Twenty-one years apart, the same inmate drove a shank into a correctional officer. The system had two decades to make sure it couldn’t happen again. It wasn’t enough.
Brings back memories of the murder of Minnesota DOC Corrections Officer Joe Gomm on 7/18/2018. Everyone was quitting after that, I went back to try and help foster change.
Thank You for bringing this subject to the general public because they never tell the truth. When Sargent Jere P. Graham was murdered on August 21 1971. All he had to defend himself with was a whistle. He was working the death row block. How many families have been devastated by not being protected from some of the most evil people behind the bars. Maybe if we made the warden’s and other officials do the job of our corrections officers and experience what these men and women do. Maybe that would start to change policies.
This is a tragic and sobering indictment of the failure to effectively address the management of incarcerated violent offenders. How many times do you have to burn yourself on the stove before you realize - yeah, it's hot - don't touch! Fire is fire - it doesn't uncharacteristically and suddenly become lukewarm and harmless. That Blaylock had over 20 incidents of prison violence on his record and was still allowed as much freedom and access within prison walls as he had was a gross failure of judgment and protocol. Officer Gonzalez' wholly unnecessary murder was due to a cascade of these failures as you laid out. The long delay in resolution of the case against Blaylock for his death is an indictment of the convolutions and machinations available in our deeply flawed criminal justice system. I can't imagine how much this weighed on his family and community. It should never have been drawn out this way. What a sad, sad story - and infuriating.
Absolutely. Ill never forget that day. I never met him, but we went on lockdown, not knowing what to expect. I used this story before to highlight what institutional complacency looks like.
Brings back memories of the murder of Minnesota DOC Corrections Officer Joe Gomm on 7/18/2018. Everyone was quitting after that, I went back to try and help foster change.
I appreciate such service. We need to do a show soon, im just swamped! But soon!
Sounds good, brother. I’m waiting for that call from County. I feel the interview went well.
Thank You for bringing this subject to the general public because they never tell the truth. When Sargent Jere P. Graham was murdered on August 21 1971. All he had to defend himself with was a whistle. He was working the death row block. How many families have been devastated by not being protected from some of the most evil people behind the bars. Maybe if we made the warden’s and other officials do the job of our corrections officers and experience what these men and women do. Maybe that would start to change policies.
Remember the past is important. So many just forget.
This is a tragic and sobering indictment of the failure to effectively address the management of incarcerated violent offenders. How many times do you have to burn yourself on the stove before you realize - yeah, it's hot - don't touch! Fire is fire - it doesn't uncharacteristically and suddenly become lukewarm and harmless. That Blaylock had over 20 incidents of prison violence on his record and was still allowed as much freedom and access within prison walls as he had was a gross failure of judgment and protocol. Officer Gonzalez' wholly unnecessary murder was due to a cascade of these failures as you laid out. The long delay in resolution of the case against Blaylock for his death is an indictment of the convolutions and machinations available in our deeply flawed criminal justice system. I can't imagine how much this weighed on his family and community. It should never have been drawn out this way. What a sad, sad story - and infuriating.
Absolutely. Ill never forget that day. I never met him, but we went on lockdown, not knowing what to expect. I used this story before to highlight what institutional complacency looks like.