Bonne Terre Prison Situation Update

(Bonne Terre, MO.) No injuries are being reported after a disturbance at the Bonne Terre Eastern Missouri Reception and Diagnostic Correctional Center. Information from the Missouri Department of Corrections indicates some prisoners blockaded themselves in their housing unit over less recreation time and meals. Following the outbreak of coronavirus at the prison those items have been hit with extra precautions. All staff members testing positive for the virus, as well as those they've been in contact with, are isolating at home. This contributes to a staff shortage which translates into a loss of recreational time and other items. The incident began after 8 o'clock when prisoners wouldn't return to their cells. The Corrections Emergency Response Team was called in to secure the area. Inmates were back in their cells around midnight.