Mississippi prison riot leaves guard dead at private facility holding illegal immigrants; No escapes

Smoke rises above the Adams County Correctional Center in Natchez, Miss., May 20, 2012, during an inmate disturbance at the prison. / AP Photo/The Natchez Democrat

(AP) BRANDON, Miss. - A prison guard was killed Sunday during a riot that also injured five other correctional officers and hurt three inmates at a privately run facility in Mississippi that holds illegal immigrants, authorities said.

The riot began about 2:40 p.m. CDT and involved dozens of inmates before it was brought under control late Sunday night. Adams County Coroner James Lee confirmed that a guard died, but said he could not provide any other details until the correctional officer's family was notified.

Emilee Beach, a spokeswoman at the Adams County Correctional Center in southwest Mississippi, said the uprising involved multiple inmates but she wasn't sure exactly how many because the investigation was still ongoing.

She said that after the disturbance was brought under control Sunday night, inmates were being searched and sent back to their cells.

Beach said the prison, owned and operated by Corrections Corp. of America, holds illegal immigrants, most for charges of re-entering the United States after being deported.

The five injured guards were taken to a hospital and treated for injuries that weren't considered life-threatening.

The 2,567-bed prison in Natchez houses adult male illegal immigrants for the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

CCA spokesman Steve Owen confirmed in an email "there has been one employee death" but he said he could not provide more details immediately.

He said in an email early Monday "it is my understanding that all staff are accounted for." He said the company was investigating what prompted the uprising.

Adams County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Emily Ham said no inmates had escaped the facility.

After the uprising began, CCA's Special Response Team and the Mississippi Highway Patrol's SWAT team sought to quell activities within the prison while state and local law-enforcement officers secured the perimeter of the complex, Adams County Sheriff Chuck Mayfield said in a statement.

Mayfield told the Natchez Democrat that 15 employees were freed at one time during the uprising by opening a fence and protecting the route with guns.

The sheriff said in a statement early Monday that there were at least two dozen hostages being held at one time.

Mayfield added that prison personnel had "gained total control" of the complex.

"Right now, we have three inmate injuries that were probably sustained from other inmates — one being a stab wound, concussion and rib injuries," Mayfield added. "There were no escapes."

[flowersadrian2399]

hey dint u readthis artic right.you raisest *******. it hold illegals from all over the world not just MEXICANS! and were is ur family from bcz last time i checked JOSE AND GONZALEZ is a mexican name. And the inmates would have never done that if they got treated like humans.

[trutwin]

I agree with 'oktobre_sky' our thoughts and prayers should be with the family of the slain guard and those who were injured.

Congress could do a lot toward solving the problems of incarcerating illegal aliens and our 'home-grown' criminals if they had the will to do so, after all some of them may reside there one day themselves.

[chillin662]

Condolences to the family of the deceased guard but his blood and the blood of the inmates and injured staff members are on the hands of Haley Barbour, MDOC Commissioner Christopher Epps, Bennie Thompson and all the state officials who let CCA continue to operate here in Mississippi despite the many riots, injuries and inhumane conditions that the staff (and inmates) are forced to deal with. I have been trying to get attention brought to this situation for years without avail and unfortunately it takes someone dying to get national attention brought to this. low pay, under staffing and under trained staff are CCA norms and I KNOW that's why it took so long for the riot to get under control. The prison I worked at in Tutwiler JUST had a huge riot in December with 26 inmates hospitalized and there was NO MEDIA COVERAGE.

CCA can't hide this death like they have the riots in Tallahatchie County or the inmate that died in February from a drug overdose. CCA, Haley Barbour, Phil Bryant, Bennie Thompson, Thad Cochran, Roger Wicker, Jim Hood, Robert Huddleston, David Jordan and any other state representatives and senators as well as local officials who have CCA prisons in their districts are at fault because they have known for years what CCA has operated but turned a blind eye at the expense of the employees and the public who is put in danger because the prisons are SO UNDER STAFFED.

[halfpennyheckler]

No joke, chillin. I work at a CCA facility myself and the staffing and training are both woefully inadequate. I find myself praying that if something does go down, we get very lucky.

[rightontarget]

by nojoy01 May 21, 2012 10:06 AM EDT
What is needed is a way to separate the chaff from the wheat (honest, law abiding types from the thugs, thieves, narco-dregs) and give them a fair shot at "The American Dream".
*************************************************

Nojoy, first thing, if they are in this country ILLEGALLY they are NOT "honest, law abiding types". THEY ARE BREAKING THE LAW AND THEY KNOW IT. Give them a "fair shot"??? Really?? How does that compare with the "shot" so many people who entered this country LEGALLY were given? So their reason is that they "just want something better for themselves and their families". SO WHAT!!!! So did ALL the other LEGITIMATE immigrants who did it LEGALLY!!! (Illegals do NOT qualify as "immigrants", they are "ILLEGAL immigrants") Just because someone that is in this country illegally is not a "thug" or other "hardened criminal" is NO REASON TO MAKE ANY EXCUSES FOR THEM!

[nojoy01]

That's the point rightontarget, find a way to separate the good from the bad and give the "good guys" a LEGAL way into the country that doesn't take years & beaucoup bucks. The problem on the South West border isn't going to just go away and our solution to the problem right now (pardon me if I borrow one of Lincoln's stories) is just like the many trying to shovel fleas from one side of the barn to the other. An exercise in futility. Let'em in, find a job, raise families, pay taxes, and become part of the Great (consumer) Society. That way they become tax payers instead of a burden on tax payers. And no, I am NOT worried about "those" people coming in and "taking my job." Their being here will create more jobs and job opportunities.

[rightontarget]

Well the "good guys" need to go home, go to the back of the line and go through the system just like every other LEGAL immigrant that came here to make this country great. It is SO unfair to those who went through the system and waited YEARS and sacraficed so much to go through the immigration system LEGALLY. We cannot insult those wonderful LEGAL immigrants by allowing those who could SNEAK into the country to get away with it. LEGALS and ILLEGALS are NOT the same!!!! No matter what, I do NOT believe in "rewarding" anyone who got into this country ILLEGALLY by letting them stay or giving them special consideration just because they are already here, no matter WHAT the reason or the cost, because so very many others entered legally. If you STEAL something (in this case your residency) you should NOT be allowed to keep it. THAT'S CHEATING!!! Go back and earn whatever it takes to obtain that item LEGALLY. No breaks or excuses.

[magyar12]

One way to decrese the number of prisons is to deport ILLEGAL residents off the "plank" of an aircraft carrier, while in the middle of an ocean.

Deport them once. If they come back, make it a capital offense, like hanging, stoning, or the chair. Eliminate the possibility of a 3rd offense.

[Raptorsmasher]

Yeah, when pigs fly. What a real constructive statement.

[JoseGonzalezDoritos]

I find it dispicable that there weren't far more dead bean eaters than there were!
These weren't US citizens. They have the right to shut up and be deported! That's it.
Every one of them that was rioting should have been shot.
They have no business being here and should be treated extremely harshly. NO MERCY FOR LOW LIFE BEAN EATING S**T ILLEGAL MEXICANS!!!!!!

[petesis]

And as for "privately run"... All you nincompoops that think this is "saving" the government money,,,the government is paying for these things... big savings I am sure. Right into the pocket of investors who turn around and give it to politicians. There is no "savings"... their very existence is an unnecessary cost.
Another failure by the media who give us the Kardashians, and ignore private gulags run by the states.

[audemus]

...you may be confusing sarcasm for nincompoopery.

[nojoy01]

"(AP) BRANDON, Miss. - A prison..."

"The 2,567-bed prison in Natchez houses..."

"Adams County Coroner James Lee confirmed..."
-----------------------------------------------------------------
FYI Brandon, Ms, is about 15 miles due east of Jackson, Ms., about 140 miles NE of Natchez, Ms, and is the county seat of Rankin County, Ms. Either the story was filed from Brandon, Ms. (pop about 16K) or whoever filed the story is geographically confused.

[alinrodneyvil]

Next steps, private food inspection, pivate police and fire departments. All done with minimum wage, untrained labor.

[vsmit]

If this was run by the government, there would have been more than one death. Untrained union workers more worried about their "benefits" than they are about getting the job done.

[magyar12]

Is this one of the prisons the ACLU has complained of ? The ACLU sues for better treatment, better conditions, less harsh confinment.

These people are criminals. They broke the law. It's their fault they are in prison. It need not matter if it's a federal facility or a profit center, criminals need locked up, to keep them out of society.

Put'em in leg irons and house them in the middle of the desert. No cable, no library, no gym, and bologna sandwiches. Brand'em and micro chip'em.

Hopefully, an m16 helped bring things under control.

[taxed01]

American Criminal Liberties Union