Bob-bi-lu
05-28-2005, 10:24 AM
1,000 inmates under controlled movement at CMC
Three fights since May 16 lead to strict rules; prison officials characterize the fighting as racial
By Angela Manese-Lee
The Tribune
Posted on Sat, May. 28, 2005
About 1,100 inmates at the California Men's Colony remain under a program of controlled movement and no visiting after three fights -- the largest involving about 100 inmates -- erupted in one of the facility's quads.
CMC spokeswoman Lt. Shelly Thompson said that since May 16, inmates in the facility's medium-security A-Quad have been kept under a modified program -- meaning no inmates move outside their cell without being escorted or controlled.
Thompson also said that because "it seems to be an interracial thing," inmates are being released for meals by race.
The first and largest fight occurred at around 10 a.m. May 16 when a one-on-one fight escalated to include 50 to 70 inmates in a facility yard, 15 to 20 in an adjacent building and 40 to 50 in a second adjacent building, Thompson said.
To break it up, guards used pepper spray, one side-handle baton and two rounds of hollow rubber balls fired from the tower, Thompson said.
A window was broken during the melee and an inmate standing inside the window was injured when glass got into his eye. Thompson said the inmate was taken to an outside hospital to be treated.
Nineteen inmates suffered minor injuries in the fight.
Thompson said officials are still trying to determine what started the fight, which occurred between black and Latino prisoners.
"It had something to do with disrespect, but we're still investigating that," she said.
Three days later, a second fight broke out between nine or 10 inmates during lunch in the facility's dining room. Guards used pepper spray to stop the fight.
Thompson said investigations are ongoing about the cause of the second fight, which occurred between Latino and white prisoners.
"It's a volatile situation, there are a lot of inmates in a confined area with very few staff in there," Thompson said.
She did not have information on the number of injuries suffered in the scuffle but said no one had to be taken outside CMC to be treated.
A third fight broke out at 8:10 a.m. Thursday when two inmates -- one holding a razor blade -- attacked two others during a controlled release for breakfast.
One of the victims suffered some minor scratches and lacerations, Thompson said, but there were no major injuries.
The last time a modified program was instituted because of a riot was in October, Thompson said.
That involved inmates in CMC's minimum-security West Facility after a fight broke out between 34 Latino and white inmates. The modified program was in place for five days.
Link to Article:http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispotribune/living/community/11762881.htm
Three fights since May 16 lead to strict rules; prison officials characterize the fighting as racial
By Angela Manese-Lee
The Tribune
Posted on Sat, May. 28, 2005
About 1,100 inmates at the California Men's Colony remain under a program of controlled movement and no visiting after three fights -- the largest involving about 100 inmates -- erupted in one of the facility's quads.
CMC spokeswoman Lt. Shelly Thompson said that since May 16, inmates in the facility's medium-security A-Quad have been kept under a modified program -- meaning no inmates move outside their cell without being escorted or controlled.
Thompson also said that because "it seems to be an interracial thing," inmates are being released for meals by race.
The first and largest fight occurred at around 10 a.m. May 16 when a one-on-one fight escalated to include 50 to 70 inmates in a facility yard, 15 to 20 in an adjacent building and 40 to 50 in a second adjacent building, Thompson said.
To break it up, guards used pepper spray, one side-handle baton and two rounds of hollow rubber balls fired from the tower, Thompson said.
A window was broken during the melee and an inmate standing inside the window was injured when glass got into his eye. Thompson said the inmate was taken to an outside hospital to be treated.
Nineteen inmates suffered minor injuries in the fight.
Thompson said officials are still trying to determine what started the fight, which occurred between black and Latino prisoners.
"It had something to do with disrespect, but we're still investigating that," she said.
Three days later, a second fight broke out between nine or 10 inmates during lunch in the facility's dining room. Guards used pepper spray to stop the fight.
Thompson said investigations are ongoing about the cause of the second fight, which occurred between Latino and white prisoners.
"It's a volatile situation, there are a lot of inmates in a confined area with very few staff in there," Thompson said.
She did not have information on the number of injuries suffered in the scuffle but said no one had to be taken outside CMC to be treated.
A third fight broke out at 8:10 a.m. Thursday when two inmates -- one holding a razor blade -- attacked two others during a controlled release for breakfast.
One of the victims suffered some minor scratches and lacerations, Thompson said, but there were no major injuries.
The last time a modified program was instituted because of a riot was in October, Thompson said.
That involved inmates in CMC's minimum-security West Facility after a fight broke out between 34 Latino and white inmates. The modified program was in place for five days.
Link to Article:http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispotribune/living/community/11762881.htm