Morey Unit Hostage Crisis the Hostage Crisis Essay

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Morey Unit Hostage Crisis

The hostage crisis that occurred at the Morey Unit of the Arizona State Prison Lewis Complex lasted for fifteen days and represented a hostage standoff that was the longest in U.S. history. The crisis began in the early morning hours of January 18, 2004 in the kitchen area of the unit, when two inmates, Ricky Wassenaar and Steven Coy, subdued a correctional officer and a kitchen staff employee. They subsequently took two hostages and inflicted serious emotional and physical damage to multiple correctional officers and civilian employees prior to engaging in the fifteen-day standoff. The lengthy episode challenged the resources of the Arizona Department of Corrections and magnified substantial security lapses and errors in judgment used by Department of Corrections officials. An ultimate analysis of the episode finds major flaws in the supervision of inmates at the Morey Unit, which the two inmates were able to take advantage of to place many lives in danger. The crisis eventually ended peacefully due to the brave work of correctional officers. Their rapid response led to the successful release of the two hostages and the safe capture of the responsible inmates.

The crisis began as an attempted escape from the Morey Unit by the two inmates. The poorly executed plan unraveled when other correctional employees arrived early for duty and thwarted the prisoners' escape.

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This led the inmates to take two hostages. They subsequently were able to access a guard tower and gained rifles and ammunition. The crisis that followed was marked by substantial negotiation between Department of Corrections officials and the two inmates. In exchange for bullets, pepper spray, the safety of the two hostages, and ultimately their release, Department of Corrections officials employed a DPS robot to deliver a handcuffs key, cheeseburgers, cigarettes, candy bars and other supplies to the inmates. The inmates made further demands to Department of Corrections officials in the form of a two-way radio, access to local television news reporters and dialogue with the governor. Negotiations between the two sides took place consistently over the course of fifteen days. They were marked by the delivery of supplies, the safe release of one of the two hostages, regular and daily briefings on the details of the standoff by Department of Corrections officials, and increasing demands from the two inmates. In the days leading up to the crisis's end, Department of Corrections officials fielded demands for dialogue with family, the resumption of power to the guard tower, clothing, pizza and beer. The crisis ended peacefully with the cooperation of the inmates and the safe release of the second hostage.

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"Morey Unit Hostage Crisis The Hostage Crisis", 03 April 2011, Accessed.22 May. 2025,
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