Top officials at the Delaware Department of Corrections told state lawmakers that the inmate uprising at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center stemmed from long standing problems.
Correction Commissioner Perry Phelps and former Vaughn Correctional Center Warden David Pierce told the hearing that many of the issues date back to the 1970’s and 1980’s.
They added they will remain so until the underlying problems are dealt with.
Phelps told the panel that the Department of Correction was a microcosm of the community.
The Wilmington News Journal reports that this is the first time the two have spoken in public about the uprising.
But, the president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 247 Karl Hazzard complained that the hearing still had not dealt with the events leading up to the violent hostage standoff that left one prison guard dead.
He asked who would take responsibility for the death of Officer Steven Floyd.
