We have followed this story from the beginning; since the 1st uprising in December, to the second uprising in February, to the arrest of 3 corrections officers working there in March.
Reeves Detention Center is a 2,400 inmate PRIVATIZED prison in Texas that houses a large population of undocumented immigrants. This for-profit prison (like all of them) is administered for the greatest profit possible, of course any corner that can be cut will be! An inmate needs healthcare attention? Sorry, costs too much! Leave him to die! They may has well have said “let him eat cake.”
We at Malcolm-Che give our full solidarity to the rightous prisoners who rose up against these horrible conditions when one of their friends died at the hands of these capitalists!! It was the death of Manuel Galindo that sparked the uprising, but it was the poor food, poor healthcare and anger generated from the indefinate detention of these immigrants that made the uprising possible.
They took hostages (which they later released), demanded to speak to the Mexican consulate; tried anything they could do to try to get the word out about what was going on inside. We salute you! 25 of them are up on charges right now resulting from the uprisings, we demand they be given clemency!
From immigration to healthcare to privatized prisons this article touches on so many issues that are important to us. This is MUST READ!!
Attorney says inmate’s death led to Pecos prison riots
Here is a pic of the uprising at Reeves County Detention Center in Texas.
PECOS — The death of a 32-year-old epileptic inmate in solitary confinement at Reeves County Detention Center last Dec. 12 touched off the first of two riots that saw fires set and hostages taken, said an attorney for the dead inmate’s family.
Some of the privately run federal lockup’s 2,400 inmates, many of them illegal immigrants, had complained of woeful health care after the riots on Dec. 12-13 and Jan. 31-Feb. 1.
But the story now centers on 32-year-old Jesus Manuel Galindo of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, who El Paso lawyer Miguel “Mike” Torres claims was improperly treated.
Representing Galindo’s widow, three children and parents with co-counsel Leon Schydlower, Torres said last week that a member of a Lubbock physicians’ group that contracts with the prison had examined Galindo just before his death.
“The doctor said Jesus had an attitude problem because he was complaining about the lack of medical treatment that killed him three days later,” said Torres.
Galindo “had no business” being in the Security Housing Unit, Torres said, “because he was only in for minor infractions, not fighting or worse.”
The inmate’s mother had been calling almost daily to say he was not feeling well and was having seizures, said Galindo’s attorney.
“She mailed the prison his medical records, but they sent them back with a curt note that said, ‘Don’t send these again.,’ ” Torres said.
“When they found him at 7 a.m. Dec. 12, rigor mortis had set in, which meant he had been dead for three to five hours,” the attorney said. “I attended his funeral, and the small neighborhood funeral home in south El Paso was filled to overflowing. It was tragic because he was a young man.”
Cellmates rioted
Torres, who said he is taking steps toward a civil lawsuit against the company operating the prison, said Galindo’s former cellmates touched off the riot because they had feared that result. “Everything we learned is that they were worried sick about this guy,” he said.
“They tried to contact the administration and say, ‘Bring him back and we will watch him.’ You have to take this type of medication (Dilantin) at precise times at well-monitored therapeutic levels.”
Judy Madewell, a federal public defender in San Antonio who was handling Galindo’s appeal of a 30-month term for illegal re-entry into the United States, said she has “had concerns for a long time because RCDC has had a number of problems with inmates getting proper medical attention.
“My secretary translated a letter in which Jesus said, ‘I’m afraid I’m going to die and no one will find me!’ ” Madewell said.
“We feel horrible about what happened and feel like there is a lot of responsibility on the facility’s part.”
She reported sending Octavio Vasquez, an investigator with the federal defender’s office in Alpine, to spend three hours with Galindo on Dec. 4.
“He was in the SHU for minor disciplinary infractions,” Madewell said of Galindo.
“Octavio went to the authorities and said, ‘He needs removing from solitary,’ and they said, ‘Yes, we will move him out by this weekend.’ He was still there when he died eight days later.
“Jesus told Octavio the prison was not giving him his meds often enough and lowered the dosage. He was a gentle person — not a problem client, and as far as I know not a problem inmate.”
Assistant Federal Defender Charlotte Harris of Alpine, whose office represented Galindo after his arrest, said the Geo Group of Boca Raton, Fla., operates the detention center with support from Reeves County.
“It’s better for the government to run prisons, rather than private companies, because corners can be cut if you have a profit motive,” said Harris.
No response from prison
A call to the prison last week was referred to Geo Group’s Florida headquarters, where a spokesman asked that questions be submitted by e-mail. Geo did not respond to e-mailed questions.
Two prison recreation specialists were released unharmed after the first riot. The rec center was torched during that melee, and smoke poured from a housing unit during the second, broadcast by cable news, after which three inmates were hospitalized, one missing a finger.
Charged with assault and other crimes, 25 inmates face trial, a court official said.
