NCJ Number
100768
Date Published
1986
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This ombudsman's report examines factors which may have contributed to a prison uprising occurring in cellhouse 319 of the Iowa State Penitentiary on January 6, 1986.
Abstract
At the time of the incident, cellhouse 319 held 90 inmates whose behavior had been intractable, disruptive, and/or assaultive. During the uprising, the inmates overpowered and took hostage seven correctional officers. They remained in control of the cellhouse for approximately 90 minutes, during which no demands were made and no one was killed or seriously injured (although three inmates were assaulted). Investigation of the incident included onsite interviews with correctional staff and inmates, reviews of institution disciplinary reports and inmate grievances filed in the 3 weeks preceding the disturbance, an examination of the cellhouse logbook, and an analysis of a videotape of the correctional emergency response team regaining control of the cellhouse. Based on these data, it was found that the uprising was loosely organized by a small group of inmates with prior assaultive criminal histories. The uprising did not appear to have the full knowledge or support of the majority of other inmates. There did not appear to have been any prior unusual conflicts between staff and inmates, nor were there any unusual variations in the number or substance of preceding disciplinary reports or grievances. The report concludes that measures taken to regain control of the cellhouse were conducted with professionalism, effective strategy, and skilled tactics.