In this account, we share the disturbing experiences of elder residents who have been victims of robbery, theft, and armed threats, all within the walls of the Northeast Correctional Center. Despite clear evidence and the involvement of corrections staff, these incidents were not reported to the appropriate authorities, leaving the residents vulnerable and unprotected.
These events highlight a severe failure in the system that is supposed to ensure the safety and security of all incarcerated individuals. The lack of accountability and action in response to these crimes is a grave injustice that demands attention and reform.
The following message was sent to Missouri Prison Reform by a resident at Northeast Correctional Center:
“On 2/1/24, a Corrections Guard let offender’s into the cell of T****** W**** and E*** C******* at the Northeast Correctional Center. This happened on the B-Side of the camp, 10 House, cell 129.
A television, blankets, clothing (both state and personal) were stolen. The Warden viewed this on cameras play back.
On 3/23/24 T.W. and E.C. were now in 9 House, B-Side of the same camp. This time, two entered our cell, and threatened W. with knife’s, stealing his canteen and TV. I was in the day room, with my back to the cell. W. called me into the cell to tell me what had just happened! He was obviously terrified! As we discussed what to do, the thug’s showed back up. They told both of us, ” if we say anything to anyone, they will kill us.”
Since, at 10 House, I had reported the previous theft/robbery with little to no concern, of the Corrections Officer or the Functional Unit Manager, neither thought anyone would listen here either. Especially since, the staff, including, Corrections and F.U.M. did nothing to prevent the offender’s traffic from other wing’s or house’s from entering ours.
So at this point, T.W. called his wife and instructed her to call the front office, and report the armed robbery. Neither wanted to get stabbed.
But why were these incidents not reported to the Inspector General as Hate Crime’s had been committed against two elderly handicapped residents, one in a wheelchair, one over sixty and the other over seventy. And one perpetrator K.J. being accused of the same m.o. at the Crossroads Correctional Center against another handicapped resident, a Paul Shelton.
I E.C., was robbed of twelve years of personal property, and valued at over $2000.00, and that doesn’t count the loss of T.W.
We were repeatedly robbed, between 12:20 pm and 2:30ish, when Corrections Staff from A-Side showed up to take us into Protective Custody. Four times nine other offender’s were in and out of our cell stealing everything! , TV’s, typewriter, blankets, fan, clothing, ice chest, reading light, Art’s supplies and Art’s box, alarm clock, and many other items and canteen. These thieves were in and out of our cell at least four time’s. Staff did nothing, and blamed me! I’m not in charge of Safety and Security. And the F.U.M., Ms. M****, even accused me of not trying to stop them. A seventy year old against a gang of hoodlum’s. I follow the rules, and since I filed a grievance on the staff for this incident, F.U.M. Ms. M**** wrote me up for a phone call.
Still to date, nothing has been done! Won’t even tell me who the thieves were!
And there’s Hundreds of stories like mine of residents in 2 House, P.C. of Northeast Correctional Center. Where other institutions send those to be robbed and assaulted.
