT BY
RICHARD MATT.
THEY HIRED A
LAWYER TO SEEK
THE MONEY BUT
WERE
UNSUCCESSFUL.
THEY SAID,
"OUR SON WILL
BE GRADUATING
IN JUNE. THE
REWARD MONEY
WOULD HAVE
HELPED TOWARD
FURTHERING HIS
EDUCATION. I
GUESS WE JUST
WANT TO
CONCENTRATE
ON THE GOOD
THINGS THAT ARE
HAPPENING IN
OUR LIVES AND I
THINK GOD WE
ARE ALL HERE TO
CELEBRATE IT."
OUR CALLS TO
THE U.S.
MARSHAL'S
OFFICE ABOUT
THE REWARD
MONEY WERE
NOT RETURNED.
OUR COVERAGE
CONTINUES
ONLINE AND ON
OUR FREE
MOBILE APP...
THERE WE'VE
POSTED A LINK
THAT BRINGS YOU
TO THE FULL
REPORT... A
SLIDESHOW
FEATURING
PHOTOS
INCLUDED IN THE
REPORT... PLUS A
COMPREHENSIVE
VIDEO LOOK BACK
AT THE ESCAPE
AND MANHUNT.
THERE'S ALSO A
TON OF OTHER
CONTENT
RELATED TO THE
ESCAPE... ITS
AFTERMATH...
AND THE ONE
YEAR
ANNIVERSARY...
AGAIN, YOU CAN
FIND THAT ALL AT
WPTZ DOT COM...
OR IN OUR
MOBILE APP,
WHICH IS
AVAILABLE FOR
FREE IN GOOGLE
PLAY OR THE APP
STORE.
NC 5 WEATHER