Vol.24 No.2 - Guns Smuggled In - Latest Scam Among NYC Inmates Is to Shoot Self and Then Sue Jail Officials

Sep 29, 2026

A detailed report describes a new scheme in the New York City Correction Department in which inmates use smuggled guns to shoot themselves in non-life-threatening areas and then sue jail officials. Investigators believe the tactic follows hostage and escape-related violence but is driven by lawsuits for damages, reduced bail, and improved conditions. Officials cite multiple shootings and filed suits, explain how guns entered facilities, and summarize court developments and prison security failures, including commentary from investigation officials and news coverage.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time28 min

AccessFree to download

In This Issue

Inmate Scam: Shoot Self And Sue

In The Courts

Corrections Digest

Screening Of Officers Worthless

Vol.24 No.2 Guns Smuggled In: LATEST SCAM AMONG NYCINMATES IS TO SHOOT SELFAND THEN SUE JAIL OFFICIALS If you haven't been doing your absolute bestto make 100 percent certain that no guns are smug-gled into your jail or prison,please think aboutauditing your security program and tighteningsearch procedures. While smuggled guns inside the cellblocksgenerally are used for hostage incidents,escapeattempts and retaliatory shootings of officers andinmates,there is a new scam now underway in theNew York City Correction Department that couldfind its way around the country to other facilities,as these things often do. New York City officials have discovered thatinmates are using smuggled guns to shoot them-selves in non-life threatening parts of their bodiesin order sue the city for failure to protect,orsimply to obtain lower bail or cushier digs. The city's Department of Investigation be-lieves that about 10 inmates in the last three yearshave either shot themselves or had other inmatesshoot them to pursue this scam. Five suits have been filed,all involvingincidents within the last 18 months,Departmentspokesman Peter Benjaminson said Jan.20.Oneseeks $8.5 million in damages for inadequateprotection by jail officials,he said. The ploy usually involves an inmate,or anaccomplice,firing a gun through a pillow or towel,causing a minor leg wound. January 27,1993 Page 1 IN THIS ISSUE INMATE SCAM:Shoot Self And Sue… … …1IN THE COURTS.… …………… … 1JOB LISTINGS…… …… …………5AIDS CASES:May Rise 50%In 3 Years…………5SUBSTANCE ABUSE:Training Program Funded……6VIRGINIA:Executes Disabled Inmate………… …6WHITE HOUSE:Still Looking For Attorney General...7GEORGIA:Who Knew What When?……… 8FBOP:Former Director Dies……… …… …9DRUG TREATMENT:Georgia Program Works……9ARKANSAS:Governor Has A Sticky Problem……10 ## In The Courts... FEDERALJUDGES MAY NOT STOPSTATES FROM EXECUTIONS,U.S.SUPREME COUKT RULES Federal judges generally may not stop statesfrom executing death row inmates who raise newclaims of innocence after exhausting other appeals,the Supreme Court ruled Jan.25. The court,ruling 6-3 in the case of a manconvicted of killing a Texas policeman,said execu-tive clemency is "the historic remedy"to protectthe truly innocent from being put to death. "We cannot say that Texas'refusal toentertain petitioner's newly discovered evidenceeight years after his conviction transgresses a prin-ciple of fundamental fairness 'rooted in the tradi-tions and conscience of our people,'"Chief JusticeWilliam H.Rehnquist wrote for the majority. See COURTS,page zhree) ## CORRECTIONS DIGEST Adding insult to injury,investigatorssuspect at least some of the guns were boldlysmuggled "through the front door"of prisonsby correction officers for payoffs ranging from $1,100 to $7,500,said Commissioner of Inves-tigation Susan E.Shepard. Since mid-1987,handguns have beenfound in city jails 16 times.At least five weresmuggled by jail employees. Correction officers are authorized tocarry guns when they're off duty,but notbehind bars. Things came to a head when CorrectionOfficer Thomas Jones was shot in the knee Jan.2 on Rikers Island.It's not clear whether theshooting was intentional or accidental.Joneshas said he didn't see which inmate shot him. But another officer,Roger A.Morice,was charged with gun smuggling and investiga-tors suspect an alleged lawsuit scam,Benjamin-son said. Benjaminson said other officers havebeen arrested in the recent past for gun smug-gling,but it's not clear which were linked toshooting scams. Inmates involved in the plots could becharged with weapon possession,conspiracy todefraud the city and promotion of prison con-traband. The investigation is continuing.TheDepartment of Correction,which is cooperat-ing,had no comment. However,Department Inspector GeneralMichael Caruso told the New York Times,in anarticle published Jan.19,how the scam works. "These are self-inflicted or deli

FAQs

What is the reported inmate scam in the NYC jail system?

Inmates allegedly use smuggled guns to shoot themselves in non-life-threatening body parts and then sue the city for failure to protect, or to seek lower bail and better jail conditions.

How do investigators believe the smuggled guns entered prisons?

Investigators suspect some guns were brought in through the front door by correction officers for payoffs, rather than through inmate routes.

What security and screening issues are mentioned regarding officers?

Correction officers are required to carry guns off duty and store them in locked boxes; visitors face metal detectors, but routine clearance for officers is limited because detectors are installed near arsenal areas rather than where routine entry occurs.

Sep 29, 2026

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