A state prison in western New York remained in lockdown Wednesday after inmates took control of three areas of a dormitory for several hours — an episode that took place against the backdrop of an ongoing prison staffing crisis and public rancor over the beating death of an inmate at a Utica-area facility.

A prison in Western New York is in lockdown after inmates barricaded themselves inside two dormitory areas early Wednesday morning, according to the Albany Times Union. The lockdown took place at Collins Correctional Facility in Erie County,

State corrections officials told the Albany Times-Union that staff at Collins Correctional Facility, south of Buffalo, found an inmate with contraband cell phones early Wednesday. When force was used to get the phones, inmates became agitated and staff left the dorm after encountering “various potential threats”.

An Erie County prison was locked down on Wednesday after inmates took over three dormitories, according to the union representing correction officers. All staff was removed from the dorms after the incident began,

A New York state prison was placed on lockdown after inmates took over and injured three guards, just days after staffing shortage concerns were raised.

The Collins Correctional Facility in the Town of Collins remains on lockdown more than 24 hours after a Wednesday morning confrontation between corrections officers and a group of inmates. Read more f