At the time of that riot, I was living about 20 miles from the that place.
I was working construction at the time, and while the "hostages" were being held on the infamous " elevated crosswalk", myself and two others (all varmint hunters) attempted to offer our services.
At that time, there were no publicly announced swat teams, so a few volunteer snipers seemed useful.
As it turned out, we could get no closer than 300 yards to the walls and could only offer such to the state policeman that turned us away.
There were some local reporters that witnessed the storming of the prison and their initial reports within the first 3-4 hours after the storming differed greatly from followup reports.
Initially, one reporter present said that the inmates slashed the throats of some of the hostages...later the same reporter denied he said such!
A local doctor who was one of the first to encounter some of the wounded and dead concurred.....while the official state med examiner later disagreed completely....and the local doctor clammed up...go figure...
I presume, as Rush says, " follow the money trail"!
Some guards were killed and some greviously wounded....compensation and suits were sure to follow....who would have deeper pockets, the state or some inmate?
I knew some of the guards, one in particular whom was considered to be a "wonderful person" even by most of the inmates (and knowing him, I agree). He was , from what I understand...treated in a most cruel manner ....so the inmates could emphasize that they meant serious business .
There were rumors shortly after the riot was quelled about tortures and even castrations of some of the guards...I cannot confirm or deny such.
I do know that many of the guards never went back, including the one who is an especially nice guy.
I have two nephews that work (guards) in the system; one in an adjunct prison immediately behind the infamous complex and the other more toward the center of the state.
I was once involved in a weekly ministry at that place. It is a very noisy, uncomfortable place and there are many there who need help...but remember: Attica is the place where the
"baddest of the bad" are also placed...
I now live about 40 miles from there, in a different county .
Just food for thought!