Prison Officials Accused of Ignoring Warnings
Prison officials allegedly ignored warnings of impending violence before a gang fight last month that injured two guards at Lompoc Federal Penitentiary, attorneys for the corrections officers union said.
In a letter to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, union lawyer Bill Friedrich said top prison officials ignored warnings before the fight broke out in a dining area Dec. 27 between about 30 members of the Crips and the Southern Blacks gangs.
“It is our understanding that a number of the staff received those same warnings and made them known to management,” Friedrich said in Wednesday’s letter to the California senator.
“Apparently their warnings were not taken seriously and no change occurred when inmates were allowed to dine. The obvious result occurred.”
There was no immediate comment from prison spokesman Joe Henderson.
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