March 25, 2019: Five inmates identified a camera blind spot and escaped through a hole in the fence on Monday night.
2019
15
Mar
Disturbance at Covington County Jail, Alabama
March 15, 2019: During a transfer of three prisoners, a group of “unruly” prisoners engaged in what the sheriff’s department called a “riot”—although they did not specify what that entailed. According to the sheriff’s department, the prisoners were upset because they believed that one of the prisoners being transferred had been pushed to the floor, although the sheriff claims the prisoner actually jumped.
08
Mar
Uprising at Crawford County Detention Center, Arkansas
March 8, 2019: When a sergeant and a deputy attempted to remove a prisoner from a pod containing 40 prisoners, the other 39 prisoners interfered. When the prisoner was removed, the rest of the prisoners attacked prison infrastructure, destroying televisions, lights, ceiling tiles, phones and the sprinkler system, which caused significant flooding.
14
Jan
Hunger Strike at Robert Presley Detention Center, California
January 14-18, 2019: Approximately 16 prisoners launched a hunger strike in protest of lack of medical care, lack of out-of-cell time allotted by prison policy and other policy violations.
2018
11
Dec
Uprising at Robert N. Davoren Complex, Rikers Island, New York
December 11, 2018: A group of about 10 prisoners barricaded themselves into the cafeteria unit of the jail at 11:30 am and used mattresses to defend themselves against guards. In the video, guards are seen spraying pepper spray on the prisoners and violently tackling them.
11
Dec
Uprising at Webb County Detention Center, Laredo, Texas
December 11, 2018: Two correctional officers were attacked by prisoners while reportedly conducting a “cell search” at approximately 3:00 am Tuesday morning at the private prison run by CoreCivic.
04
Dec
Uprising at Iredell County Detention Center, North Carolina
December 4, 2018: Fights broke out at about 7:45pm between four detainees and guards as the detainees were being led back from visitation. As the fight escalated, a group of about 25 detainees started “becoming loud, hitting the glass in the door, and causing disturbances,” according to the press release.
11
Nov
Unrest at Iredell County Detention Center, North Carolina
November 11, 2018: A fight broke out between two prison guards and four detainees during Sunday breakfast. After the altercation began between one detainee and a guard, other detainees joined in. Following the fight, charges were brought against all four prisoners.
21
Aug
2018 National Prison Strike: North Carolina
August, 2018 (exact dates uncertain): North Carolina prisoners issued a set of 8 additional demands focusing on mental health treatment and solitary confinement as well as a call for truce between various groups of prisoners. On August 20, supporters gathered for a noise demo outside Hyde Correctional Institution during the prisoners’ yard time. Prisoners responded to the demo by holding up their own banners saying “parole” “better food” and “solidarity”. Unconfirmed strike activity was reported at 11 prisons in the state.
21
Aug
2018 National Prison Strike
August 21 – September 9, 2018 (exact dates vary based on location): Prisoners with Jailhouse Lawyers Speak and other organizations issued 10 national demands with a call to action for work stoppages, sit-down strikes, hunger strikes and boycotts of the commissary. Organizers stated that the strike was organized in response to the riot at Lee Correctional Institution in South Carolina that resulted in the violent deaths of seven prisoners.
