This report describes the Mock Prison Riot trainings and technology demonstrations that are held at the former West Virginia State Penitentiary.
The Mock Prison Riot, which was first held in 1997 with 3 training teams and 7 demonstrated technologies, is now a large-scale training and technology scenario that attracts over 1,300 attendees each year. Officers involved in the Mock Prison Riot practice their skills at responding to dangerous prison incidents and learn about new and emerging correctional and law enforcement technologies developed by a range of technologists and inventors. While it is expected that approximately 70 technologies and 365 officers will participate in the 2001 Mock Prison Riot, many more participants will watch the training in real-time via closed-circuit monitors throughout the prison. One of the main goals of the Mock Prison Riot is to showcase and commercialize correctional and law enforcement technologies; with the help of the Office of Law Enforcement Technology Commercialization (OLETC), the Riot serves as a review mechanism for the capabilities of emerging technologies. A listing is offered of some of the technologies that were demonstrated at the 2000 Mock Prison Riot and registration information for future Mock Prison Riots is presented.