In October 2022, twelve teenage inmates staged a chaotic uprising at the Indian River Juvenile Detention Facility in Ohio. The incident began when the inmates stole keys from a staff member and broke out of their rooms. Newly released surveillance footage shows the teenagers destroying security cameras, smashing computers, and trashing rooms before barricading themselves in a classroom and threatening staff members with makeshift weapons.
After a 12-hour standoff, a special response team used pepper spray to bring the situation to an end. The facility suffered around $300,000 in damages. This uprising is just the latest in a string of incidents at the facility, including a recent brutal attack on a corrections officer by a young inmate.
The violence at the Indian River facility has sparked calls for change and increased safety protocols. Last year, the Ohio Department of Youth Services implemented measures such as body cameras and pepper spray for some staff members. However, there are concerns among staff about the consequences of using such measures, as they fear they may be investigated or have their tools taken away from them.
The Department of Youth Services has reported an increase in assaults from 2020 to 2021 and again from 2021 to 2022.
Source: Youtube
