Inmate’s death at state prison in Newtown ruled homicide

NEWTOWN — Surrounded by lush trees and sprawled across 188 acres of manicured property, Garner Correctional Institution is out of view for most residents of this semirural town of stone walls and Victorian homes.

The maximum-security prison is home to 500 or so of the state’s worst inmates — those guilty of violent crimes such as robbery and assault. Some 48 cells are reserved as segregation units to protect other inmates living in cramped pods.

But that dangerous mix burst into the spotlight when state officials declared the death of J’Allen Jones, 31, of Atlanta, a homicide last week. Jones, who had a history of mental illness, died in March while being restrained by guards armed with pepper spray.

“It’s alarming,” said Dan Barrett, legal director of the Connecticut chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.

“This was a guy who had mental illness,” Barrett said. “It makes you wonder if they should be subjected to force or command-and-control tactics. It’s very disturbing.”

Jones’ death lifts the veil over a secretive prison system, and draws questions over what happens behind the high walls and razorwire topped fences.

While Garner is a Connecticut-run prison, a recently published story on federal prisons that are suffering from budget cuts as President Donald Trump and Congress shrink the size of government raises questions about state staffing.

Connecticut has cut its prison budget as inmate populations dropped, although it’s not known if those reductions have anything to do with Jones’ death.

Barrett said the public may have to wait weeks or months before complete information is released.

Violent outburst

The state medical examiner said last week the homicide classification placed on Jones’ death does not necessarily mean prison guards did anything wrong.

DOC and the state police are investigating the incident.

Details released so far indicate Jones had a history of mental illness. He was serving a 10-year sentence for robbery and had been incarcerated since 2014.

Jones on March 25 was being taken to the Garner mental health unit when he became “non-compliant,” and “combative” with staff. During efforts to restrain him, officers deployed pepper spray.

Dr. James Gill, Connecticut’s chief medical examiner, said Jones died suddenly “during struggle and restraint with chest compression.”

Life-saving measures were initiated, and Jones was transferred to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead.

DOC officials said an initial review did not uncover wrongdoing by officers or use of excessive force. A DOC spokesperson on Monday declined further comment.

In a statement, the union representing correction officers said they work in a dangerous environment and expect that the officers will be exonerated.

“No one disputes that inmate Jones’ death was a tragedy, but we believe that the correctional officers who responded to the incident acted appropriately and professionally under the circumstances and will be exonerated once all the facts of this case are known,” said Michael Tuthill, president of AFSCME Local1565.

Fewer inmates

The state’s prison population has been on a downward trend for years, dropping from a high of nearly 20,000 inmates in 2010 to less than 14,000 this year. The decline is due in part to prison and justice system reforms, and a gradually improving economy.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has focused on prison rehabilitation efforts, education and training for inmates and keeping younger offenders out of prison.

Kelly Donnelly, a spokeswoman for Malloy, said Monday the governor is awaiting the conclusion of the investigation.

“Gov. Malloy takes any untimely death of inmate in the correctional system very seriously,” Donnelly said.