Union officials say 2 correctional officers at Iowa State Penitentiary were “violently attacked” Monday by an inmate during a routine procedure. The correctional officers across the state are being asked to work in dangerous and understaffed conditions, officials said.
Parents of registered nurse beaten with hammer by two prison inmates last year are suing the state, prison and former warden for negligence and wrongful death.
The family of a correctional officer who was killed by two inmates at Anamosa State Penitentiary last year, helped introduce two bills in the Iowa Legislature that would give correctional workers more rights and provide for their families in the event of their death.
A seven-month security review of Iowa’s prison system shows overcrowding and challenges recruiting and retaining staff create potential security risks in Iowa’s nine prisons.
Eleven family members gave heart wrenching victim impact statements about their loved ones — correctional officer Robert McFarland and nurse Lorena Schulte — during sentencing for Anamosa inmate, Thomas Woodard.
Live video plus tweets from reporter Trish Mehaffey, who is in Jones County District Court for the sentencing hearing of Thomas Woodard. Earlier this month, Woodard pleaded guilty on two counts of first-degree murder, and one count each of attempted murder and second-degree kidnapping for the March attacks on correctional officer Robert McFarland and prison nurse Lorena Schulte.
One of the Anamosa inmates charged with killing a correctional officer and nurse in March will claim self-defense in the slayings. A bench trial for Michael Dutcher remains set for Aug. 3.
Michael Dutcher will be tried Aug. 3 in Jones County, and Thomas Woodard will have his trial Sept. 21 in Linn County.
Judge offers option of open trial date Aug. 3 in Linn County.
The prosecution and defense agreed to move the trial to Linn County District Court.
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