POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. -- Former Clinton County Correctional inmate Eric Jensen says on the first day he walked behind the walls of the Dannemora prison, the rules were clear.
“This was the first thing that was said to me, the intake officer said if you touch one of my officers we’ll kill you, don’t touch one my officers and you’ll live," said Jensen, who served time from 2011 to 2012 for possession of stolen property.
Jensen's comments came on the same day a report from the Correctional Association surfaced calling conditions inside Clinton Correctional Facility disturbing.
“They hadn’t had any escapes in a while and sometimes things tend to get a little lax," said Sen. Charles Schumer.
According to the report, the Correctional Association visited the more than 100-year-old prison in July of 2012, receiving more than 600 surveys from inmates along with updated information about conditions in 2014. The document states Clinton Correctional has an infamous history of staff violence, brutality, dehumanization and racist attitudes.
“I’ve spoken to the head of the FBI for that part of New York, and the FBI is going to work with the state and do an investigation," said Schumer.
Jensen said he’s not surprised by the report, adding the amount of drugs and violence he saw was evident.
“You don’t do anything inside the buildings, and people respect that, because they know if they go outside and they get into a fight or stab somebody that, yeah, they maybe get in trouble for it, but they won’t get beat down. If you do something inside the building or inside the cell block then you will get beat down horribly," said Jensen.
Announced Tuesday, 12 staff members of the Clinton Correctional Facility have been place on administrative leave, including three members of its executive team. Jensen said he’s thankful the search is over, and believes more corruption will be exposed.
“That facility has been known for massive amounts of drugs, weapons, just corruption in general. It’s time. We entrust these officers with the lives of people who broke the law, so what makes them above the law?" said Jensen.