Correctional Counselor Assaulted During Basketball Game In Cheshire

CHESHIRE, CT — A correctional counselor was assaulted while trying to break up a fight between two inmates Monday at the Manson Youth Institution in Cheshire, according to union officials.

Two correctional counselors were injured in the incident, which happened during an incentive-based basketball program, according to AFSCME Local 387 President Sean Howard.

Howard said two inmates were fighting when a counselor went to separate them. A 17-year-old juvenile then started throwing multiple punches at the counselor and then ran, according to Howard.

Another counselor and staff were able to catch and restrain the juvenile.

Howard said a second counselor injured his knee during the incident. Both counselors sought treatment and are out of work, according to Howard.

It was the fourth incident within the past three weeks where correctional staff were assaulted at facilities in Connecticut, according to FOX 61.

FOX 61 reported that Gov. Ned Lamont’s office said on Sunday that Department of Correction leadership has initiated an internal review to identify areas of improvement to increase safety. An independent consulting group is also being hired to “assess the agency’s current programs and identify ways to ensure that they are meeting the highest standards of safety and compliance,” according to FOX 61.

“This continues to be a crisis inside our prisons,” Howard said in an email to Patch. “Setting up a task force or independent study is just another delay tactic by the legislators and governor. You had an attempted murder at Garner and a serious unprovoked attack at Cheshire. What more do you need to see? This needs immediate action before someone is killed. We need safety protocols put in place to protect the brave union men and women that work inside our prisons.”