|
|
| Two inmates escape from Newton County Correctional |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 08/24/2003 |
|
Two Arizona inmates housed in a private Texas prison escaped last week but were caught a short time later. It is the second escape at the Newton County Correctional Center since Arizona officials began sending state prisoners there on Dec. 4. The inmates were in a recreation area at the prison when they scaled a fence early Wednesday evening, said Jim Robideau, spokesman for the Arizona Department of Corrections. Prison officers fired warning shots and the 28-year-old men, Jose Diaz and Victor Lopez, were caught minutes later, Robideau said. Diaz is serving 10 years for burglary while Lopez is serving 21 years for armed robbery and burglary. James Kimble, an Arizona Department of Corrections administrator, said authorities will conduct an investigation to determine what went wrong. Authorities also did the same when an inmate escaped from the same prison by cutting through a fence in March. The inmate spent nine days in a nearby town before being apprehended. In addition to the two escapes, Arizona inmates have also caused disturbances at the prison, destroying property and staging hunger strikes to protest conditions there. The disturbances caused state officials to stop prisoner transfers and request that improvements, such as adding recreation and job activities, be made. The delay cost the state $415,939, which erased the savings expected by hiring the company, state records show. Company officials told Arizona correctional leaders that the requested improvements had been made and in February, Arizona inmates were once again being sent there. The firm that operates the prison, Correctional Services Corp. of Sarasota, Fla., is also bidding to build and operate a 3,200-bed prison for women in Arizona. |
advertise
|
privacy policy
|
add URL
|
about us
|
terms/disclaimer
|
contact us
|
join our team
|
help
Comments:
No comments have been posted for this article.
Login to let us know what you think