As Hurricane Florence barrels towards the Carolinas and West Virginia as a category 4 storm, millions of residents are preparing to escape. However, despite mandatory evacuations, the occupants of one prison are being forced to stay put.
“Right now, we’re not in the process of moving inmates,” S.C. Department of Corrections spokesman Dexter Lee said. “In the past, it’s been safer to leave them there.”
The prison, located in Jasper County, currently holds 934 inmates and up to 120 staff members. According to The State online publication, staff members who were pre-scheduled to work during the dates of the storm will not be able to change or alter their schedule in any way.
S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster provided danger zone maps for residents highlighting the most dangerous areas of the state in the hurricane’s path. Ridgeland fell amongst the most dangerous location. Still, McMaster lifted the area’s evacuation ban Tuesday following questions about the prisoners. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Similar tactics were practiced with prisoners during Hurricane Katrina. ACLU chronicled their “horrific” experience. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
“As floodwaters rose in the OPP buildings, power was lost, and entire buildings were plunged into darkness. Deputies left their posts wholesale, leaving behind prisoners in locked cells, some standing in sewage-tainted water up to their chests,” prisoners recalled.
Now, many residents around the country are calling for action to prevent these things from happening in South Carolina. Despite multiple tweets, phone calls, and memos, no update on the prisoners evacuation status has been made thus far.
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