June 3, 2019: Three prisoners and one staff member were injured after what the California Department of Corrections called a “riot” at Alder Conservation Camp. While details remain unclear, about 40 prisoners reportedly participated in the disturbance at the camp that houses about 100 minimum security prisoners.
2019
07
May
Uprising at Spring Creek Correctional Center, Alaska
May 7, 2019: Approximately 62 prisoners barricaded themselves inside of their housing unit, Hotel Mod, and destroyed prison infrastructure. The Alaska Department of Corrections estimated that the riot caused $100,000 in damage to computer lines, cameras, interior glass, fire suppression systems and plumbing.
14
Apr
Escape at Maui Community Correctional Center, Hawaii
April 14, 2019: Two pretrial detainees kicked open a “termite-eaten” door while guards slept and escaped the prison. One of the prisoners, Barret “BJ” Paman, turned himself in to law enforcement later that day, stating that he escaped because the conditions at the prison were so bad. According to his lawyer, Paman, “voluntarily turned himself in as soon as he felt safe,” Parker said.
03
Apr
Fire and Attack on Guards at Marshall County Correctional Facility, Mississippi
April 3, 2019: Prisoners at a private facility in Mississippi attacked a guard and set fire to part of their unit. The guard was airlifted to a hospital as a result.
26
Mar
Coordinated Hunger Strike at Two Wisconsin Prisons
March 26 – April 22, 2019: Nine prisoners at two Wisconsin prisons began a hunger strike demanding an end to indefinite solitary confinement. Their demands cited the recently elected governor’s campaign promises to reform solitary confinement practices. The hunger strike was timed to start on Madison Action Day, an annual prison reform lobby day. Outside supporters also organized a call-in campaign.
22
Mar
Attack on Guards at Tecumseh State Correctional Institution, Nebraska
March 22, 2019: One staff member was stabbed and kicked by two inmates after a door was mistakenly opened.
18
Mar
Hunger Strike at Holman Correctional Facility, Alabama
March 18, 2019: Eight prisoners began a hunger strike in response to being placed in solitary confinement without due cause.
11
Mar
Uprising at Maui Community Correctional Center, Hawaii
March 11, 2019: At least 42 prisoners refused to return to their cells at the end of recreation time and instead caused “significant damage” to prison infrastructure. The uprising occurred in two pods of the housing unit. Prisoners broke sprinklers, leading to flooding in the pod. The prisoners also started a fire which caused smoke damage in a neighboring pod.
02
Feb
Hunger Strike at Tabor Correctional Institution, North Carolina
February 2-9, 2019 (end date approximate): A group of seven prisoners launched a hunger strike in protest of a new policy requiring that those sending money to a prisoner’s commissary account go through the process of becoming approved as visitors through the prison–a rule that greatly restricts who can send funds to prisoners.
01
Feb
Food Strike at Coyote Ridge Corrections Center, Washington
February 1 – February 26, 2019 (exact end date unknown): The majority of the prisoners at Coyote Ridge Corrections Center launched a hunger strike to protest cold “breakfast boats” that they say are primarily sugar. A breakfast boat is a boxed meal that is given to prisoners with their evening meal, usually with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a muffin, bran bar, cereal and powdered milk.
