Opinion ID: 1333391
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Brief History

Text: Unfortunately, this Court has been called upon numerous times to deal with problems involving the Huttonsville Correctional Center. A brief review of these problems is helpful not only to an understanding of that facility's troubled past but also to a full appreciation of the extent to which Judge Starcher's efforts brought positive change to that institution. In Harrah v. Leverette, 165 W.Va. 665, 271 S.E.2d 322 (1980), inmates at Huttonsville sought unconditional release from confinement because they were deprived of their federal and state constitutional rights to due process and freedom from cruel and unusual punishment following a riot at the prison on Labor Day weekend, 1978. This Court described in vivid terms some of the nightmarish conditions that ensued at Huttonsville at that time. [A] riot squad, composed of correctional officers and other employees, increased disciplinary activities. Guards were dressed in full riot gear with helmets, shields, gas masks, riot batons, and tear gas. An attack dog named Gus was employed to frighten inmates and tear gas was used. Several injured prisoners were treated at the infirmary for tear gas irritation, nerves, kidney problems, and cuts and bruises.... In addition to night-time harassment by turning on lights, shouting, abusing and waking prisoners, guards entered dorms to rough-up inmates. Harrah, 165 W.Va. at 668, 271 S.E.2d at 325. Also, inmates ran through a gauntlet of guards and were pushed, shoved, and gouged by riot sticks as they were moving. They were forced to stand spread-eagle against a wall while waiting to be interrogated. The guards subjected them to physical and verbal abuse and hit them on the legs and back with four to five-foot long riot sticks. Many groups of inmates were forced to crawl like pigs or dogs, grunting or barking, to amuse guards; do calisthenics; or stand or sit without moving against a wall for hours. Inmates were dragged by the hair and spat upon. Threats and coercion were used to force them to confess about their own and other inmates' involvement in the disturbance. Several inmates testified that they saw guards hit other inmates between the legs with riot sticks. Harrah, 165 W.Va. at 669, 271 S.E.2d at 326. In response to finding such cruel and unusual punishment that shocks our consciences and offends our sensibilities, id., 165 W.Va. at 679, 271 S.E.2d at 330, this Court took several steps, short of the unconditional release of inmates, designed to improve prison conditions and bring them in line with constitutional guarantees. Reed v. Hansbarger, 173 W.Va. 258, 314 S.E.2d 616 (1984) involved a mandamus action brought by inmates at Huttonsville after the Thanksgiving food poisoning of a substantial number of inmates on November 24, 1983. This Court stated: This recent food poisoning incident, however, is but one in a long history of repeated health and sanitation violations at Huttonsville over the last six years. Violations over this time period include the improper storage of perishable and potentially hazardous food; the serving of outdated food; food contaminated by rodents, insects, and maggots; uncovered food prepared days in advance; infestation of the food service facility by rats, mice, cockroaches, and flies; handling of food by sick inmates; and leaking sewage. Reed, 173 W.Va. at 259, 314 S.E.2d at 617. The Court granted the writ of mandamus compelling the respondents to enforce the applicable sections of the West Virginia Board of Health Food Service Sanitation Rules. The fact that Huttonsville is now a different institution from that described above is due in large measure to Judge Starcher's efforts in addressing the problems raised by the appellees in the underlying action. B.