Concerns have been building around Elayn Hunt Correctional Center as families and community members watch reports of inmate deaths and drug problem officials are now speaking openly, saying the numbers deserve attention and the public deserves straight information.
Department leaders say many deaths were natural, while some remain under review as toxicology tests continue. Gary Westcott told reporters that staff care about the people in custody and that the agency must secure and care for them every day.
State data show 47 people in custody died at Elayn Hunt in 2025, and 18 of those were labeled unexpected. That numbercaught attention because families track these reports closely and want tounderstand what is happening inside the prison walls.
Secretary Gary Westcott said many deaths were linked to natural causes, but some cases still wait on lab results. “If the toxicology comes back positive, it is labeled an overdose,” he said, noting two overdoses were confirmed and several reviews remain pending.
Elayn Hunt houses more than 1,900 incarcerated people and employs over 600 staff, so any rise in deaths feels personal to many. Officials say each case is reviewed carefully, because behind every number is a person and a family waiting for answers.
Officials say the types of contraband showing up at Elayn Hunt do not look like they did years ago. Gary Westcott explained that what staff once found most often has shifted toward stronger and riskier substances moving through the facility.
“Back then, it was marijuana and crack. Today, we’re dealing with a different animal,” Westcott said. He listed items like meth pills, fentanyl, synthetic marijuana, and even paper dipped in chemicals or pesticides, which people try to smoke.
Westcott said some of these materials are everyday products outside prison, which makes detection harder for staff. He warned that mixing unknown chemicals creates real health risks, and officials now see contraband as a moving target that changes faster than many expect.
State leaders recently announced new management at Elayn Hunt, saying fresh oversight can help address safety and contraband concerns. Warden Travis Day now leads the facility, joined by Deputy Secretary Bobby Jamie Lee and other senior officials focused on daily operations.
Since Jan. 17, the department has stepped up enforcement, tracking visits and checking staff conduct more closely. Seth Smith said visits were denied to 70 people and arrests were made, including one employee, with six summons issued as rules were tightened in recent weeks.
Westcott also addressed staff morale, saying most workers show up to protect both safety and dignity. “I know that there’s a handful of bad employees, but 99% are dedicated professionals,” he said, stressing accountability still applies across the department right now.
Discussion around prison safety often pulls people in different directions, with some calling for stricter controls and others asking for more oversight and transparency. Families want clear answers and community members keep watching how officials respond when problems surface inside large facilities.
Officials say reviews and lab results will continue to guide decisions, and policy changes may follow once findings are complete. As one department leader noted, the goal is to protect lives and keep order, while the public waits to see steady, measurable progress.
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