Corrections Officer reportedly assaulted at JTVCC

On Thursday, a Corrections Officer was reportedly assaulted at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center.

Officials say an inmate, originally sentenced to death, was showering when he reached through the bars and hit the officer in the face.

According to the report, the unprovoked assault required the officer to seek medical attention at a local hospital, however, the inmate was not injured.

No explanation for the assault was reportedly given.

Geoff Klopp, President of the Correctional Officers Association of Delaware, was notified of the incident.

He responded to the incident by saying the following:

“Thankfully, the officer does not seem to have been seriously injured in this attack. This criminal conduct on the part of the inmate is directly related to the ongoing concerns we have regarding the operation of our prisons. We have, for years, been telling the Governor, the General Assembly and all who would listen we are under-staffed. The use of excessive, forced overtime has been the response of our elected leaders.  Rather than provide adequate staffing, leadership in our State simply holds officers over for double shifts. The result is an overworked, fatigued, and vulnerable staff.  We were blessed that this incident was not worse.  But I fear this is just the tip of an iceberg.  With continued ignoring of the problems, they only get worse. This assault was not the first one that occurred this year, and unless the state addresses our concerns for safety, it will not be the last. We – as professional corrections officers – are left without the staff and resources to insure the safety of our members, the inmates and society at large. Something must be done before serious injury or death occurs.”