DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION-INMATE ASSAULTS ON STAFF AND ON OTHER INMATES

Topic:
ASSAULT; CORRECTIONS; PRISON VIOLENCE; PRISONS AND PRISONERS; STATE OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES; STATISTICAL INFORMATION;
Location:
CORRECTIONS, CT DEPT OF; PRISONS AND PRISONERS;


November 13, 2008		2008-R-0634
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION-INMATE ASSAULTS ON STAFF AND ON OTHER INMATES

By: George Coppolo, Chief Attorney Chris Reinhart, Senior Attorney Ryan O'Neil, Research Assistant

You asked us to analyze the assault data from quarterly reports the Department of Correction (DOC) files with the legislature. You also asked us to analyze the data DOC provided to the Prison Population and Correctional Officer Safety Task Force for its October 1, 2008 meeting.

SUMMARY

Assault data taken from the quarterly reports shows that during the FY 08 there were 44 more reported inmate assaults of staff than during FY 07, 65 more than in FY 06, and 43 more than in FY 05. Put in percentage terms, the number of inmate assaults on staff increased by 16.5% from FY 07 to FY 08, 26.5% from FY 06 to FY 08, and 17% from FY 05 to FY 08.

The quarterly report inmate on inmate assault data shows that during FY 08 there were 22 more assaults by inmates on other inmates than occurred in FY 07, and 43 more than occurred in FY 06. But in FY 08 there were 49 fewer than occurred in FY 05.

Put in percentage terms, the number of inmate assaults on other inmates increased by almost 4.5% from FY 07 to FY 08, and almost 9% from FY 06 to 08. But the number of inmate on inmate assaults decreased by 8% from FY 08 to FY 05.

The data DOC provided to the task force for its October 1, 2008 meeting covers the period 1994 through August 2008. The data is presented system wide as well as facility by facility. For our analysis, we projected the number of assaults for all of 2008 based on the number that were reported during the first eight months. This data also shows a trend in the past few calendar years of increasing incidents of assaults on staff by inmates. For example, it shows the projected number of inmate assaults on staff for 2008 will be higher than the number in three of the past four years, and the number of inmate on staff assaults was higher in 2007 than in the prior three years.

The long run trends shown by this data paint a less clear picture. The actual number of staff assaults in 2007 was more than occurred in 1997 through 1999 but fewer than occurred in 2000 through 2003, and fewer than occurred in 1994 through 1996.

MANDATED QUARTERLY REPORTS

CGS § 18-81t requires the DOC commissioner to submit reports of quarterly data to the governor and Judiciary and Labor committees on the number of:

1. filed inmate disciplinary reports,

2. reported inmate assaults on custodial staff,

3. reported inmate assaults on other inmates, and

4. filed workers' compensation claims by custodial staff.

DOC submitted its first quarterly report on September 28, 2004 for the first quarter of FY 2005 (July 1, 2004 through September 30, 2004). It subsequently filed quarterly reports dated October 31, 2005; November 2, 2006; January 29, 2007; May 18, 2007; August 9, 2007; November 14, 2007; February 8, 2008; May 6, 2008; and September 29, 2008.

Each quarterly report provides data for the current quarter as well as the data for the previous quarter, and the quarter one year from the current quarter. For example, the report for the first quarter of FY 08 also presents data for the last quarter of FY 07 (the previous quarter) and data for the first quarter of FY 07 (the same quarter of the prior fiscal year). Even though DOC did not file reports each quarter, we were able to compile data for each calendar quarter for fiscal years 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 and two quarters in FY 04.

Discrepancies in Data on Some Quarterly Reports

There were a few discrepancies in the data DOC has presented in the mandated quarterly reports between the data presented for a current calendar quarter and the data DOC presented for that same quarter in a subsequent report. We only found one discrepancy in data for inmate on staff assaults and one for inmate on inmate assaults.

Regarding inmate on staff assaults, the report for the third quarter of FY 08 (dated May 6, 2008) reports the number of inmate assaults on staff during the third quarter at 58, but the report for the fourth quarter of FY 08 (dated September 29, 2008) reports the number for the third quarter of FY 08 as 63.

Regarding inmate on inmate assaults, the DOC quarterly report for the third quarter of FY 08 (dated May 6, 2008) reports the number of inmate on inmate assaults during the third quarter as 123 but the quarterly report for the fourth quarter of FY 08 (dated September 29, 2008) reports the number of inmate on inmate assaults as 131 for the third quarter of FY 08.

Because Lena Ferguson, legislative liaison for DOC, advised us that the number subsequently reported by DOC for a quarter is more likely to be the accurate one, we have used that figure in the tables below.

STAFF ASSAULT DATA FROM DOC QUARTERLY REPORTS

Table 1 shows the number of inmate assaults on staff reported in DOC's quarterly reports. Chart 1, which follows Table 1, shows this same data in chart format.

Table 1: Inmate Assaults on Custodial Staff, FY 04 through FY 08,

DOC Totals for All Facilities


*Date of Report*	*Quarter*	*Inmate Assaults on Custodial Staff*	*% change from last quarter*	*% change from last year*
FY 04
	1st Q	76
	2nd Q
	3rd Q
	4th Q	80
FY 05
10/28/2004	1st Q	77	(3.75)	1.32
	2nd Q	53	(31.17)
	3rd Q	59	11.32
	4th Q	78	32.20
	FY 05 Total	267
FY 06
10/31/2005	1st Q	59	(24.36)	(23.38)
1/31/2006	2nd Q	68	15.25	28.30
	3rd Q	62	(8.82)	5.08
	4th Q	56	(9.68)	(28.21)
	FY 06 Total	245
FY 07
11/2/2006	1st Q	66	17.86	6.45
1/29/2007	2nd Q	64	(3.03)	(5.88)
5/18/2007	3rd Q	67	4.69	8.06
8/9/2007	4th Q	69	2.99	23.21
	FY 07 Total	266
FY 08
11/14/2007	1st Q	89	28.99	34.85
2/8/2008	2nd Q	77	(13.48)	20.31
5/6/2008	3rd Q	63	(18.18)	(5.97)
9/29/08	4th Q	81	28.57	17.39
	FY 08 Total	310

Chart 1: Inmate Assaults on Custodial Staff, FY 05 through FY 08, DOC Totals for All Facilities

Analysis of Staff Assault Data in Quarterly Reports

Assault data taken from the quarterly reports shows that during FY 08 there were:

● 44 more reported inmate assaults of staff than during FY 07,

● 65 more than in FY 06, and

● 43 more than in FY 05.

The data also shows that the number of staff assaults reported in FY 08 is more than any of the previous three years.

Put in percentage terms, the number of inmate assaults on staff increased by:

● 16.5% from FY 07 to FY 08,

● 26.5% from FY 06 to 08, and

● 17% from FY 05 to FY 08.

Inmate on Inmate Assaults-from DOC Quarterly Reports

Table 2 shows the number of inmate assaults on inmates reported in DOC's quarterly reports. Chart 2, which follows Table 2, shows this same data in chart format.

Table 2: Inmate Assaults on Other Inmates FY 04, through FY 08,

DOC Totals for All Facilities


*Date of Report*	*Quarter*	*Inmate Assaults on Other Inmates*	*% change from last quarter*	*% change from last year*
FY 04
	1st Q	210
	2nd Q
	3rd Q
	4th Q	154
FY 05
10/28/2004	1st Q	189	22.73	(10.00)
	2nd Q	150	(20.63)
	3rd Q	112	(25.33)
	4th Q	127	13.39
	FY 05 Total	578
FY 06
10/31/2005	1st Q	112	(11.81)	(40.74)
1/31/2006	2nd Q	110	(1.79)	(1.79)
	3rd Q	124	12.73	(2.36)
	4th Q	140	12.90	25.00
	FY 06 Total	486
FY 07
11/2/2006	1st Q	156	11.43	39.29
1/29/2007	2nd Q	108	(30.77)	(1.82)
5/18/2007	3rd Q	125	15.74	0.81
8/9/2007	4th Q	118	(5.60)	(15.71)
	FY 07 Total	507
FY 08
11/14/2007	1st Q	115	(2.54)	(26.28)
2/8/2008	2nd Q	130	13.04	20.37
5/6/2008	3rd Q	131	0.77	4.80
9/29/08	4th Q	153	16.79	29.66
	FY 08 Total	529

Chart 2: Inmate Assaults on Other Inmates, FY 05 through FY 08

Inmate on inmate assault data shows that during FY 08 there were 22 more assaults by inmates on other inmates than occurred in FY 07, and 43 more than occurred in FY 06. But in FY 08 there were 49 fewer than occurred in FY 05.

ASSAULT DATA ON CALENDAR YEAR BASIS FROM 1994 THROUGH AUGUST 2008 WITH PROJECTIONS FOR ALL OF 2008

Table 3 shows the number of inmate assaults on staff and on other inmates and the number of disciplinary reports from January 1994 through August 2008. DOC provided this data to the Prison Population and Correctional Officer Safety Task Force for its October 1, 2008 meeting. Chart 3, which follows Table 3, shows the staff assault data in chart format. Chart 4 shows the inmate on inmate assault data in chart form. We projected the amount of assaults and disciplinary reports for all of 2008 based on the data provided for January through August. We did this by taking the average number for each of the eight months and multiplying it by 12. Of course, the actual number may be different.

This data also reports the number of Level 1 and Level 2 assaults of staff. DOC determine which level an assault is based on a point system that looks at whether a weapon was used and how serious the injuries were as determined by the type of medical treatment required. This distinction between levels of assaults is explained in a recent OLR report, 2008-R-0549. The consequences to the inmate of the classification under DOC's internal penal code are discussed in another recent report 2008-R-0552.

Table 3: Assault and Disciplinary Report Data, January 1994 to August 2008 with 2008 Projection for Full Calendar Year-DOC Totals for All facilities

*Year*	*Inmate* *on Inmate* *Assault*	*Inmate on* *Staff Assault* *Level 1*	*Inmate on* *Staff Assault* *Level 2*	*Inmate on* *Staff Assault* *Total*	*Disciplinary* *Reports* *Written*	*Informal* *Reports* *Written*
1994	1,371	26	509	535	30,887	16,780
1995	968	45	335	380	34,896	22,705
1996	1,015	29	277	306	33,156	20,328
1997	928	33	266	299	30,887	19,268
1998	930	9	268	277	30,371	18,628
1999	1,008	4	250	254	29,790	17,733
2000	900	3	315	318	27,132	16,177
2001	1,008	4	319	323	24,885	14,072
2002	1,007	7	314	321	24,891	14,325
2003	952	11	311	322	24,790	11,369
2004	678	8	262	270	22,045	10,272
2005	479	13	265	278	19,620	8,587
2006	528	1	247	248	19,702	9,604
2007	488	2	300	302	20,453	8,304
2008 (Jan.-Aug.)	351	2	193	195	13,756	5,092
2008 (projected)	527	3	290	293	20,634	7,638

Chart 3: DOC Inmate on Staff Assaults, Calendar Years 1994 to 2008

This data shows a trend in the past few calendar years of increasing incidents of assaults on staff by inmates. For example, it shows:

● the projected number of inmate assaults on staff for 2008 will be higher than the number in three of the past four years; and

● the number of inmate on staff assaults was higher in 2007 than in the prior three years.

The long run trends paint a less clear picture. The actual number of staff assaults in 2007 was more than occurred in 1997 through 1999 but fewer than occurred in 2000 through 2003, and fewer than occurred in 1994 through 1996.

Likewise, the projected number of staff assaults in 2008 is more than occurred in six of the years since 1994 but fewer than occurred in nine of those years.

Inmate on Inmate Assaults

The number of inmate on inmate assaults during the past four years has fluctuated from a low of 479 to a high of 528. But the number of inmate on inmate assaults in recent years is much lower than the numbers reported from 1994 to 2004.

Chart 4: Inmate on Inmate Assaults 1994 through 2008

The following chart shows the inmate on staff and inmate on inmate data on the same chart. Please note that the scale on the left is for inmate on inmate assaults and the scale on the right is for inmate on staff assaults.

Chart 5: Inmate on Staff and Inmate on Inmate Assaults, 1994 through 2008

INMATE ON STAFF ASSAULTS BY LEVEL AND FACILITY

Table 4 below displays the number of Level 1 and Level 2 assaults in each facility from 1994 through August 2008. It also shows the percentage of all staff assaults in each facility that were Level 1 assaults.

Table 4: Inmate on Staff Assaults, 1994 through August 2008, by Assault Level


*Inmate on Staff Assaults*
*Facility* *(period covered)*	*Level 1*	*Level 2*	*Total*	*Level 1 as a Percentage of Staff Assaults at the Facility* *(Bold indicates the facility is above the overall DOC average)*
Bergin (2001 to 8/08)	1	22	23	4.3%
Bridgeport (1994 to 8/08)	28	233	261	10.7%
Brooklyn (1994 to 8/08)	2	25	27	7.4%
Cheshire (1994 to 8/08)	8	407	415	1.9%
Corrigan/Radgowski (1994 to 8/08)	20	284	304	6.6%
Carl Robinson (1994 to 8/08)	3	123	126	2.4%
Enfield (1994 to 8/08)	5	50	55	9.1%
Garner (1994 to 8/08)	25	469	494	5.1%

-Continued-


*Inmate on Staff Assaults*
*Facility* *(period covered)*	*Level 1*	*Level 2*	*Total*	*Level 1 as a Percentage of Staff Assaults at the Facility* *(Bold indicates the facility is above the overall DOC average)*
Hartell (1994 to 1995)	0	0	0	0.0%
Hartford (1994 to 8/08)	15	351	366	4.1%
JB Gates (1994 to 8/08)	5	115	120	4.2%
JRDC (1994 to 1995)	0	3	3	0.0%
MacDougall/Walker (1994 to 8/08)	20	340	360	5.6%
Maloney (1994 to 1996)	0	1	1	0.0%
Manson (1994 to 8/08)	9	186	195	4.6%
MSDC (1994 to 1995)	4	31	35	11.4%
New Haven (1994 to 8/08)	9	256	265	3.4%
Northern (1994 to 8/08)	23	518	541	4.3%
Osborn (1994 to 8/08)	9	275	284	3.2%
Webster (1994 to 8/08)	0	65	65	0.0%
Williard-Cybulski (1994 to 8/08)	3	61	64	4.7%
WSATU (1994 to 1995)	0	2	2	0.0%
York-Niantic (1994 to 8/08)	8	614	622	1.3%
All Facilities	197	4,431	4,628	4.3%

Based on the data provided by DOC for all facilities from 1994 through August 2008, there were 4,628 inmate-on-staff assaults. Of these, 197 or 4.3% were Level 1 assaults. Of the facilities still in operation today, Bridgeport has the highest percentage of Level 1 assaults during this period at 11.4% and Webster has the lowest at 0% (no Level 1 assaults during this entire period).

Table 5 below indicates the number of staff assaults by level, facility, and by the facility's security level from 2004 through August 2008.

Table 5: Staff Assaults by Assault Level, Facility, and Facility Security Level, 2004 through August 2008

*Facility*	*Security Level*	*Inmate on Staff Assault Level 1*	*Inmate on Staff Assault Level 2*
Bergin	2	1	14
Bridgeport	4	2	68
Brooklyn	3	0	4
Cheshire	4	1	29
Corrigan/Radgowski	3/4	3	71

-Continued-

*Facility*	*Security Level*	*Inmate on Staff Assault Level 1*	*Inmate on Staff Assault Level 2*
Carl Robinson	3	2	32
Enfield	3	0	16
Garner	4	4	272
Hartford	4	4	69
Gates	2	0	17
McDougall/Walker	4/5	2	67
Manson	4	3	88
New Haven	4	3	68
Northern	5	1	99
Osborn	3	0	76
Webster	2	0	6
Willard/Cybulski	2	0	17
York	2-5	0	224
Total		25	1,237

Table five shows that from January 1, 2004 through August 2008, there were 25 Level 1 assaults of staff by inmates in the prison system as a whole. This accounted for about two percent of all staff assaults.

The facilities that reported the most Level 1 assaults during this period were Garner and Hartford, which each had four. The facilities with the next highest were Corrigan/Radgowski, Manson and New Haven, which each had three.

Seven facilities did not report any Level 1 assaults during this period:

1. Brooklyn,

2. Enfield,

3. Gates,

4. Osborn,

5. Webster,

6. Willard/Cybulski, and

7. York.

Regarding Level 2 assaults reported during this time period, Garner reported the highest number at 272, York the next highest at 224, Northern the third highest at 99, and Manson the fourth highest at 88.

The institutions with the fewest Level 2 assaults during this nearly five-year period were Brooklyn which reported 4, Webster with 6, and Bergin with 14.

Nineteen of the 25 Level 1 assaults occurred in facilities at security level 4 and 1 occurred in a facility with a security level 5.

ASSAULT DATA FROM 1994 THROUGH AUGUST 2008 WITH PROJECTION FOR ALL OF 2008 FOR EACH DOC FACILITY

This section of the report presents the assault data provided to the task force by DOC in table and chart form for each institution arranged alphabetically. For each facility we have created:

1. a table with year by year assault data,

2. a chart showing inmate assaults on staff on a yearly basis,

3. a chart showing inmate assaults on other inmates on a yearly basis, and

4. a chart showing inmate assaults on staff and on other inmates.

The assault trends for each facility do not show a fixed pattern. Some are increasing and some are decreasing. But for most facilities, the number of assaults reported during the past three or four years are lower than the number reported during previous years.

The assault data did show that:

1. Garner has had a steady increase from 2001 to the present,

2. New Haven is showing a spike between 2007 and the projected number for 2008, and

3. Northern has shown a steady increase since 2005.

Bergin 1994 to 2008

(2008 projected from 8 months of data)

*Facility*	*Year*	*Inmate on Inmate Assault*	*Inmate on Staff Assault Total*	*Inmate on Staff Assault Level 1*	*Inmate on Staff Assault Level 2*	*Disciplinary Reports Written*	*Informal Reports Written*
BERGIN	2001	23	2	0	2	458	635
BERGIN	2002	21	4	0	4	660	921
BERGIN	2003	54	2	0	2	924	584
BERGIN	2004	38	4	0	4	1081	815
BERGIN	2005	15	2	1	1	1128	839
BERGIN	2006	10	4	0	4	875	773
BERGIN	2007	22	3	0	3	1245	902
	2008 (proj)	32	3	0	3	1029	642
BERGIN	2008	21	2	0	2	686	428

Bergin 1994 to 2008