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---
description: Joyce Mitchell, the prison worker who allegedly helped two men escape a New York prison, is &quot;under enormous pressure,&quot; her attorney says
title: Suspected Prison Worker Under &#x27;Enormous Pressure&#x27;
image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltba9846fa94462eb0/698857df524fc07970df33c5/ap870044014303.jpg?branch=production&amp;width=3840&amp;quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;crop=16:9
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# Prison Worker Who Allegedly Helped N.Y. Escapees Under 'Enormous Pressure,' Lawyer Says


by 

[Alissa Greenberg](/author/alissa-greenberg/)


## Alissa Greenberg


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Jun 23, 2015 9:23 AM CUT

![Escaped Prisoners](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltba9846fa94462eb0/698857df524fc07970df33c5/ap870044014303.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=3:2)

Law enforcement officers walk along a road as the search continues for two escaped prisoners from the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, on Monday, June 22, 2015

Law enforcement officers walk along a road as the search continues for two escaped prisoners from the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, on Monday, June 22, 2015Mike Groll—AP

by 

[Alissa Greenberg](/author/alissa-greenberg/)


## Alissa Greenberg


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Jun 23, 2015 9:23 AM CUT

As police begin to close in on Richard Matt and David Sweat, the now-famous fugitive murders who escaped from a New York maximum-security prison, there’s already [one person behind bars.](http://www.people.com/article/joyce-mitchell-under-enormous-pressure-attorney "undefined")

Joyce Mitchell, the prison worker who allegedly helped the men escape, is now herself in detention and “under enormous pressure,” her attorney, Stephen Johnston, told _People_ on Monday.

Mitchell is suspected of providing Matt and Sweat with tools for their escape and planning to pick them up afterward, _People_ reports.

Police descended this week on nearby Owls Head, where evidence linked to the pair was reportedly found in a hunting lodge used by the prison’s corrections officers. Authorities have questioned at least four officers in their investigation, with one put on leave.

[Read more at _People_](http://www.people.com/article/joyce-mitchell-under-enormous-pressure-attorney "undefined")

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