HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Maryland correctional officials have launched a criminal investigation into possible staff misconduct at Roxbury Correctional Institution after an inmate was found dead in his cell on May 20.
The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) said its Intelligence and Investigative Division is working jointly with the Maryland State Police to review the death of 32-year-old Colin Wolf and examine what officials described as “potential criminal misconduct” by correctional officers and facility staff.
“potential criminal misconduct”
As a result of an administrative probe completed separately from the criminal investigation, DPSCS said it has taken internal actions involving a total of 27 employees: 19 correctional officers received disciplinary measures and eight medical staff members were barred from DPSCS facilities.
What changed for residents and the facility
The department gave few public details because the criminal probe remains active. Officials declined to release additional specifics while the investigation continues. The administrative findings, however, indicate the department identified violations of agency standards by both security and medical personnel.
Roxbury Correctional Institution, located in Hagerstown in Washington County, houses men convicted of various offenses. The department’s moves to discipline officers and bar medical staff reflect an internal effort to address staff conduct amid the active homicide inquiry.
- Date of inmate death: May 20
- Inmate named: Colin Wolf, 32
- Disciplinary actions: 19 correctional officers
- Medical staff barred: 8
| Item | Count |
|---|---|
| Correctional officers disciplined | 19 |
| Medical staff barred | 8 |
The department’s Intelligence and Investigative Division leads internal criminal inquiries into staff conduct, while Maryland State Police provide an independent law enforcement review. DPSCS said the two agencies are coordinating but offered no timetable for completion.
Because prosecutors and police have not released charges, it is not yet clear whether any employees will face criminal prosecution. The department’s administrative action suggests officials concluded some staff breached agency rules, but that process is separate from the criminal investigation.
Local residents and families of people incarcerated in state facilities often press for transparency when deaths occur behind prison walls. The DPSCS statement and the involvement of state police are likely to prompt questions from legislators, advocacy groups and the public about oversight, staffing and medical care inside the facility.
News Block has requested further comment from DPSCS and Maryland State Police and will update this report as agencies provide additional information.
Darius Holloway is the Maryland correspondent for News Block.
