Two separate assaults by female inmates at Albion Correctional Facility last week resulted in injuries to six correctional officers and one sergeant, with two officers requiring hospitalization, according to a statement released Monday.
The first incident occurred on January 1 at approximately 12:00 a.m. when an inmate approached an officer’s platform armed with a state-issued electric iron. The inmate threw the iron, striking the officer in the head. As the officer called for assistance, the inmate ran into the dormitory day room, followed by two other inmates. The three inmates began fighting, refusing multiple orders to stop.
Officers deployed OC spray to gain control, after which the inmates were escorted to the infirmary for decontamination and evaluation. During the escort, the primary inmate involved in the attack kicked a sergeant in both legs.
The initial officer suffered head injuries, a knee injury, and blurred vision and was transported to Medina Memorial Hospital for treatment. He did not return to duty. The sergeant and another officer sustained wrist, hand, and knee injuries but remained on duty after receiving treatment at the facility.
The inmate involved in this assault is serving a one-to-three-year sentence for third-degree burglary from Tompkins County and is eligible for parole this month.
A second assault occurred two days later, on January 3, when a different female inmate was being escorted for a mental health evaluation. During a routine pat frisk, the inmate began flailing her arms and resisting staff instructions. As staff attempted to restrain her against a wall, she suddenly spun around and struck a female officer in the face and eye socket.
Officers subdued the inmate, applying handcuffs and leg restraints after she continued to resist. The struck officer was transported to Erie County Medical Center with head injuries and dizziness and did not return to duty.
Three additional officers sustained knee, back, and shoulder injuries while subduing the inmate but remained on duty after receiving medical treatment at the facility.
The inmate in the second incident, aged 36, is serving a one-to-three-year sentence for violating probation on an initial third-degree burglary conviction from Greene County in 2023. She is eligible for parole in June.
Both incidents highlight ongoing concerns about staff safety in correctional facilities and the challenges posed by managing inmate behavior in high-stress environments.
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