Warning: The following testimonies are highly disturbing and detail instances of neglect, violence, and theft facilitated by correctional officers. Reader discretion is advised.
At Missouri Prison Reform, we’ve received multiple reports from residents across several facilities detailing instances where corrections officers (COs) actively facilitated theft and even violence against vulnerable individuals in their cells. We’ve edited their testimonies to protect their identities, ensuring that they are shielded from potential retaliation by correctional staff. However, these accounts remain as accurate and raw as the residents themselves shared:
Testimonies from Residents
FROM JEFFERSON CITY CORRECTIONAL CENTER:
“Here we are again with another ongoing problem. Staff here are allowing offenders to travel from housing unit to housing unit to rob cells There’s been four cells robbed in housing unit 4 in the past week. When the staff finds the stolen property in three house, they write a conduct violation to the offender for transferring property amongst offenders, even though the property was stolen.”
FROM JEFFERSON CITY CORRECTIONAL CENTER:
“The Jefferson City Correctional Center Staff are not providing safety and security as they allow offenders to enter other houses and wings to rob cells.
Today Two offenders robbed an older man suffering from cancer! There were three officers in the bubble and saw this take place and did nothing!
Two or more offenders will push their way into a cell armed with knives and steal everything from those there. These offenders doing the stealing are in the lockdown wings and they target those in the honor wings who are working and doing what they should.
The robbery today repercussions that someone will end up getting hurt or murdered all because correctional staff are trying to get dates in the bubble or just being paid to turn a blind eye.”
FROM JEFFERSON CITY CORRECTIONAL CENTER:
“On Sept. 15, a Sunday, my celly’s whole tube was stolen while we went to chow evening meal.15-20 min time span.
A tube holding his deodorant ,food, soap, shampoo etc….we locked the door as we left however the C.O’s had to have opened the door for the thieves and d.o.c has done nothing. His family called and reported it…. and the people who did it are never written up or spoken to. This is all on camera. A whole gray tube issued for us to store our property was taken.
Can you give me advice if my things are ever taken???”
FROM NORTHEAST CORRECTIONAL CENTER:
“NECC NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED WITH ALL THE STEALING, OFFENDERS GOING INTO HOUSING UNITS THEY DON’T LIVE IN OFFICERS OPENING THE SECURED HOUSING UNIT ENTRANCE DOOR THEN A WING DOOR AND THEN A LOCKED CELL DOOR, OFFICERS OPENING ALL THESE DOORS TO ALLOW OTHERS TO ROB THE INDIVIDUALS THAT LIVE THERE, IF THE INDIVIDUALS ARE IN THE CELL THEY GET THE CRAP BEAT OUT OF THEM!!!
WHAT’S IT GOING TO TAKE TO GAIN CONTROL???
WHAT CAN WE DO TO GET THE ATTENTION NEEDED TO GET SOMETHING’S CORRECTED???”
FROM NORTHEAST CORRECTIONAL CENTER:
“It is policy of the Department of Corrections to report, to the Inspector General immediately case’s of Misconduct.
This is not done at many Department of Corrections facilities. Such as the incidents of robbery, theft, and armed robbery with deadly weapons, as these two listed.
On 2/1/24, a Corrections Guard let offender’s into the cell of (two residents at the Northeast Correctional Center.) This happened on the B-Side of the camp, ** House, cell ***.
A television, blankets, clothing (both state and personal) were stolen. The Warden viewed this on cameras playback.
On 3/23/24 ******** and ****** were now in * House,*-Side of the same camp. This time, two entered our cell, and threatened ****** with knife’s, stealing his canteen and TV. I was in the day room, with my back to the cell.
******* 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 ** 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, ******* called his wife. He instructed his wife 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 ********* being accused of the same m.o. at the Crossroads Correctional Center against another handicapped resident.
I was robbed of twelve years of personal property, and valued at over $2000.00, and that doesn’t count the loss of ******’s.
We were repeatedly robbed, between 12:20 pm and 2:30ish, when Corrections Staff from *-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 times. Staff did nothing, and blamed me! I’m not in charge of Safety and Security. And the F.U.M., Ms. *****, 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. ****** 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 ** House, P.C. of Northeast Correctional Center. Where other institutions send those to be robbed and assaulted.”
A Call for Accountability and Reform
These testimonies highlight a disturbing pattern of neglect and complicity within Missouri’s correctional facilities, where correctional officers are not only failing to protect vulnerable residents but are, in some cases, enabling theft and violence against them. The residents’ reports of indifference, retaliation, and disregard from staff make it clear that the prison system is failing in its duty to provide basic safety and security. Instead, those trying to follow the rules and improve their lives are being targeted, silenced, and, in some cases, punished for speaking up.
Missouri Prison Reform calls for an urgent investigation into these practices and a renewed commitment to protecting the dignity and safety of every individual within the correctional system. True reform will only happen with independent oversight, transparent reporting, and accountability for those in positions of power. Without this, the safety of residents will continue to be compromised, and the system will remain broken.
Hello my name is Tonia mansell my son was murdered eastern diagnosis correctional center in bonna tera, mo st Frances Co on april 18th 24 if any one can help the coroner ruled his death as a homicide n said a guard n w as involved also an inmate