NCJ Number
49517
Date Published
1975
Length
155 pages
Annotation
AN ESCAPE ATTEMPT DURING WHICH 3 INMATES HELD 16 HOSTAGES 11 DAYS IN THE LIBRARY OF THE HUNTSVILLE UNIT OF THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS IS DESCRIBED BY ONE OF THE HOSTAGES.
Abstract
THE SIEGE, WHICH TOOK PLACE IN JULY 1974, IS SAID TO BE THE LONGEST ESCAPE ATTEMPT IN UNITED STATES PENAL HISTORY. THE PERPETRATORS. ARMED WITH GUNS SMUGGLED INTO THE PRISON, HELD LIBRARIANS, TEACHERS, A PRIEST, A PRISON GUARD, AND FOUR INMATES AS HOSTAGES. THE SITUATION CULMINATED IN AN ESCAPE ATTEMPT, WITH THE PERPETRATORS AND FOUR OF THE HOSTAGES LEAVING THE BUILDING INSIDE A JURY-RIGGED SHIELD SURROUNDED BY THE REMAINING HOSTAGES. TWO HOSTAGES AND TWO PERPETRATORS WERE KILLED IN THE ESCAPE ATTEMPT. A DETAILED, DAY-BY-DAY ACCOUNT OF THE SIEGE, THE NEGOTIATIONS, THE ESCAPE ATTEMPT, AND THE AFTERMATH IS PRESENTED FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF ONE OF THE HOSTAGES, THE PRISON LIBRARIAN. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION INCLUDES INFORMATION ON THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND THE EDUCATION PROGRAM IN WHICH SEVERAL OF THE HOSTAGES WERE INVOLVED, A REVIEW OF THE CRITICISM LEVELED AGAINST THE DEPARTMENT FOR ITS HANDLING OF THE SITUATION, AND AN ACCOUNT OF THE TRIAL OF THE SURVIVING ESCAPEE. PHOTOGRAPHS ILLUSTRATE THE TEXT. (LKM) AND THE EDUCATION PROGRAM IN WHICH SEVERAL OF THE