The Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls faced a significant data breach affecting detainees, staff, and vendors. Revealed on Nov. 2, the breach impacted approximately 1,454 detainees, 438 current and former staff, and 92 vendors. The breach compromised various data types, including financial details, detainees’ medical information, staff records, and vendor data.
Among the exposed information were names, addresses, contact numbers, birth dates, hire dates, job titles, and, in some instances, Social Security numbers. Upon discovering the breach, Wyatt swiftly initiated damage control measures, aiming to minimize the impact of the virus on its systems. The facility took necessary actions to secure its systems and commenced an investigation into the incident.
Collaborating with forensic security experts, they strived to determine the nature and extent of the breach, analyzing the data accessed from the facility’s system. Wyatt expressed regret for any distress caused by the breach and took steps to notify individuals affected by the incident. Additionally, the facility is actively working to reduce the potential repercussions stemming from this security breach. This detention facility, governed by a quasi-public board of directors, has a capacity for 730 men and 40 women.
The breach has prompted an FBI investigation, indicating the severity of the incident and the potential risks posed by the compromised data. Wyatt’s efforts to contain the breach, investigate its scope, and mitigate the impacts underscore the significance of cybersecurity measures in safeguarding sensitive information within such facilities.
