LUCASVILLE, Ohio — Lucasville, is commemorating the 30th anniversary of the deadly riot at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility (SOCF) that resulted in the deaths of 10 people, including a corrections officer. The 11-day riot, which began on April 11, 1993, remains one of the most violent and prolonged prison uprisings in U.S. history.
It began during the day on April 11, when a group of inmates attacked a prison guard and seized the keys to the L-block section of the prison, igniting the riot. One cause, officials at the time said, was because of concern among a group of prisoners that believed they would be forced to have tuberculosis vaccinations, which they said would be against their religion. Other inmates who joined in the riot took the situation as a way to settle past scores with other prisoners.
Corrections Officer Robert Vallandingham lost his life during the siege when inmates attacked and strangled him to death. He was one of several guards that were taken hostage during the riot.
As the town and surrounding communities remember the tragic event, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) has since implemented significant policy changes, including enhanced staff training, improved communication protocols, and additional measures to address inmate grievances.
The Pike County Sheriff’s Office will hold a moment of silence at 2:56 p.m. to mark the first alarm that sounded at the prison.
Despite the dark chapter in Ohio’s history, the 30th anniversary of the Lucasville riot serves as a reminder of the ongoing commitment to creating a safer and more humane prison system. The event reflects on the lessons learned and progress made while acknowledging the work that still needs to be done to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
