Luisa Sauro September 28, 2011 Introduction to Corrections Term Paper
New Mexico Penitentiary Riot Santé Fe, New Mexico
The New Mexico penitentiary in south Santa Fe, New Mexico was no stranger to violence. This penitentiary has seen two riots in its past one July 19, 1922 and the other June 15, 1953, these however were nothing in comparison to the events to come. In the early morning hours of February 2, 1980 two prisoners began what would be recorded as one of the most violent prison riots in the history of the American correctional system. 33 prisoners died, over 200 inmates were injured and 12 correction officers were taken hostage of those 12, seven were badly beaten and raped. The causes of this riot were made Mid-afternoon approximately 36 hours after the riot began heavily armed State Police accompanied by the National Guard entered the prison. It took several days for the officers to regain control of the prison and ensure order before the inmates were able to occupy the prison until that time prisoners were outside in almost zero temperatures. National Guardsmen did supply lumber for shelter to keep inmates from freezing. Most of the crimes that occurred in those two days shockingly went unpunished one inmate did receive an additional 9 years on their sentence. The death toll stands at 33 but, sources say there are many more but, because bodies were burned and dismembered there is no way to truly know how many lives were taken.
The key points I have learned in researching this incident is that yes, these are criminals and yes, they are capable of the evilest most unthinkable acts. They are however human beings, they are not animals. If you analyze this case you will see acts of compassion by these same inmates. The protection of officers that had been taken hostage for example. I would bet the officers that were beaten were the same officers that developed the “snitch game”. The facts remain the same prisons are about rehabilitation and respect if you remove the programs to educate and work with prisoners and you don’t show respect or even human decency, an event like this will surely happen again and again.
