The fascinating and infamous tale of Joyce Mitchell, a.k.a. “Tilly,” a former inmate tailor at the Clinton Correctional Facility, is explored in this article.
When Mitchell became involved in the daring 2015 break-out of two convicted murderers, David Sweat and Richard Matt, from the high-security prison in upstate New York, her life took a dramatic change.
We will explore into the minute particulars of her role, her interactions with the prisoners, and the eventual legal repercussions that resulted in her incarceration.
Join us as we explore the compelling real-life event that served as the basis for Lifetime’s most recent production, “New York Prison Break: The Seduction Of Joyce Mitchell.”
What is Prison Break?
The most recent Lifetime production, New York Prison Break: The Seduction Of Joyce Mitchell, continues the network’s tradition of creating TV movies based on true stories.
The movie depicts the tale from the perspective of Joyce Mitchell, a prison tailor who was detained for assisting the guys in their escape, and was inspired by the infamous 2015 escape of two convicted murderers from Clinton Correctional Facility in upstate New York.
The film, which had its premiere on April 23, depicts Mitchell as a susceptible individual who is lured by the two inmates, and the trailer shows a love triangle.
The movie is a typical Lifetime guilty pleasure picture, but because it is based on a true story, it is even more emotional.
Who is Joyce Mitchell?
Joyce Mitchell, sometimes known as “Tilly” or “Tillie,” was employed at the Clinton Correctional Facility in 2008 as a supervisor of industrial training for the facility’s clothing production sector.
She switched to Tailor Shop 1 in 2013 and remained there up to the day of the prison break. Lyle, her spouse, worked as a civilian at the site as well.
Coworkers started witnessing Mitchell’s improper contact with prisoners who worked in the shop in 2012, particularly her conduct around Matt and Sweat.
Inmates are infamous for “downing the duck,” or grooming prison officials, to obtain preferential treatment and privileges.
In response to their requests, Mitchell started feeding Matt, who savagely murdered his old boss in 1997, and Sweat, who murdered a deputy sheriff in 2002, and arranging phone calls to Matt’s daughter.
What did Joyce Mitchell do?
According to reports, Mitchell volunteered to pick the prisoners up after their escape and smuggled tools to them in the form of frozen hamburger beef.
She eventually changed her mind, however, and as part of a plea bargain, pleaded guilty to the accusations leveled against her.
Inmates Richard Matt and David Sweat used hacksaw blades that Mitchell, a former prison tailor, smuggled to them to cut through cell walls during their audacious escape from the jail in Dannemora, New York.
Three weeks after their escape, authorities shot and murdered Matt and finally caught Sweat after a manhunt across the area.
In September 2015, Mitchell was given a maximum term of seven years in prison for first-degree promotion of prison contraband, a felony, and a year concurrently for fourth-degree criminal facilitation, a misdemeanor.
What happened to Joyce Mitchell?
In September 2015, Mitchell, 55, received a sentence of 2 1⁄3 to 7 years in jail for assisting David Sweat and Richard Matt in escaping from Dannemora near the Canadian border.
Following their escape, a three-week chase through the Adirondacks resulted in the shooting death of Matt by law enforcement and the apprehension of Sweat.
In 2015, Mitchell entered a guilty plea and acknowledged having a close relationship with Matt. It was discovered that she had given the guys tools, including hacksaw blades, undercover.
In the maximum-security facility where an escape had not occurred in a century, they utilized the tools to smash through pipes and walls, bringing analogies to the famous movie The Shawshank Redemption.
According to the prison administration, Mitchell’s restricted release is now based on her sentence and the requirements outlined in state law even though she had failed two prior attempts at parole.
A prisoner’s conduct and involvement in programs inside is subject to conditional release. Mitchell has behaved herself, as evidenced by prior parole reports.
