State Legislators Push for Increase in Prison Security

JESSUP, Md. — Fallout from the fatal stabbing of a corrections officer continues as prison officials scramble to fill 50 vacant positions and examine 800 aging locks at the House of Corrections in Jessup.

Prison officials summoned to an emergency hearing in Annapolis to testify on the rash of violent crimes within prison walls attributed increased violence to understaffing, inexperienced correctional officers and antiquated locks.

In response to scrutiny from unions and legislators, prison officials are taking steps to address concerns. The state is interviewing job candidates to fill vacancies and is consulting with two companies to examine and repair the 40 year-old locks on prison cell doors.

Since March of this year, three prison employees have been the victims of violent crimes, including David McGuinn, 42, who was stabbed to death in July.