Vol.14 No.24 - November 16, 1983 - Federal Death Penalty Cited in Officers' Slayings

Sep 30, 2026

Officers at the U.S. Penitentiary in Marion, Illinois were fatally stabbed in late October by two inmates tied to a white supremacist gang that officials described as “killing for sport.” U.S. Attorney General William French Smith said the murders highlight the need for a Federal death penalty for prisoners who murder while incarcerated, noting exclusive federal jurisdiction blocks state death-penalty charges. Carlson described the suspects as already serving life sentences in a maximum-security disciplinary setting, with no remorse shown.

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NEED FOR FEDERAL DEATH PENALTY CITED IN OFFICERS' SLAYINGS

Inmates Apparently “Killed For Sport”

Carlsons and Attorneys General Statements

FAMILY/CORRECTIONS NETWORK PUBLISHES WORKING PAPERS

Vol.14 No.24 November 16,1983 Carlson,Smith Argue: ## NEED FOR FEDERAL DEATH PENALTYCITED IN OFFICERS'SLAYINGS Inmates Apparently“Killed For Sport” Two inmates who belong to a white supremacistgang and “kill for sport”with nothing to lose areresponsible for the stabbing deaths of two prisonofficers at the U.S.Penitentiary in Marion,IIl.,inlate October,officials say. U.S.Attorney General William French Smithsaid the killings underscore the need for a Federaldeath penalty. Since they have been behind bars,the suspectshave been convicted of killing four other inmatesand sentenced to life in prison at the U.S.Peniten-tiary at Marion,the nation's toughest,according toNorman Carlson,director of the U.S.Bureau ofPrisons. "These inmates were already serving life sen-tences in the disciplinary section of the most maxi-mum security prison in the country,"he said."They knew there was nothing else the FederalPrison System could do to them.They knew theyhad nothing to lose.” A prison official who asked not to be identi-fied was quoted by the Chicago Tribune on Oct.30as saying that the two suspects apparently “killedfor sport to prove one was badder than the other.”He said they have shown no remorse for the slay-ings. The inmates belong to the“Aryan Brother-hood,"a loosely organized white supremacist gang IN THIS ISSUE一 MARION PEN SLAYINGS:Attorney GeneralCalls For Federal Death Penalty. ......1SOMETHING NEW:Family/Corrections Network .2THEY'RE MARRIED:But Have Separate Cells..3ACLU:Updates Prisoners'Manual.......3NORTH DAKOTA:A Penal Colony?......3PENNSYLVANIA:Suggestions For Helping Long-Term Inmates. .......4JOB LISTINGS... .........5CORRECTIONS YEARBOOK:A New One Available 5ASSESSMENT CENTERS:Conference Planned..6SPECIALEDUCATION:Papers Needed.... 6PAROLE COMMISSION:Three New Members ..7NEW YORK CITY:Releasing Inmates.....7RICHARD A.McGEE:Corrections Leader Dies. 7ARCHITECTURE:Meeting Explores Issues...8JUAREZ:An Inmate Revolt ........8IN THE COURTS............9 | PLAN TO CHARGE INMATES VOTED DOWN
Polk County,Iowa,Supervisors on Oct.29 voted
3-2 to drop,for now,a plan to charge inmates for
their stay in the new county jail.Ray Stephens,the
Polk County supervisor who proposed the fee in
January,was the swing vote in opposing a public
hearing on the plan.Stephens said he still supports
the concept of a jail fee,but he wants to wait for an
opinion from the Iowa attorney general on whether
the fee would belegal.Board Chairman Jack Bishop
said he opposed the jail fee "because I could see no
benefit to taxpayers.I doubt it would even pay its
own way.There would be very few people who
could pay." | | --- | in prisons throughout the country,the official said.Before the killing of the guards,who were white,the suspects'victims at Marion had been black,theofficial said. Carlson said the first stabbing was on Oct.22,as Merle Eugene Clutts and other officers wereescorting an inmate from the showers to his cell.The inmate reportedly pulled an 18-inch knifemade from a sharpened bed spring,pinned the 51-year-old Clutts against a wall and stabbed him inthe chest until he was dead. Ten hours later,as correctional officer Robert L.Hoffman and other guards were escorting anotherprisoner to his cell from a recreational area,theprisoner pulled a handmade knife and started swing-ing. Hoffman,53,was stabbed to death and JerryPowles,35,and Robert Ditterline,30,were hospi-talized. Clutts and Hoffman were the second and thirdguards to be killed at Marion since it opened in 1963,Carlson said. Attorney General Smith said the killings pointto a need for a Federal death penalty,abolished bythe Supreme Court in 1972. “The lack of a constitutional death penalty forFederal prisoners who murder while in prison catersto the most monstrous inmates in these institutions,"Smith said."No other penalty fits the crime." Because the Federal Government has exc

FAQs

What did officials say about the motive behind the Marion prison officer slayings?

Officials said the suspects, described as linked to a white supremacist gang, “kill for sport” and had nothing to lose.

Why did William French Smith argue for a Federal death penalty?

Smith said the lack of a constitutional death penalty for federal prisoners who murder while in prison leaves no other penalty that fits the crime.

What was the background of the two suspects prior to the killings?

According to Norman Carlson, both men were already serving life sentences in the disciplinary section of the country’s toughest maximum-security prison at Marion.

Sep 30, 2026

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