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| 33 Inmates in Calif. Jail Wing Refuse Food |
| By The Californian |
| Published: 04/30/2003 |
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More than 30 Monterey County, Calif., Jail inmates went on hunger strike Sunday when jail officials locked down their wing because of an inmate-on-inmate assault, a jail official said. The 33 inmates are protesting the 5:15 p.m. lockdown of the jail's D wing, said Cmdr. Pat Hunton, acting captain of the Monterey County Jail. 'There have been some individuals that have chosen not to eat in the past,' Hunton said. 'This is the first time we've had a significant number not wanting to eat at the same time.' As of late Tuesday, every inmate in D wing except one had forgone meals since at least Monday morning, she said. The inmate who's eaten could not take part in the strike because of a medical condition. Lockdowns prevent inmates from leaving their wing and going into the yard for recreation. The step was taken Sunday to prevent further violence, Hunton said, and officials have not decided when to lift it. The hunger strike was not to protest the jail conditions, and inmates were not being punished for the strike, Hunton said. 'It's their choice whether to eat (or not),' she said. 'That has no bearing on their lockdown or privilege status.' The inmate who was assaulted Sunday received minor injuries, but information about the beating was sketchy because he refused to provide details to deputies, Hunton said. Inmates in the dormitory-style wing are provided three meals a day, eating dinner in late afternoon, except on Sundays, when eat supper later. Hunton said she didn't know whether the inmates had eaten their dinner Sunday before the assault and subsequent lockdown. Inmates in that portion of the jail have been sentenced and are serving time for a variety of offenses. When full, D wing houses about 64 inmates. |
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