'Established Procedures' Not Followed Ahead of Prison Escape, Review Finds

Some staff at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility did not follow proper procedures ahead of the escape of a prisoner earlier this month, the county’s review of the incident revealed.

According to the county, the failure to perform routine security checks and maintain accountability procedures of inmates may result in the termination of some staff in connection with the Sept. 1 escape.

“We take this incident seriously and we are committed to making sure it doesn’t happen again,” said Josh Shapiro, chair of the Montgomery County Commissioners.

The inmate who escaped from Montgomery County Correctional Facility manipulated a wire fence in the minimum security section of the prison and went into a nearby wooded area, county officials said. Inmate Raehib Hankerson, who entered the prison a week before the Labor Day escape, was there for a technical parole violation.

Immediately after he was discovered missing at 3:05 p.m., the facility was placed in maximum security and the county’s emergency operations center was notified to issue an alert to all county police departments. Hankerson was captured at 5:39 p.m.

County Commissioners “immediately” ordered an investigation into what happened. “The most important issue in all of this is the safety of our residents, and we are committed to doing everything possible to ensure that safety,” Shapiro said.

According to the county, the following corrective actions have been or will be taken.

• Disciplinary action to include reassignment, suspension, and possible termination of certain staff
• A complete review of the incident, reports, and physical structure was conducted
• Corrective actions already taken include security audit of the area and established procedures
• Immediate modification of the gate and fence area through which the escape occurred
• Technical Parole Violators will now immediately be sent to the MCCF classification housing unit to determine their fitness for the Community Corrections Center (the minimum security area from which Hankerson escaped)
• Community notification systems will be recommended to the county commissioners including urging residents to sign up for “Ready Notify,” the county system which alerts subscribers to important public safety information

(Photo: Montgomery County)