|
|
| Soledad prison lockdown lifted |
| By Monterey Herald |
| Published: 08/25/2005 |
|
Inmates regained visitation rights last weekend for the first time in six weeks since Salinas Valley State Prison went on lockdown following an assault on officers. However, C Facility, which houses 950 inmates, was not granted visitation rights. The assault happened July 14 in C Facility while an inmate assisted corrections officers handing out breakfast to other inmates. One guard was stabbed in the face and neck. Another guard was stabbed in the shoulders and arms. Prison spokesman Lt. Bill Muniz said prison investigators think the attack was premeditated. The families and friends of inmates staged a protest outside the prison Aug. 6 to bring attention to the lockdown. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in Sacramento was notified of the protest, as were the Soledad Police Department, California Highway Patrol and Monterey County Sheriff's Department. Visitation this weekend took more time than normal, Muniz said, because of the prison's low staff size. Salinas Valley State Prison and the Correctional Training Facility, Soledad's other state prison, have been under a staffing state of emergency since April. Neither prison has been able to fill its ranks because of the high cost of living in Monterey County, Muniz said. "The state of emergency we're under affects the resources that are available to us," he said. The spokesman was unable to say when C Facility will regain its visitation rights because the investigation into the officer assault is still ongoing. Inmates are still being interviewed and cells continue to be searched, he said. However, an assault on three officers on B Yard just over two weeks ago did not prompt the loss of the facility's visitation rights. The attack by two inmates, Muniz said, was not comparable to the assault on July 14 that involved the use of a prison-made knife. Inmates continue to be escorted in shackles as they are moved through out the prison, Muniz said, as the prison remains on lockdown despite being opened up to visitors again. |
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