NCJ Number
95381
Date Published
1983
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This document describes a major disturbance among inmates at the State Prison in Stillwater, Minn., on September ll, l983.
Abstract
The disturbance began about 5 p.m., following a meeting of about 30 to 40 black inmates in the prison yard. One member of the group told a member of a white 'bikers' group that if a tape recording missing from the television station was not returned by 8:30 p.m , there would be a bloodbath. Tension mounted, and whites began to feel that the entire meeting had been directed against them. Prison officials learned, through a discussion with the blacks, that whites had not even been mentioned during the meeting. Officials subsequently attempted to mediate between the groups. Between 7 p.m. and 8:43 p.m., several contacts were made between the white group and the black group. By 8:55 p.m., the groups had positioned themselves in the cell hall, and began to taunt each other and to break furniture. At this time, the guards sought to find refuge in a nearby tunnel. When inmates realized that the guards were gone, they set fires and destroyed prison property, including about 30 televisions and 17 cells. By 11:03, the cell hall was declared under administration control. Such events may be prevented if more minority workers are recruited, hired, and trained for prison positions and if cell hall multiracial advisory councils are established.