Newport Prison still under lockdown amid Baltimore protests

NEWPORT — Inmates at Northern State Correctional Facility (NSCF) in Newport are still under a “modified lockdown” after officials received an anonymous letter warning that some of the inmates might be planning some sort of disruption in support of the protests taking place in Baltimore.

On Tuesday, all seven of Vermont’s prison facilities were placed on lockdown following the threat, but only Newport and the Northwest State Correctional Facility in Swanton remained under the tightened security measures into Wednesday.

Newport residents who live close to NSCF received automated calls alerting them that the prison was in lockdown on Tuesday afternoon.

During lockdown inmates are confined to their cells, with movement limited to medical care and meal services. It has been reported that authorities planned to use the situation as an opportunity to interview inmates, and collect information regarding their opinions about the ongoing situation in Baltimore.

So far there have been no incidents relating to the information authorities say they were tipped off about.