Carney announces judges will lead investigation into JTVCC
Tuesday in Wilmington Delaware Governor John Carney (D) announced to former judges will head the independent investigation into the fatal hostage situation at the Vaughn Correctional Center in Smyrna.
Tapped to lead the investigation former Delaware Supreme Court Judge Henry duPont Ridgely and former Delaware family court Judge William Chapman.
"These are two very well respected judges who are independent thinkings with legal background and the analytical skills necessary to perform a thorough review and to make the necessary recommendations," Carney said.
Carney said the investigation will hopefully find out what led up to the hostage situation and what can be done to prevent another incident from happening.
The investigation won't start until Delaware State Police finishes its criminal investigation into the matter.
However a deadline of June 1 has already been set for the former judges to present their initial findings and recommendations.
"That initial report will allow us time if necessary to work with the General Assembly to take any appropriate action and any budgetary action prior to June 30," Carney said.
That's when the regular session ends.
During the investigation the judges will also look at the security of the prison and the prisons conditions.
Just after the hostage situation earlier this month it was announced that the Department of Corrections is down about 90 correctional employees on any given day. During the press conference Carney was questioned about whether there was adequate staffing on hand the day of the attack.
"Staffing is always a big question for the department of corrections and it's operations and again not to prejudge but I would expect that staffing and what staff did on that particular day would be part of the review," Carney said.
Since that hostage situation 17 correctional officers have either retired or quit their jobs at the Vaughn Correctional Center.
Geoff Klopp, who's president of the Correctional Officers Association of Delaware said right now they are struggling to retain staff.
"Right now everyone is very scared and it's a very tense situation in the facilities and it makes me sad to hear the governor talk about a June 1st resolution from this investigation because we can't wait that long," Klopp said. "We need to make some immediate changes very rapidly to get some more help in there, get some more correctional officers in the facilities or we might be back in this situation again."
When asked if there was enough correctional officers on staff to stop the hostage situation from happening Klopp said no.
