2 inmates have died at Rhode Island state prison in 3 days, officials say

The deaths are under investigation and a cause of death is not yet known, the state’s Department of Corrections said.

Two inmates have died at a Rhode Island state prison in a span of days, including a woman who died Sunday after being booked into the prison hours prior, officials said.

The woman was found unresponsive by correctional staff at approximately 3:30 a.m. Sunday at the women’s facility of the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) in Cranston, said J.R. Ventura, public information officer for the state’s department of corrections. The woman had been committed to the prison just hours before, Ventura said.

“Upon arrival, Officers observed no response from the inmate, immediately called for medical assistance, and began life-saving steps,” Ventura said. “The officers and medical staff continued life-saving measures until the arrival of Cranston Fire, who then rushed the inmate to Kent Hospital with very faint vital signs.”

The facility was later informed that the woman had “succumbed to her condition.” Her death is under investigation by RIDOC’s Investigative Unit and State Police, according to Ventura.

Another inmate died just days before on Friday, April 12, when he collapsed while playing basketball in the gym. Officers and nursing staff administered life-saving measures before first responders took the man to Rhode Island Hospital where he later died, Ventura said.

Including the two recent deaths, four inmates have died so far at ACI facilities this year, The Boston Globe reported. An inmate died at the end of February after being found unresponsive and another died in March after experiencing medical distress, according to local outlets.

While all four deaths remain under investigation and a cause of death is not yet known, president of the Rhode Island Brotherhood of Correctional Officers union Richard Ferruccio told the Globe that correctional officers have been concerned about a rise of the synthetic drug K2 being smuggled into the prison.

“It’s a really troubling trend of bad things happening at the Department of Corrections,” Ferruccio told the Globe. “It’s very concerning to us and the staff.”