Suicide Attempt Stopped By Deputies At Erie County Holding Center

Deputies at the Erie County Holding Center stopped an inmate from committing suicide. Erie County Sheriff John C. Garcia reported that deputies prevented a suicide on Wednesday, December 7, 2022. Around 20 minutes before 9 am deputies were making their rounds when they spotted the man allegedly trying to take his own life. He had a sheet wrapped around his neck and tied to the cell bars. The incarcerated individual initially resisted, but deputies were eventually able to cut the sheet from the man’s neck. He was taken to the hospital where he was discharged and returned to the holding center.

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Another Inmate Has Died At The Erie County Holding Center

There has been another death at the Erie County Holding Center in Buffalo. The incarcerated individual died on Sunday, November 27, 2022, but was not reported by the Sheriff's Office until yesterday, November 30. According to the Buffalo News, William B. Henley, is the person who died. William is a relative of Willie Henley, who was shot by Buffalo police in 2020.

William Henley, who was 57 years old, had been arraigned in Buffalo City Court on weapons charges Saturday. He was then placed in the holding center. A spokesperson for the Sheriff's Office, Scott Zylka, would not provide any details regarding Henley's death. He did say that the family, The New York State Attorney General's Office, and the New York State Commission of Correction have been notified.

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Top 9 Deadliest Prisons With The Most Deaths In New York State

The New York State Department of Corrections released a report of how many incarcerated individuals have died in its facilities for the year.

The facilities with the most deaths in 2021 were the four medical units - Coxsackie RMU, Fishkill RMU, Walsh RMU, and Wende RMU. A total of 48 inmates died at these facilities with 47 being classified as natural deaths and 1 classified as unknown. For the purposes of this list, the medical units are not included in the top 9 prisons.

Between 2017 and 2021, the mortality rate for deaths at DOCCS was 30.08 per 10,000 or 300.8 per 100,000. Based on the most recent national figures for deaths in state prisons between 2001 and 2019, New York’s mortality rate was about the same as or lower than other large states.

4. (Tie) Mid-State Correctional Facility (Medium) - 4 Deaths

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Natural - 3
Suicide - 1

4. (Tie) Fishkill Correctional Facility (Medium) - 4 Deaths

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Accident - 1
Natural - 3

4. (Tie) Coxsackie Correctional Facility (Maximum) - 4 Deaths

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Natural - 3
Suicide - 1

4. (Tie) Sing Sing Correctional Facility, formerly Ossining Correctional Facility (Maximum) - 4 Deaths

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Natural - 1
Suicide - 2
Unknown - 1

3. (Tie) Green Haven Correctional Facility (Maximum) - 6 Deaths

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Accident - 3
Natural - 2
Unknown - 1

3. (Tie) Five Points Correctional Facility (Maximum) - 6 Deaths

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Natural - 3
Suicide - 3

3. (Tie) Attica Correctional Facility (Maximum) - 6 Deaths

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Accident - 1
Natural - 4
Unknown - 1

2. Clinton Correctional Facility (Maximum) - 7 Deaths

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Accident - 3
Natural - 3
Unknown - 1

1. Elmira Correctional Facility (Maximum) - 9 Deaths

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Natural - 2
Suicide - 6
Unknown - 1

These 7 Prisons Are The Most Violent In New York State

New York released a report with the most recent number of violent assaults on inmates in state prisons. There were 134 inmate deaths noted in the report, although it doesn't break down the prisons where each death occurred or who caused them. Here's a look at some of the general violent incidents reported for 2020, which is the most recent data reported by the state. Compared to 10 years ago, inmate assaults have almost doubled. In 2011 there were 666 and in 2020 there were 1,205 reported. These numbers do not include inmate assaults on staff members. Overall, the number of unusual incidents includes things like assaults, deaths, accidents, sexual misconduct, and disruptive behavior. According to the state,

"The number of unusual incidents has increased 132% from 5,980 in 2011 to 13,870 in 2020. These higher incident numbers were largely due to increases in assaults on incarcerated individuals (+81%), assaults on staff (+86%), contraband (+130%), disruptive behavior (+372%), and staff use of weapons (+1,035%)."

In 2020, 1,836 weapons used to cut or stab, including ice picks, razor blades, can lids and shanks were discovered in state prisons around New York.