The Sheriffs Officers Association (ShOA) reports that seven correction officers from the Nassau County Correctional Facility were hospitalized Feb. 12 after an attack by an inmate with a history of violent behavior.

According to the sheriffs association, Joseph Cook, 30, was being transferred back to his housing unit from the East Meadow facility's "special individual recreation" yard, when he violently attacked two correction officers and injured five others called in to quell the attack and restrain him.

ShOA President Michael Adams said inmates with the history of violent behavior such as Cook's are required to be handcuffed and shackled for transfer throughout the jail. Inmates are handcuffed by placing their arms through a fence opening prior to exiting the yard and then are shackled. In this particular case, Cook attacked the two escorting officers, striking one in the head and neck with his handcuffs, Adams said.

Following the incident, the correction officers (six males and one female) were transported to Winthrop-University Hospital for treatment of injuries, which ranged in severity; three officers received significant head and neck injuries, including a male officer struck by a handcuffed Cook.

By law, inmates, regardless of classification, cannot typically be denied recreation but can be restricted to individual recreation, meaning they are allowed such by themselves, if they have a history of violent behavior, which was the case regarding Cook. According to Adams, the inmate committed two other assaults last year. In June 2007, Cook allegedly assaulted several nurses at a local hospital, resulting in serious injuries including broken bones and, in December, assaulted a female correction officer attempting to give him medication.

"Assaults on correction officers are a common occurrence at the maximum security Nassau County Correctional Facility. Dozens of officers are seriously injured each year by inmates [and] this incident highlights the dangers correction officers face every day when they come to work," said Adams, adding, "I commend the officers' handling of this situation and if it were not for their professionalism more officers might have been injured or the injuries sustained by those involved might have been more serious."

As a result of this latest attack, Cook was arrested and charged with assault on three officers; charges were not pressed against the inmate for four officers who, according to Adams, sustained injuries while attempting to dissolve the attack. Cook was arraigned in First District Court on Feb. 14 and, as of press time, was scheduled to go before a judge Feb. 19.

Pleased with the cooperation received from both Nassau County police and the Nassau County district attorney, Adams said this particular case is a perfect example of how crimes against officers performing their duty will not be tolerated. "I think it is very important for correction officers that inmates be charged and processed in a timely matter. This is vindication. There is a price to pay when you assault correction officers," Adams said.