Thesis on "Arizona Department of Corrections 2004 Hostage Situation"

Thesis 4 pages (1330 words) Sources: 5 Style: APA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Arizona Dept. Of Corrections 2004 Hostage Situation

In order to understand how questions arose as part of the investigation of the incident, we need to analyze the significant events that occurred during this crisis and how the issues raised can be resolved so that such a crisis cannot reoccur.

Taking Hostages

At 3:15 A.M. On January 18, 2004, Ricky K. Wassenaar, an inmate, entered the kitchen area of the Lewis Prison Complex in Arizona, where a female civilian and a male security guard were talking and making pancakes. Steven Coy, a second convict, came in right behind Wassenaar and blocked the door. Wassenaar displayed his "shank" (home-made knife) and told the two employees it was an "escape" and he told the male guard to take off his shirt and boots. The female employee was tied up, Wassenaar shaved off his beard and put on the prison guard's uniform. An hour after first entering the kitchen, he exited to try to gain access to the prison security tower. As soon as he left, Coy sexually assaulted the female civilian employee.

Taking the Tower

At the same time, Wassenaar approached the security gate to the tower, presented his stolen security badge, and was buzzed in by one of the guards in the tower who thought he was another security officer. By policy, the tower guards were unarmed and Wassenaar overpowered the male guard by striking him with a 30-inch soup ladle he had brought with him from the kitchen. The female guard was handcuffed. Then both guards were forced to tell Wassenaar where the weapons were and how to operate the security control panel.

At 4:50 A.M. The escape was still undetected, and Coy remained in the kitchen waiting for a phone call from Wassenaar which he received. After a couple of altercations with guards, Coy was able to make it out to the security gate to the tower, but was apprehended by more guards. Wassenaar, having unlocked the tower weapons, fired an AK-47 assault rifle at the guards, chased them off and let Coy into the tower. Shortly after entering the tower, Coy sexually assaulted the female guard.

Around 5 a.m. The prison security forces were alerted. Then all relevant authorities, including the governor, were notified. By 7:45 A.M. SWAT teams were present, snipers were in position, and hostage negotiators were at the complex.

Fifteen Days of Negotiations

Thirty different negotiators continued to talk with the inmates over the 15-day crisis. Sixteen law enforcement agencies are represented at the site. Small concessions were made on both sides. Via a robot, food, coffee, and cigarettes were delivered to the escapees. Inmates turned over some of the prescription drugs, their shanks, and pieces of ammunition (NICIC, 2004). Saturday, January 24th, the male hostage is released by the convicts.

The negotiations continue until February 1st, when the inmates surrender.

Analysis and Findings

~One of the primary reasons the two escapees got as far as they did was because they had a weapon -- the shank. But they supposedly had to go through a pat-down search upon exiting the dormitory and another one when entering the kitchen. It was found that the kitchen entry search was not accomplished. And it is supposed that the convicts could have previously buried the weapon in the yard and picked it up on the way to the kitchen after the dormitory pat-down. Or it may have been hidden in the kitchen to avoid both potential searches. But the kitchen area had been routinely searched just a few hours earlier. Had the kitchen search been conducted, there is a good chance the weapon would have been found. Whether or not that would have stopped the attempt is unknown. The pat-down search procedure, either as written or as accomplished, was unsatisfactory.

The recommendations for this problem would consist of increased and regular training for pat-down searches and emphasis on carrying them out thoroughly when they are done.

Random, no-notice cell searches should be conducted to detect… READ MORE

How to Reference "Arizona Department of Corrections 2004 Hostage Situation" Thesis in a Bibliography

Related Thesis Papers:

Arizon Department of Corrections Morey Unit 2004 Term Paper

Arizon Department of Corrections Morey Unit 2004 hostage situation

2004 Hostage Situation

Hostage taking or any other crisis can be envisioned and contingency planning and crisis planning can be created… read more

Term Paper 5 pages (2200 words) Sources: 3 Style: APA Topic: Crime / Police / Criminal Justice

---

Hostage Situation One of the First Actions Thesis

Hostage Situation

One of the first actions that a psychologist must perform is to determine what type of hostage-taker the officers are dealing with. There are three general types of… read more

Thesis 5 pages (1765 words) Sources: 5 Style: APA Topic: Psychology / Behavior / Psychiatry

---

Corrections Our Philosophy Regarding Crime and Punishment Essay

Corrections

Our philosophy regarding crime and punishment has shifted at various times in our history. Describe the relationship between social contexts and the justification for punishment. Historically, how have society's… read more

Essay 5 pages (1723 words) Sources: 3 Topic: Crime / Police / Criminal Justice

---

Arizona Over Use of Natural Resources and the Shortage of Waters Research Proposal

Arizona Water Shortage

Arizona's Water Resources

Arizona citizens may face a crisis the size of the Sonoma Desert if water supplies into the Colorado River do not increase in the… read more

Research Proposal 5 pages (1688 words) Sources: 6 Style: MLA Topic: Urban Studies / City Planning / Housing

---

Corrections New Jersey Sentencing Laws Research Proposal

Corrections

New Jersey Sentencing Laws

The concept of corrections can be defined as the treatment of offenders through a system of penal incarceration, rehabilitation, probation, and parole. The main goal… read more

Research Proposal 6 pages (1901 words) Sources: 1+ Topic: Crime / Police / Criminal Justice

---

View 100+ more related papers  >>