WESTOVER, Md.- Eastern Correctional Institution is one of Somerset County's largest employers. Recent lock downs have raised questions and concerns from neighbors who live nearby the prison, on Revells Neck Rd.
It's easy to find people who have a personal connection with the prison. WBOC spoke with neighbors on the road who say something needs to be done.
Ross Cullen and his family live about 3 and a half miles from the prison. And he knows a lot of people who work at the prison.
"My step-father retired from there," Cullen said.
Cullen explained it's not only staffing that's a big problem, but the correctional officer's compensation is not enough.
"I feel like they deserve more than what they receive," Cullen added.
ECI was built back in 1987 and it's one of the biggest employers in the area.
Other neighbors, like Daniel Lee, also have connections to ECI.
"My mom worked there when I was younger, my uncle still works there," Lee said.
Lee only lives a mile away from the prison.
"It could be riots at anytime and i don't think they have enough officers to control that," he said.
Lee describes ECI as a ticking time bomb.
"It's just a matter of time of what the inmates have in mind," Lee added.
And although there may be staffing shortages inside the prison, Lee explained he's heard of other issues too.
"It's more women to men staffing as well, so it's a high risk kind of thing," Lee said.
Neighbors like Cullen and Lee moved to Revells Neck Road already knowing the prison existed.
"I live down a dead end road, I doubt if somebody were to break out they'd come down here. they would go on the highway," Cullen said.
