10 suicides in the Mass. state prison system in 15 months

PoliceOne ^ | 4/1/7

[NativeNewYorker]

BOSTON, Ma. - An inmate undergoing a psychiatric evaluation at Bridgewater State Hospital hung himself in a shower stall -- the 10th suicide in the state prison system in the past 15 months, the Department of Correction said Saturday.

Jarred Aranda, 27, wrapped a shoelace around his neck and tied it to the handle of the shower-stall door Friday night, DOC spokeswoman Diane Wiffin said. He was pronounced dead at 9:30 p.m.

Aranda began serving a 1-year sentence for larceny and assault in January. He was transferred from the Bristol County House of Correction to Bridgewater on March 13 to begin a 30-day psychiatric evaluation, Wiffin said.

It was the second death this week in the prisons system.

Thomas Moriconi, 35, was found dead in his cell at MCI-Shirley early Wednesday morning. A preliminary investigation shows he died of a heroin overdose, Wiffin said. Moriconi was serving a 4-year sentence for possession with intent to distribute heroin.

[Seruzawa]

Testing new drugs, eh shrinks?

[gate2wire]

Good start.

[uptoolate]

I am appalled at how the liberal state of Massachusetts treats their prisoners. You would think, as liberal as they are, that they would have a better understanding of 'human rights'. This violation should be investigated by world human rights organizations. This prisoner should never have been given shoelaces in the first place. Why would they have thought that this prisoner was capable of even tying his own shoes? He should of been issued shoes that secure with Velcro. The U.N. should get involved.

[highlander_UW]

They probably were tired of listening to the liberals whine about Bush.

[expatguy]

Quagmire!!! Release them all now to avoid further casualties.

[ladyjane]

He OD'd in prison? Interesting.

[philetus]

So, what's the down side?

[GOP_Party_Animal]

Willie Horton still hanging in there?

[bikerman]

And the problem is????

[Mr Ramsbotham]

Aranda began serving a 1-year sentence for larceny and assault in January.

ONE YEAR for larceny and assault? I hope he was getting duly raped.

[clintonh8r]

Wow. Self-executions. Now that's progressive prison management....

[Spunky]

"Jarred Aranda, 27, wrapped a shoelace around his neck and tied it to the handle of the shower-stall door"

My shower stall-door handle is only about 30 inches off the floor. Are we talking about a 20 inch midget here?

[NonValueAdded]

Why are they hanging [npi] that one on the prison system? A prisoner committed suicide in a mental health facility. Couldn't it have easily been a non-prisoner committed there who offed himself? Let's see ... mental health facility, let patients keep shoelaces, what could possibly go wrong? Oh wait, can't knock state-run health-care so let's emphasize that the mutt was a convict. Sheesh.

[Craigswatch]

Well, that is ten less repeat offenders. With some luck, the rest will follow the leader.

[Popman]

Thomas Moriconi, 35, was found dead in his cell at MCI-Shirley early Wednesday morning. A preliminary investigation shows he died of a heroin overdose,

Since when is a heroin overdose a suicide?

[Hurricane]

No need for the death penalty in Mass.

[SmoothTalker]

How much is that above the rate of the general population? Can't be by that much.

[Steely Tom]

An inmate undergoing a psychiatric evaluation at Bridgewater State Hospital hung himself in a shower stall...

HANGED himself.

[Popman]

I hope he was getting duly raped.

Dude, it's not his fault he got off with such a light sentence.

I don't agree with it either, but to wish him being raped in prison is way over the line.