The state’s youth prisons have been placed in lockdown. A memo from the state Department of Corrections to staff at the Copper Lake and Lincoln Hills youth prisons says effective immediately the institution will be placed in lockdown status for an institution-wide search. According to the memo the search is being conducted to ensure there is a safe and secure environment for staff and youth. During the search there will be no youth movement from their assigned living unit and all institution operations will be closed or suspended until the search is completed. It comes as prison workers have said they feared the inmates were planning a full-scale riot in the wake of several recent violent episodes.
