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Independent review of Pr. George’s jail one step in troubled facility’s history
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WASHINGTON (Map, News) - For more than two decades, the Prince George’s County jail has repeatedly been the target of policy reviews, changes and expansions all designed to fix gaps in a system that has been plagued with problems.
Critics say county officials’ latest attempt to heal the broken jail with an independent review announced Friday is just another step in the constantly turning cycle.
“In light of recent incidents that have occurred at the corrections center ... [County Executive Jack] Johnson believed it was necessary and appropriate to have an independent evaluation from top to bottom at the jail,” a county spokesman wrote in a news release.
Since the beginning of this year, jail officials have been under fire from reports that employees were distributing cell phones to, and turning tricks with, inmates. Director Alfred McMurray was fired last month when guns disappeared from a lockbox. And then accused police killer Ronnie White was strangled in his solitary-confinement cell two weeks ago.
The jail’s problems and commitments to fix them started long before 2008.
Just last fall, it was revealed that there hadn’t been a single parole hearing in a year’s time, and McMurray vowed that changes were in the works.
In 1982, a Washington Post series revealed that two dozen inmates had been brutally raped, which led to a director’s downfall, and four years later the county opened a new $33 million jail only to have four inmates escape a year later. Troubles persisted in the late 1990s, when the county and 18 corrections officers were sued for beating inmates.
Zalee Harris, who is pushing the creation of a National Association for the Advancement of Colored People branch in Prince George’s, said an independent review, like the $25,000 one set to be conducted by the American Correctional Association later this month, should have been performed at the first signs of trouble.
“They’re pacifying the people with symbolism without substance,” Harris said.
Harris questioned why there weren’t cameras watching White’s cell the day he was killed.
A similar question was raised by a 1982 Washington Post columnist who wrote in reference to the rapes: “if the jail is so poorly designed that the guards cannot easily see the inside of the cell, how about some strategically placed mirrors, or closed-circuit TV monitors?”
For his part, Johnson said of the latest review, “I want the public to know we will leave no stone unturned in ensuring this facility is run efficiently and with all the safeguards necessary to run a top-shelf institution.”
fklopott@dcexaminer.com
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Examiner Reader said:
It is sad how people who are accused of commiting crimes like killing someone can become more of a concern than the victim. What about the police officer. I am not sure whether Ronnie L. White was guilty or not, there must have been evidence to point to him being the one drivng the vehicle. Maybe he was clearly identified as the killer of this man (police officer) who was working to support his family.. Making an honest living (lets remember that). For the person who posted the comment stating that we cannot judge Ronnie's actions that the Lord will do that. Maybe God has done just that. What we give out will always come back to us. If Ronnie took a life then maybe he had to give a life...his very own. I say why not just pray for those that remain that they will have peace in the midst of all this. The officer's wife & children and the mother of Ronnie. When you love someone and then lose them to such tragedy no matter what you miss them dearly.
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Examiner Reader said:
To the people who want to make negative remarks about Ronnie really need to be quiet, all I can say is "He who is without sin cast the first stone", that's right you have the right to your own opinion as well as I have a right to mine. No one knows what really happened except for Ronnie the deceased officer and the other officer that was their, the young man that was shot and the LORD..And guess what the LORD has the last say in this because "What's done in secret shall oneday be revealed" mark my words...so you can hate all you want to it's sad that two people died a tragic death but the LORD said "Vengance is mine saith the LORD" and whoever took matters in their own hands will definetly have to answer to the Almighty GOD and truly justice will be served on both parts...How do we know that he was even the driver I didn't see in footage on him driving and also how could you let the young man go that was in the so called stolen vehicle answer that one for me...Redz
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patriotic free man said:
cwm you should be jailed 4 life for the crime of treason for when you strip ones right to a fair and just trial you are attacking the freedom of every american. he was not convicted which mea he is still innocent
3 agree | 0 disagree
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redness said:
I belive ronnie white had to pay for his actions, maybe even by death. But that is a decision his peer's should make in a court of law. maybe he was a piece of trash, he still deserved a fair and just trial. If one person is denied justice, we are all denied justice. Anyone who dosen't believe that is not an American and maybe they should read the constitution that the people who founded this great nation wrote. Most people like cwm are just a bunch of rednecks that cannot comprehend something of this stature.
2 agree | 0 disagree
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BigDogg said:
I think in all situations we have to have the police,policed especialy and our jails,i just cant beleive that in our jails not behind bars are killers still walking around free to kill again.Question what is law when u can kill and everything stays the same
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Examiner Reader said:
Change,as u an see is not here,and racist will all ways be,im sure the people who are making these are just that,we all all the same with differnt titles and we all make the same misstakes cops firefigters doctors what ever we are all human,the fact that some are good and some are bad,they killed that boy and should pay,how in the world could they try and say suicide from the sheet,what did he do?take the sheet from around his neck after he died,or he designed it where it would fall in place after he was dead,i beleive he was suppose to get roughed up good and it went too far,but what new ouur lawsystem been doing this for years.too those who speaking of peple going to jail,what happens when one of yours so happen to be at the wrong place wrong time,cause it can happen and thats all it takes,Black folks been dealing with it for years.example i was on my way to a store that got roband i got picked up for misstaken idenity at first the guy said yea thats him then said no,just like that
2 agree | 0 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
For all the comments people have said about the correctional officer killing white,saying it was right should leave this country!.You should go were there are not any LAWS! so you ca get a taste of what it is like for some one to come up to you and just kill you. ronnie white should have got a fair trial.If he was found guilty he would have got his judgement. believe in the rights of all people if they are right or wrong.If you don't then leave!.
7 agree | 2 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
cmw you are a idiot!
4 agree | 2 disagree
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CWM said:
Ronnie L. White got exactly what he had coming to him. To anyone defending him, you should be ashamed of yourself. Out of control COPs are NOT the problem. Trash like Ronnie White is the real problem. No respect for anyone or anything around them, violating the rights of everyone else around them, stealing from those who work for a living, selling dope, killing a police officer, degradating the quality of life for all who try to live a honest life around them. He was a piece of trash just like his parents who raised a low life dope selling, thieving, murder who got what he deserved and now they will try to make a buck off of a major failure in their lives. To the person who killed Ronnie White, THANK YOU !!! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!
5 agree | 9 disagree
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MNM said:
The answer is simple. Stay out of jail and stop committing crimes and we would not be having this discussion right know. May Ronnie White burn in hell!
15 agree | 5 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
to mexican with out borders i would like to say that you are a idiot!. I know that we have freedom of speech, but come on! some of your comments are sooooo! stupid!.
2 agree | 3 disagree
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GAB said:
You've had it with out of control cops? Many of us have had it with punks who don't work, sell drugs, steal cars and kill people. We've also had it with the enablers who try to cripple the police so they can't act effectively against these criminals who are ruining our cities. These enablers attack the cops, but don't attack the gangs. Do they want to live in a gang controlled area? I don't think so. The gangs extort cash from businesses and people, and don't provide services in return. Down with the gangbangers and their enablers!
7 agree | 2 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
A lot of us have had enough of out of control cops.. They hide behind badge, kill unarmed inmates, too cowardly to step up and tell the truth.. When cops lie steal kill they deserve the same and their families deserve to be striped of all illegaly gained assests.
4 agree | 3 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
So the officers wont talk... Well well, they will be known. There will be a lawsuit and the government will pay.... If the officers are not charged and no reasonal explanation then the family will be contacted and asked what they would like done to the officers that were assigned to protect their son while awaiting a fair trial that he did not get... I personaly hope the family ask for justice, street justice for all officers involved even if off duty,,,, all scumbag officers involved and those who planned it... Yall from some superior organization... You aint seen superior and your families have not been exposed to what that 19 year old was..... I was and survived and know how to give justice with the big pay back.
5 agree | 9 disagree
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Examiner Reader lawwheels said:
Anyone believes what he/she reads in the press without looking at the evidence or being critical ... deserves to be subjected to the same type of lynching based on hearsay evidence. Guilt or innocence is not the issue. Fairness is the point. As far as the death penalty is concerned.. I've got news for you... we are all gonna die some day. Police, firefighters, homeless people, and priests die too. That is why we have juries... Insofar as pimping and bootlegging is concerned, I suggest you read the "real materials" on the founding fathers. The English were the only law. The founding fathers were citizens of England and they were breaking the laws, damaging the crown's property and refusing to pay taxes on profits... The founding father's were lawbreakers. That is why the Constitution is written to give us fair trials. BTW, Samuel Adams was a bootlegger and he did not pay taxes. Today, there is a Samuel Adams' beer company. And, the founding fathers were illegal immigrants too.
3 agree | 2 disagree
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Atticus Finch said:
If I read the media reports correctly, the only reason they think White was driving the truck is because the other guy in the truck, the one Findley shot, said that it was White. The Corrections Officers may well have executed the wrong guy.
5 agree | 5 disagree
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crazy said:
Some of you people sound soooo ignorant by the comments that you've posted. I'm not sure if you're racist or plain stupid. Which is really the same anyway. This is not the wild wild west. This kid was probably guilty but that is not for us or the police to decide. That decision is best left a jury. This is so sad...have we come full circle and landed back in the 60s? God bless the slain officer and his family.
4 agree | 6 disagree
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Mexicans Without Borders must leave too!!!! said:
Pimping? Founding Fathers? Have you gone mad? Do you condone what this scumbag did? He killed a police officer, firefighter, a father. He did deserve such a positive outcome as strangulation. At least he died roughly. LOL
2 agree | 6 disagree
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Mexicans Without Borders must leave too!!!! said:
He was guilty accept it, Md. is very weak on the "Death penalty", best possible outcome. The officers won't talk. LOL
3 agree | 6 disagree
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Examiner Reader lawwheels said:
Anyone who says the kid got what he deserves is just ignorant of the law. The young man is totally innocent until proven guilty, morally and legally. A person can't be tried by police or news accounts of what he or she allegedly did. He died an innocent man, whether he did it or not, and the County will have to pay this man's family, plain and simple. When Samuel Adams, George Washington, and the gang were avoiding taxes, pimping, and bootlegging, they wanted the presumption of innocence. They did not want the Red Coats to kick in their doors and beat them to death. That is why they created the 4th - 6th Amendments. When they police behave like vigilantes they are criminals and they should be given fair trials 2. I'm sure u who tried the man in the press would not like it if the man's friends went on a vigilante raid and took revenge on the jailers' families. The presumption of innocence is there to protect us all, not just the guilty. Convicting a man w/o trial is wrong.
9 agree | 4 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I agree, what happened to Ronnie White was wrong. He should of had his day in court, then we kill him.
7 agree | 3 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
This piece of garbage got what he deserved. Ronnie White was laughing as they arrested him after running over the officer. Whoever killed him, God bless you now we dont have to worry about Sharpton or Jackson pulling off a OJ verdict for this piece of garbage. Remember OJ or R kelly they got a fair trial, you happy with that outcome!! Im glad my tax money doesnt go to feed this scumbag behind bars. RIP Corp. Findley and his family, Rot in Hell Ronnie White you got what you gave!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3 agree | 4 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
White was innocent until proven guilty. That is what is wrong with society. Laws are laws. We did not make the laws, but we have to abide by them. That goes for everybody--EVEN POLICE OFFICERS. They had no right to take that young man's life. I am not defending White, because what he did was wrong. All I am saying is that he deserved a fair trial just like anybody else.
7 agree | 3 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
people....please read the headline....Pr. George’s exec: Death of suspect in killing of cop seems ‘intentional’...HELLO!!!!! did that young man not intend to kill the innocent police officer by ramming him with a vehicle? where is jesse jackson and al sharpton now to protect the black man? the whites should be hooping and hollaring that the young man was a racist and killed a white person...white people now need to play upon the race card....had the midwest been overpopulated with blacks as new orleans is then jackson and sharpton would be out there showing their faces to get freebies for the blacks suffering from the flooded region..and someone please tell my why those people in new orleans are still asking for help? can they not find a job or even help to clean up that area? the midwesters have to clean up themselves and not rant and rave for FEMA to provide them with housing or trailers..get off your lazy asses and prove to the government that you can provide for yourselves.....
18 agree | 7 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
the kid didnt even care about what he did to the officer that he killed,purposely killed.why should anyone care about the kid.i care about the officer he killed and his family.officers are out there to protect us.i think the boy got what he deserved.i dont feel bad about the kid,although it should have been handled better but we dont have any death sentences anymore so i believe if u kill someone then you should have the same punishment.God Bless the police officer and his family.
5 agree | 5 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
people! PLEASE understand that this country is made up by laws we must be obebient to. TO come into a cell and just kill somebody is just totally wrong!.If we let this happen then we are no better than these other countries that DO! become judge,jury,and executioner.IF we drop down to the same level of crime that this man did then we are no better.
7 agree | 4 disagree
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GAB said:
White was legally innocent, but not morally innocent. He was at the wheel of the stolen truck that struck Corporal Findlay. He would have been convicted of car theft based on a preponderance of evidence. I agree that the man who murdered White should be punished as all murderers should be punished; but if White had been a law-abiding citizen instead of the gang member career criminal he was, two people would still be alive today. This isn't a racial issue. The guards at the P.G. Jail are mostly black. What we have is a failure of individuals to grab the opportunities society offers them. Take two classmates of White I knew in school. They spent as much time in detention as he, but one is already a success as a plumber and the other one is going to be fine. They chose what seems like a harder path but it's a healthier life than being a criminal, as White showed.
9 agree | 3 disagree
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J-Unit said:
White was innocent until proven guilty. Two wrongs do not make a right. I hope they find who did this to Ronnie White and that person serves the rest of their life in prison.
7 agree | 5 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I am sick and tired of the black people taking up for the blacks.This man deserves all he got,saves time with a trial.Did they forget about the police officer he ran over and killed.What about his family?The blacks think if a black does a crime it's ok.I am sick and tired of this crap.In my view he got what he needed and saved the court alot of money. I pray for the slain policeman's family'
10 agree | 13 disagree
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GAB said:
Of course there should be an investigation of the matter. As I noted, White deserved to die in jail, but not this jail and this time. However, the minds of many P.G. residents are already made up; how could such an investigation be impartial? I will oppose any attempt of Ronnie White's family, including his lawyer, to sue the County for punitive damages. White demonstrated no value as a person, a breadwinner, or a family member besides being a sudden ticket to wealth through lawsuit. If they win, I will support a lawsuit to garnish the winnings and provide them to the Findley family.
13 agree | 2 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
hey did it seemed intentional to kill a cop Stop coddling scum
4 agree | 4 disagree
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MNM said:
Hey remember the police officer-husband-father. White has spent his whole life in trouble with the law now he can spend the rest in Hell
10 agree | 5 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I don't see a problem with this or a need for an investigation. Some mutt kills a cop and then dies in jail, sounds like I save a ton of tax dollars for a trial and housing and of course all of those good will help him back into society programs, lets move on to more important issues, lower the gas prices.
8 agree | 9 disagree
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Al Jacobs said:
This is just one more example of the Guantamo/ Abu Grab mentality which has poisoned America's spirit- the ends justify the means. Anything is ok if we feel rightous enough. That is precisely what the Islamic militants feel. Let's all rise above that gutter thinking.
7 agree | 9 disagree
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Beatsell Records said:
This is obviously a inside murder with somebody in the police department(retaliation). If someone else isn't arrested in this ongoing investigation, it could spark a war between young black men who have encouters with police in PG County White was with no dought the "victim" of an officers rage and anger for being responsible for the death of a fellow officer. I feel as thou he should have had a fair trial PS Whoever typed "He got what he deserved. Good riddance." is probably a racist cop who is in law enforcement and the type that dont need to be patroling our streets. those are the kind of police who deserve to DIE IN THE LINE OF DUTY!!!
7 agree | 22 disagree
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GAB said:
Examiner Reader is spinning the story. There were more than one police officer there, which is why the shots were fired. The driver was not resisting excessive force. He accelerated to run over Corporal Findley. White was at the wheel. It was not a misdemeanor arrest. Car theft is a felony, and White belonged to the Curupt Mindz gang that was turning that part of Laurel into a slum. White deserved to die in a jail cell--just not that one.
10 agree | 5 disagree
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