Mock Prison Riot Will Continue With New Leadership

MOUNDSVILLE, W. Va. — Despite funding issues and concerns that the event might not be able to continue, a 16th version of the Mock Prison Riot at the former West Virginia Penitentiary will happen in May.

The event, previously planned and run by the West Virginia High Technology Consortium Foundation, is now managed by the West Virginia Division of Corrections. According to Mike Coleman, director of security for the DOC, the foundation lost grant funding and was unable to continue holding the event.

In order to continue the riot, the DOC now is charging exhibitors booth fees of $500 for one booth and $250 for each additional booth, with a maximum of three booths available for each vendor.

Corrections and law enforcement personnel will continue to be admitted for free to take part in the event, where they can test new products and different staged scenarios.

Officials said the event has averaged 13,060 participants in recent years, coming from 35 states and 11 foreign countries. He said while the mock riot is helpful to law enforcement and exhibitors, it is also a great way to showcase the Northern Panhandle.

The riot, which includes training scenarios, workshops and technology demonstrations will be held May 7-9.

To register online visit, http://mockprisonriot.org