Private prison inmates protested about food, medical care

August 21, 2014 at 8:54p.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Last week's 14-hour protest at the private prison on city's East Side that stemmed from inmate complaints about food, medical care and other issues ended after a prison team showed force and then offered inmates a last chance to clear the yard.

Northeast Ohio Correctional Center was placed under lockdown after the incident and more than a week later, the private prison, owned by Nashville-based Corrections Corporation of America, remains under restrictions. Candace Rivera, a spokeswoman, said there's a process for returning to normal operations as investigations are concluded.

Family members of inmates, however, can contact prison officials any time with concerns, she said.

An incident report from the Aug. 12 episode at the Youngstown-Hubbard Road facility provided to the city shows that the protest began about 2:15 p.m. with 393 inmates in the recreation yard. The group was primarily composed of Dominican inmates.