Former JVTCC Inmate says hostage situation “could have been avoided”

A former inmate who stayed at James T. Vaughn Correctional Center believes the hostage situation could have been avoided had the Delaware Department of Corrections listened to inmate complaints.

Jason Towers served five years at JVTCC and spent a majority of that time housed in Building C, the same building where the hostage situation occurred.

During the hostage situation it was reported that inmates list of demands included concerns over living conditions, better training for correctional officers and more access to programs and education.  Even though Towers was released from JVTCC in 2007 he said he wasn't surprised at the list of demands because prisoners wanted the same things when he was there.

"I done seen CO's over there that spit on 'em. I've seen CO's smack them in the back of the head ," Towers said.

Towers claims that while he was there verbal abuse and physical abuse from correctional officers led many prisoners to resent them and in turn act out.

"They'll talk about your mother. They'll just say they had sex with her, but I mean they won't say it like that you know," Towers said. "I mean they're talking that s***t, tell you you're a piece of s***t, you ain't going to amount to nothing. I mean if you beat this in to a persons head 365 days a year for five years the person's going to think that, then sooner or later he ain't going to care."

In an email to 47 ABC  the Delaware Department of Corrections (DOC) denied allegations that physical or verbal abuse ever occurred.

Towers, on the other hand, said that inmate only rebel when they feel like they don't have any other way to make their voices heard.

"We get tired of the living conditions, so we have to take it upon ourselves," Towers said. "We're not going to buck for just nothing. Something has to be wrong for us to be doing this."

Towers said Building C was the building in the worst condition at JVTCC and that inmates are forced to share cells that are only big enough for one person.

The DOC said that the cells in the building are approximately 6×9 feet.

Towers also claimed that JVTCC does not actually offer all of the rehabilitation programs they advertise, adding that's another reason inmates get fed up. 

"They need to redo C building or tear it down, they need to have more jobs, schools, programming," Towers said.
 
The DOC denied allegations about a lack of programming.  

"JTVCC offers many programs and opportunities for education including a GED program, HVAC, electrical, and other trades, culinary arts, visual arts, motor pool programs, and some college courses are also available," said Jayme Gravell, chief of community relations for the department of the commissioner, in an email to 47 ABC. 

Ultimately Towers said  the DOC should use last week as a wakeup call and take a serious look at changing the way things are done otherwise inmates will take notice and get fed up again. Towers said once that happens it will only take a few frustrated prisoners banding together to start another riot or hostage situation.

"That's all it takes is one or two to have a voice to opinion it and everybody else going to ride with it, cause everybody's tired of the conditions over there they don't offer you nothing," Towers said.

The DOC is currently investigating the situation at JTVCC including what could have been done to prevent it.

Gov. John Carney has also said that he will launch an independent investigation that will examine the immediate and underlying causes of the hostage incident. Carney said he will announce his selection to lead the investigation by February 15.