United States Disciplinary Barracks - Incidents

Incidents

• August 12, 2010 - Two inmates overpowered a guard in the Special Housing Unit where inmates are locked up 23 hours a day. They then were joined by 11 others. A special tactics unit took control of the Unit and freed the guard. Several inmates and one rescuer sustained non-life threatening injuries in the incident. This was the first such incident in the new prison.
• May 12, 1992 - 300 inmates refused lockdown in the old prison. The uprising was put down by 150 correction officers.
• August 17, 1988 - Inmate David Newman escaped after hiding in Pope Hall while on Wood Shop Detail. He assembled a ladder, kicked out a window and climbed over the wall between Towers 3 and 4. He was captured four days later in Kansas City. Following the escape, bars were placed on the windows of all buildings within the complex and interior chain link with razor wire top guard was placed between the buildings and the exterior stone walls.
• 1918 - Joseph and Michael Hofer, two Christian pacifists who were drafted to serve in World War I, died at Fort Leavenworth after refusing to enlist or wear uniforms. They were held in solitary confinement, beaten, and starved to death.