Department of Justice

Report Critical of West Texas Prison Plagued by Riots

A federal prison that has been the scene of several inmate uprisings in West Texas has come under fire for lack of staffing and other issues.

A Justice Department Inspector General report released Thursday was critical of the operation at the Reeves County Detention Center in Pecos. The 2,400-bed facility primarily houses "low-level" immigrants in the country illegally.

The report said the U.S. Bureau of Prisons and the private contractor that runs the prison need to address several issues, including not having enough medical or correctional staff.

The prison came under heavy scrutiny beginning in late 2008 following the death of an inmate and two riots that caused an estimated $1 million in damage.

The GEO Group began running the center in 2003. Its contract ends in 2017.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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