Arizona State Prison Complex, Yuma, Arizona
March 1 – 2, 2018

Emergency vehicles respond to riot at the Arizona State Prison Complex, Yuma (Photo Source: Randy Hoeft/Yuma Sun /The Yuma Sun via AP).

After guards beat an intoxicated prisoner, at least 600 prisoners participated in an uprising in which they attacked guards, set fires, threw rocks, attacked prison infrastructure and broke into the healthcare unit. One prisoner, Adam Coppa, was shot and killed during the riot and 26 were injured.

Following the uprising, six guards were fired after an investigation showed that, shortly before the riot, they had destroyed huge amounts of prisoners’ property, including at least 145 televisions in addition to food, blankets, fans and other personal items. According to KYMA in Yuma, the “ADC has also replaced the damaged personal property (costing $28,275 for the televisions alone).”

According to an attorney for the correctional officers’ union, the riot was the result of forced racial desegregation of the prison and the administration had been warned of the potential for violence weeks before. Further, they alleged that the prison was understaffed at the time of the riot, with only 28 of the 35 staff positions filled. The prison administration, likely fearing lawsuits, vehemently denied these claims, maintaining that understaffing played no part in the riot and that prisoners had no problem with the “Integrated Housing Program.”

Citations:

“1 inmate killed, 37 injured in Yuma prison riot,” AZ Central, March 2, 2018.

“Yuma officers tried to warn Corrections about riot, but officials ignored tip, attorney says“, AZ Central, March 5, 2018.

“Day 4: Cheyenne Unit remains on lockdown after riot“, KYMA, March 7, 2018.

“ASPC-Yuma Cheyenne Unit Disturbance Assessment“, May 2, 2018 Arizona Department of Corrections.

“Final Report on prison riot; Correctional Officers facing criminal charges“, KYMA, May 2, 2018.

“Report: Arizona prison riot began after encounter with drunk inmate,” Tucson.com, May 10, 2018.