MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va.— Law enforcement and corrections officers from across the nation and the world converged on the former West Virginia Penitentiary at Moundsville for the 16th annual Mock Prison Riot.

It's an annual event that was in some danger when previous project heads, the High Technology Consortium Foundation pulled the plug.

But thanks to a late save from the state of West Virginia, the mock prison riots were able to go on as planned this year.

A variety of scenarios were played out on Monday. NEWS9 was on hand for a number of scenarios; including one depicting unruly inmates taking a corrections officer hostage in the dining hall, as well as another hostage scenario in the prison’s infirmary.

“As far as training, this is great for us, we need a training facility like this. It helps to grow as a team and work together as a team, and work with other institutions to see how they do things,” said Allen Treadway of FCI Beckley.

This year, the state Division of Corrections is sponsoring the tactical training event. It includes demonstrations, certifications workshops, skills competition and opportunities to see new technology.

“We've got people from here from 35 states and 9 foreign countries this year. It's a world impacting event,” said Mike Coleman with the West Virginia Division of Corrections.

The Gothic 1860s prison housed inmates for 130 years until the state Supreme Court declared it uninhabitable in 1995 and ordered it closed.

Moundsville was the site of a real riot in 1986. Fifteen corrections officers were taken hostage as inmates left their cells for dinner. Three inmates died.