Updated at 10:07 p.m., Friday, August 3, 2007
Hawaii inmates scuffle at Arizona prison
Advertiser Staff
Seven Hawai'i inmates serving time in a new prison on the Mainland left their cells today when 12 doors inside an administrative segregation unit were opened by mistake, the state Department of Public Safety said.Two of the inmates at Saguaro Correctional Center in Arizona got into a fight, with one suffering superficial injuries, department officials said.
A third inmate had to be sprayed with a chemical agent before he returned to his cell, they said.
The three inmates were subsequently treated by medical personnel at the facility operated by Corrections Corporation of America (CCA).
"I am deeply disturbed by this incident. We're demanding a thorough investigation and a complete review of CCA's correctional officers training program, as well as their computerized security system," said Clayton Frank, the department's interim director.
Frank is sending Deputy Director of Corrections Tommy Johnson and other senior corrections administrators to Arizona this month for a full inspection.
The $95 million, 1,896-bed medium-security prison opened in June. Only prisoners from Hawai'i are housed at the facility.
