Correctional officers fired after inmate's escape from hospital

Two correctional officers assigned to a maximum-security inmate who escaped from a Laurel hospital last month have been fired after an investigation showed departmental policies and procedures were not ...

[Rick]

The way it works in the US is the family of Poke will sue the state for allowing Poke to escape.The guards family will sue the state for not training the guards right.The state will have to pay the lawsuit using taxpayers money. Is this a great country or what!

[DDL]

Welcome to America, the land of any idiot can make a lawsuit but you are so right.

[Paulinus Nwosu]

Division of correction is very good at finding scape goats when their policy fails. The intermidiate supervision i.e Lieutenant, Captains and Majors regularly ridicule officers who attempt to follow the regulation or indirectly advise the to cut corners. For instance, if the officers had called the institution about needing a relief, for the officers, the response from supervisors are usually, "we dont have any officer, do what you have to do". In other occassions, one officer is assigned to guard dangerous inmates the the wardens encourage these by turning a blind eye when officers complain. I know these because I worked in DOC for nine years and have taken inmates to hospitals, courts etc.

[Kevin Hargrave]

It's sad that correctional officers suffer throught poor system operation. As a former officer from the former MHC-Annex and having been in the position to secure an inmate in the Laurel Hospital, which is absolutely not secure I wonder if anyone has put themselves in these officers shoes and maybe somehow someone will realize that Maryland needs comprehesive and secure means of treating DANGEROUS inmates with nothing to lose instead of putting it on the shoulders of State Correctional Officers that get little if any support from surrounding law enforement and other elements to help maintain the custody and control of these inmates while they are outside of the facility. In some cases the hospital runs should not be allowed until these elements are assured. Sounds harsh well then join me over here in Afghanistan where if I get shot I may have to wait for hours to get to a hospital if ever.