Abbott State Penitentiary

Abbott State Penitentary

Abbott State Penitentiary is a maximum security prison located on Carnate Island, 10 miles off the shore of Maryland, and is part of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. The primary structure was originally built as part of Fort Maleson to house German POWs during World War II. There are several buildings, each with their own corresponding inmate quarters, or “blocks.” The state carries out the majority of their executions in Abbott State Penitentiary.

History

Fort Maleson

Main article: Fort Maleson

The fort was built in 1942 as both a defensive military base and a POW prison. According to amateur Carnate historian, Consuela Alvarez, it was staffed by two-hundred and fifty soldiers, and housed around one-thousand prisoners. Much of the fort is built into the rock and stone that makes up the island, making it not only a very durable structure, but proved to be a good foundation for Abbott. For unknown reasons, the basement was condemned and closed off years ago, but some entrances can still be found.

Reputation

Abbott State Penitentiary has gained distinction as one of the most dangerous prisons in the US, for both the inmates and guards. Among its better known problems are high rate of homicide and excessive general violence on both sides of the bars. With the stories of murderous inmates such as Horace P. Gauge who killed his wife during a conjugal visit, to the sadistic executioner Hermes T. Haight who killed himself in the gas chamber, the prison has garnered quite a negative reputation. However, what is usually not talked about is the high rate of inmate suicide.

A "Facility Status Report" about Abbott (found in the instruction booklet for the first game) reveals more about the prison and its shortcomings. It mentions that the prison has an extremely volatile population, with six full-scale riots taking place in the last twenty years. It also reveals that the prison has an extremely low retention rate among wardens, a turnover of eight in the last fifteen years, along with continually disgruntled corrections officers. Correctional officers employed with the Maryland correctional system have been known to flat out quit rather than accept a transfer to Abbott.

Capital Punishment

The state of Maryland carries out the majority of its death sentences at Abbot. Over the years, they have employed numerous execution methods, such as electrocution, the gas chamber, and lethal injection, the latter being the only method still in use. According to the "Facility Status Report," there have been protesters who have opposed the prison's death penalty, though the facility's geographical location have made it difficult for protesters to make it to the prison, which the D.O.C. views as a plus. However, some protesters have made attempts. This has resulted in what the report notes as "unfortunate results."