ANAMOSA — An “insensitive” Halloween show, which appeared to mock inmates, was eliminated Friday from the entrance entrance of Anamosa State Penitentiary, after state jail officers had been alerted.
“After I used to be made conscious Friday afternoon of the offensive show on the Anamosa State Penitentiary, I instantly directed the establishment’s management to have it eliminated,” Iowa Division of Corrections Director Beth Skinner mentioned in an announcement to The Gazette on Friday.
A lady who was visiting her son over the weekend contacted The Gazette as a result of she was offended by the show on the entrance of the jail, an entrance that guests use when arriving to see family members and associates.
The show featured a big cage and inside was a headless scarecrow determine, wearing an orange jail bounce swimsuit. The show included an indication — formed like a pumpkin — that learn, “Doing 30 years within the pumpkin patch.”
The Gazette took pictures of the show that was nonetheless in place on Wednesday.
“I need to apologize to visiting relations who noticed it and for the poor judgment that led to this incident,” Skinner mentioned in her assertion. “It was inappropriate and insensitive, and it doesn’t signify the values of our division.”
The girl who contacted The Gazette requested to not be recognized as a result of she was afraid of doable retaliation in opposition to her son as a result of she reached out to the media.
“Seeing this, set my hair on fireplace,” she informed The Gazette Thursday. “It was heartbreaking for all the youngsters who come to see their relations they usually must see that.”
The mom mentioned her earlier experiences with workers on the jail have been optimistic. They’ve been form, respectful and pleasant, each on the telephone and in particular person.
“They’ve at all times been accommodating and useful,” she added.
Anamosa State Penitentiary was a medium- and maximum-security jail which presently holds medium-and maximum-security stage inmates, will turn out to be a medium-security stage facility.
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