Deaths from riot nm ahgp nm genweb new mexico ahgp. Inmates took complete control of the prison and twelve officers were taken hostage. Notwithstanding that morris occasionally leans towards the bromides of sensationalistic journalism, i cannot recall the. Numerous suits were filed following a 1980 new mexico state penitentiary riot. According to author adolph saenz in his book politics of a prison riot, 1986 in 1980, conditions at new mexico state prison where so deplorable that they were inhumane. New mexico state penitentiary riot of 1980 credits remi as director theresa as theresa pictures killed this is a list of names of the 33 people that died in the 1980 new mexico riot, of that. Devastating penitentiary riot of 1980 changed new mexico and its. Santa fe, new mexico the most brutal prison riot the penitentiary of new mexico prison riot, which took place on february 2 and 3, 1980, in the states maximum security prison south of santa fe, was one of the most violent prison riots in the history of the american correctional system. Several inmates were killed by other prisoners, with some being tortured and mutilated because they had previously. At least 49 inmates killed in mexican prison riot the. New mexico state penitentiary riot, part l smear marks are blood. Forty years after the riot, those who witnessed the uprising firsthand are. Our tour guide was an activeduty corrections officer who had worked old main in the late 1990s.
In february 1980, inmates took over the facility for 36 hours. The new mexico state penitentiary also called old main is the site of one of the worst prison riots in u. Finally, the police and national guardsmen retook the penitentiary without resistance. Rebellious inmates, who took over the new mexico state penitentiary in a riot that killed at least 18 prisoners early today, threatened to start executing guards and blacks tonight. At least 18 inmates killed in new mexico prison riot the.
At the end of it, at least 49 followers of two rival gang leaders lay dead, stabbed and beaten to death in an overcrowded, aging prison in the. Circa 19701975 rodriguez was the warden of the prison, he used to boast about the snitch system. It has always stuck in mind as a very brutal example of a riot that really contrasted with other prison riots like attica because of the unrestrained violence that took place. The design was based on the same plans used for sing sing and joliet. The saying goes that truth is stranger than fiction. The first image shows marks left by an axe after an inmate was decapitated, and the second image shows burns left on the. The author demonstrates how this riot, and the growing disorder that preceded it, reflect important shifts in the organizational structure and philosophy of prison management in the u. Thirtythree inmates were killed and hundreds were injured. The new mexico state penitentiary riot, which resulted in both prisoners and officers being beaten, raped, tortured, and murdered. This book compares an overview of the 1980 new mexico state prison riot by a. The beginning is kind of boring and drags a little but keep reading its worth it. The santa fe new mexico state prison riot of 1980 was unbelievably brutal. Penitentiary of new mexico visiting hours, inmate phones, mail. Above are images of the marks left on the building of the new mexico state penitentiary after a brutal 2 day riot that gutted the prison in 1980.
A dead wind blew over the cell blocks of new mexico state penitentiary as the riot of feb 1st 1980 raged beneath the sky. The penitentiary of new mexico pnm is a mens maximumsecurity prison located in unincorporated santa fe county, 15 miles 24 km south of central santa fe, on new mexico state road 14. New mexico is known for its southwestern cuisine, rich history, and its spectacular and varied landscapes. The penitentiary of new mexico pnm is a mens prison located in unincorporated santa fe county, 15 miles 24 km south of central santa fe, on new mexico state road 14.
Authorities think it was because of the poor prison conditions. Accoridng to the author when the inmates made their first written demands to release their. While some prisoners simply tried to find a safe place to wait out the riot, others banded together to rampage through old main, torturing and murdering other inmates. This is part three of the new mexico state penitentiary riot. The penitentiary is in the telephone pole style with a north wing, containing cell blocks for maximum security, a. About this subject guide the new mexico state library reference desk is frequently asked for materials and research assistance on the 1980 riot at the penitentiary of new mexico, and have created this subject guide to help researchers, survivors, and the public locate the. New mexico state penitentiary old main santa fe, nm part 2. Santa fe prison riot theres a bbc documentary on youtube of the new mexico state penitentiary riot of 1980.
If anyone wonders about prison riots, this book offers an accurate account. When two inmates are talking, i know what they are talking about, because i would get the info from. After the inmates of dormitory e1 had escaped, a steady trickle of men followed, and by the end of the riot most inmates stood outside the penitentiary. So ended one of the most violent prison riots in new mexico history.
The 15 most violent prison riots in history therichest. Scott pattersons celebrity ghost story southern prose. New mexico state penitentiary riot of 1980 by remi cuomo. Most of the inmates at the new mexico state penitentiary refused to eat meals sunday in a previously announced protest of food and other conditions at the prison. It is not for the faint hearted, but also not written in a sensational manner. On february 2, 1980, a group of maximumsecurity prisoners managed to take control of the entire penitentiary, and they and many other prisoners proceeded to wreak havoc for 36 hours. The court granted the ag executive privilege only but ordered judicial inspection to determine the appropriate disclosure. New mexico state penintentiary riot in 1980 was second. As part of the new mexico centennial, the new mexico corrections department hosted monthly tours at the abandoned new mexico state penitentiary old main prison. Attorney dan cron explains how most inmates lived out the last minutes of their lives in cell block 4, this is the area where snitches and child molesters were held. The new mexico prison has always waited at the end of the line for public. It would change the face of the american penal system forever.
At the time of the riot rodriguez was the state of new mexicos corrections secretary. Still one of the most deadly prison riots to take place in american history, the 1980 riot at new mexico state penitentiary took place in the states maximum security prison. February 3, 1980 santa fe, new mexico the new mexico state penitentiary riot ends on the second day. In nearly two years since the most savage prison riot in american history, improvements in conditions and security at the state penitentiary here have reportedly been gained grudgingly, if at all. The new mexico state penitentiary riot, which took place on february 2 and 3, 1980, in the states maximum security prison south of santa fe, was the most violent prison riot in american history. Location history opened in 1885, the new mexico penitentiary had been authorized by congress since 1853. Albuquerque journal, march 30, 1980, prison perspective.
While some prison riots are started by an unruly group of inmates, this one was almost immediately prisonwide. Penitentiary of new mexico has seen some of the most violent prison riots in correctional history, and at one time during the 1980s had a riot which lasted two days and resulted in the deaths of 33 inmates. In the end the toll was 33 dead, 200 wounded, all prisoners none of the 12 correctional officers taken hostage died, although they were wounded and none returned to work. The penitentiary of new mexico prison riot, which took place on february 2 and 3, 1980, in the states maximum security prison south of santa fe, was one of the most violent prison riots in the history of the american correctional system. Today, groups tour the site and hear about the gruesome events that occurred there. The penitentiary of new mexico, built in 1956 after the old penitentiary was damaged in a 1953 riot, houses both maximum and medium security inmates. The new mexico state penitentiary was the location for the second deadliest prison riot in the u. Heres more about what 1980 prison riot at the state. Deaths from riot dona ana county, new mexico inmates killed 2 february 1980 the old penitentiary extracted from las cruces sunnews, a gannett co. Paraphrasing rodriguez, the warden would gesture and remark. Mark colvin the penitentiary in crisis suny press, 1992.
The new mexico state attorney general ag motioned to prevent discovery disclosure of evidence and communications after a riot investigation. The new mexico state penitentiary riot, which took place on february 2 and 3, 1980, in the states maximum security prison south of santa fe, was the most. Investigation of the new mexico state penitentiary old main. Photos old main maximum security prison, santa fe, nm. Bruce king would later recall in his book, cowboy in the roundhouse. The riot was sparked by guards encouraging inmates to turn into informants leading to the snitches being targeted in the prison, inadequate conditions including overpopulation at the time of the incident 1,6 prisoners were housed in a facility built to hold 900, subpar food, and. The devils butcher shop university of new mexico press. This was a good book about the new mexico state pen riot in 1980. It was one of the most violent prison riots in the history of americas entire correctional system. In the book titled the devils butcher shop, author roger morris goes into extensive detail about.
In a 36hour period in 1980, the prison was trashed and acts of torture, rape, and murder were carried out against many prisoners. Although the details of the 1980 new mexico riot were extraordinary in the lengths and depths of their brutality, the events which led up to them where a mundane. On february 2, 1980, prisoners overpowered the guards on duty and began a two day spree during which at. An inmates experience of the new mexico state prison riot. Prison guard awarded medal for heroism in 1980 riot. How a bloody prison massacre became a tourist hotspot.
It is operated by the new mexico corrections department. The new mexico state penitentiary riot was one of the worst in american history. I am glad i had a little time to think over my answers. Descent into madness differs from the other books about the 1980 sante fe prison riot in that it puts the reader in the prison and into the riot itself. Correctional officers and many more inmates would have died in the riot had. The 1980 riot at the penitentiary of new mexico was one of the worst riots in prison history. But the land of enchantment filled with usually friendly people holds a lesserknown but horrific claim as well.
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