prison escape

[sawmill]

DANNEMORA, N.Y. (AP) Two convicted murderers used power tools to cut through steel pipes at a maximum-security prison near the Canadian border and escape through a manhole, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Saturday.

What the hell? Maximum Security-----Power Tools

 

[Daren Todd]

Even in maximum security prisons, the inmates are on a rated system based on behavior. If they haven't been in trouble for 6 months then there rating gets dropped to a lower threat. The lower the threat rating means an increased level of trust and therefore get onto better work details and such. Since the inmates do most of the light maintanace it means they get access to power tools and such.
Some are self sufficient and grow there own food also. Inmates have access to lawn and garden equipment, tractors, pruners, trimmers, chainsaws , to tools for maintaining vehicles and fleet maintanance depending on the jail