Federal prisons lock down across the country ahead of Biden’s inauguration
Security jitters ahead of Joe Biden’s inauguration Wednesday have sparked a lockdown at every federal prison in the country.
The shutdown at more than 120 federal Bureau of Prisons facilities took effect Saturday as a “precautionary” measure, the agency said in a statement.
“There is no specific information that triggered this decision. This action is precautionary, and is not in response to any significant events occurring inside our facilities,” the Bureau of Prisons said.
Shane Fausey, the president of the Council of Prison Locals — which represents more than 30,000 prison workers — wrote in an email to staff that inmates should still be given access in small groups to showers, phones and email and can still be involved in preparing food and performing basic maintenance.
Fausey praised the lockdown in a statement to the Daily News.
“I can only applaud the leadership of the federal Bureau of Prisons for initiating this national lockdown. With patience and support of the American people, I am confident the Bureau of Prisons and our outstanding employees will resume normal operations,” he said.
The bureau last placed prisons on a nationwide lockdown in April in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. Social visits resumed in October, but many facilities have canceled them again in the latest virus spike.
A lockdown means that prisoners are kept in their cells most of the day, and that visiting is canceled.
New York’s four stand-alone federal lockups are Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan, the Federal Correctional Institution in Otisville and the Federal Correctional Institution in Ray Brook.
“In light of current events occurring around the country, and out of an abundance of caution, the decision has been made to secure all institutions,” the Bureau of Prisons’ statement said. “This measure is being taken to maintain the security and orderly running of our institutions, as well as to ensure the continued safety of staff, inmates, and the public.
“In securing the facilities, the hope is that this prudent measure is for a short period and that operations will be restored to their prior status as soon as practical.”
The bureau is moving some of its Special Operations Response Teams from prison facilities to Washington to bolster security after pro-Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
With News Wire Services
