New York Prison Escape Update: Superintendent Steven Racette, Other Officials Placed On Leave

This story has been updated.

UPDATE, 2:00 p.m. EDT:

Twelve employees at the Clinton Correctional Facility have been put on leave as part of an ongoing investigation into the escape of Richard Matt and David Sweat, who broke out of the maximum security prison in upstate New York June 6. Three members of the executive team and nine correctional officers comprised those who were on leave, NBC New York reported.

An interim superintendent will fill in for the suspended prison superintendent, Steven Racette.

Original story:

Several officials at the Clinton Correctional Facility have been put on administrative leave following the escape of inmates and convicted murderers David Sweat and Richard Matt from the prison on June 6, the Times Union reported Tuesday, citing unnamed sources. Superintendent Steven Racette and deputy superintendent for security Stephen Brown were among the officials put on leave.

Sweat and Matt managed to saw, drill and tunnel their way out of the prison, located in upstate New York, in early June and remained at large until days ago. A U.S. Border Patrol Officer shot and killed Matt Friday, while Sweat was shot and captured Sunday. He remained in serious condition.

The escapees did not pull off their daring stunt alone. Joyce Mitchell, a 51-year-old employee at the prison's tailoring shop, helped by smuggling in materials, including a drill bit. She was arrested June 12. Gene Palmer, a corrections officer at the prison, also aided the inmates by illicitly bringing Matt frozen hamburger meat in which Mitchell had hidden hacksaw blades. He was arrested Wednesday and charged with felony counts.

Steven Racette, the prison's superintendent, and his leadership have come under scrutiny following the escape, as investigators and the media sought to discover how the inmates managed to break out. Questions about his management have continued as it emerged that prison employees had aided in the inmates' escape.

"The question that will have to be asked is, 'To what extent was he literally superintending the operation of the prison?'" Martin Horn, a lecturer at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, told Reuters, prior to the report that Racette had been placed on leave. "Were there things that he knew but failed to act on or didn't know but should have known? Was he diligently insuring that the requisite procedures were in place and were being adhered to?"

Racette has reportedly worked in prisons since 1979, including 10 in upstate New York. His father was also a prison superintendent. He has an annual salary of $132,040, according to the New York Department of Corrections, Reuters reported.