Sources at Lieber Correctional Institution – a level three (maximum security) facility in Ridgeville, South Carolina – tell us an inmate at the prison was stabbed Wednesday during an assault.
The inmate’s injuries were reportedly serious enough to result in him being transported to a nearby medical facility, we’re told.
It’s the latest example of escalating violence behind the walls of the Palmetto State’s prisons … which are about to come under the microscope of a legislative oversight committee.
Sources at Lieber tell us the S.C. Department of Corrections (SCDC) has launched an investigation into the incident, but given the lack of information forthcoming from inmates they aren’t confident they’ll be able to get to the bottom of the situation.
Lieber was the site of a high-profile escape back in July that badly exposed SCDC’s lingering problems. Since then, however, a new warden has reportedly made progress in bringing violence at the institution under control.
Until this week, anyway …
The Lieber stabbing comes just days after a fatal stabbing at another maximum security prison – Lee Correctional Institution near Bishopville, S.C. It also comes days after a stabbing at Turbeville Correctional Institution – a level two (medium security) facility in Turbeville, S.C. – was captured on a contraband prison cell phone.
For our report on the Turbeville stabbing, click here …
For our latest look at the prison system itself, click here …
Are there any easy answers when it comes to reducing the violence behind bars? Probably not … but we’re going to continue doing our best to report the facts as we know them while offering our views on what should be done in response to them.
Stay tuned …
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