A prison riot is an act of concerted defiance or disorder by a group of prisoners against the prison administrators, prison officers, or other groups of prisoners.

Prison riots have not been the subject of many academic studies or research inquiries. The analyses that do exist tend to emphasize a connection between prison conditions (such as prison overcrowding) and riots,[1][2][3] or discuss the dynamics of the modern prison riot.[4][5] In addition, a large proportion of academic studies concentrate on specific cases of prison riots.[6][7][8] Other recent research analyzes and examines prison strikes and reports of contention with inmate workers.[9]

Prison conditions

In the late 20th century, the analyses and conclusions presented to account for prison disturbances and riots began to shift and change based upon new studies and research. Initially, prison riots were considered irrational actions on the behalf of the prisoners. Nevertheless, there has been a shift in the form of explanation as external conditions like overcrowding are promoted by authorities as possible sources of causation.[10]

List of notable prison riots

The list does not include prisoner-of-war camps.

Event Date Location Death toll Notes Ref.
1929, October 3 Colorado State Penitentiary, Cañon City, Colorado, United States 13 (5 inmates, 8 guards) A majority of the physical plant was destroyed during the riot. [11]
Battle of Alcatraz 1946, May 2–4 Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, Alcatraz Island, United States 5
Kingston Penitentiary riot 1954, August 14 Kingston Penitentiary, Kingston, Ontario, Canada 0 Two-hour riot involving 900 inmates. Breakout attempt was foiled. Several buildings set on fire. $2 million in damages. 160 troops and a squad of police responded.
1954, September 22 Missouri State Penitentiary, Jefferson City, Missouri, United States 4 inmates 29 injured, including 4 guards [12]
Montana State Prison Riot 1959, April 16–18 Montana State Prison, Montana, United States 3
Pulau Senang prison riot 1963, July 12 Pulau Senang, Singapore 4 prison officers [13]
Kingston Penitentiary riot 1971, April 14 Kingston Penitentiary, Kingston, Ontario, Canada 2 inmates
1971, August 10 Idaho State Penitentiary, Boise, Idaho, United States 1 inmate 2 buildings destroyed, in March 1973 another riot that left multiple buildings destroyed. [14]
San Quentin 1971 riot 1971, August 21 San Quentin State Prison, San Quentin, California, United States 6 Riot between Black Guerrilla Family and Mexican Mafia
Attica Prison riot 1971, September 9–13 Attica Correctional Facility, Attica, New York, United States 43
1973, July 27 Oklahoma State Penitentiary, McAlester, Oklahoma, United States 3 inmates 21 injured, 24 buildings were damaged and only 4 buildings were left usable. Over $25 million in damages [15]
August Rebellion 1974, August Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, Bedford Hills, New York, United States 0 Prisoners held 7 guards hostage and controlled parts of the prison for 2.5 hours. Twenty-five women were injured and twenty-four women were transferred to the Matteawan Complex for the Criminally Insane. [16][17]
New Mexico State Penitentiary riot 1980, February 2–3 Penitentiary of New Mexico, Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States 33 Over 200 injured
Welikada prison massacre 1983, July 25+27 Welikada Prison, Sri Lanka 56 (53 inmates and 3 officers)
Fremantle Prison riot 1988, January 14 Fremantle prison, Fremantle, Australia 0 Prisoners created a fire and 5 officers were taken hostage. The fire caused $1.8 million in damage and unintentionally prevented the planned escape
1988, July 20 Centro Penitenciario, Michoacán, Mexico 10 inmates 13 injured [18]
Atlanta prison riots 1987, November United States Penitentiary, Atlanta and Federal Detention Center, Oakdale, United States 1 250 injured
1989 Davao hostage crisis 1989, August 13–15 Davao Metrodiscom, Davao City, Philippines 21 (5 hostages and 16 prisoners)
Leopoldov prison uprising 1990, March Leopoldov Prison, Leopoldov, Slovakia 1 inmate 40 injured (11 prison officers, 29 inmates) [19]
1990 Strangeways Prison riot 1990, April 1–25 Strangeways Prison, Manchester, England 1 inmate 194 injured (147 prison officers, 47 inmates), 25-day prison riot
Carandiru massacre 1992, October 2 Carandiru Penitentiary, São Paulo, Brazil 111
1990, June Robinson Correctional Institution, Enfield, Connecticut, United States 0 300 to 400 inmates set fire to the mess hall and gymnasium [20]
1993, Easter Sunday Southern Ohio Correctional Facility, Scioto County, Ohio, United States 10 (9 inmates, 1 officer)
1994, July 12 Robinson Correctional Institution, Enfield, Connecticut, United States 2 inmates 37 injured (35 inmates, 2 correctional officers) [20]
Prison Six rebellion 1997, August 9 Prison Six, near Atlit, Israel 0 The most famous case of a military prison riot in Israel, started by three imprisoned soldiers who demanded more humane treatment from the staff. The rebellion changed the military police's approach to its prison service sector and led to improvements in the physical structure of military prisons, as well as in conditions for both jail instructors and prisoners. [21]
Kalutara prison riots 1997, December 12 Kalutara, Sri Lanka 3
Bindunuwewa massacre 2000, October 24 Bindunuwewa, Sri Lanka 26
2001, May Centro de Cumplimiento Peniteciario, Iquique, Chile 28+ 150 injured [22]
2002, January 2 Urso Branco prison, in Porto Velho, Brazil 40 [23]
2003, April 5 El Porvenir prison, La Ceiba, Honduras 69 [24]
2004, May 16 El Porvenir prison, La Ceiba, Honduras 86 inmates [25]
2004, May 29–31 Benfica prison, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 38 [26]
2004, August 19 La Esperanza prison, San Salvador, El Salvador 31 24 injured [27]
2004, December 17 Pul-e-Charkhi prison, Kabul, Afghanistan 8 (4 inmates, 4 guards) [28]
2005, January Camp Bucca, Umm Qasr, Iraq 4 inmates 6 injured
2005, March 15 Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig, Philippines 23 (22 inmates, 1 officer) Almost all Abu Sayyaf members who rose up, including several leaders, were killed [29]
2005, August Pavón Prison / Granja Pino Canada / El Hoyon, Guatemala 35 [30]
2006, February North County Correctional Facility, Castaic, California, United States 1 inmate 100+ injured
2006, February 26 Pul-e-Charkhi prison, Kabul, Afghanistan 7+ [31]
2007, January 7 Apanteos jail, near Santa Ana, El Salvador 21 [32]
2007, December Santa Ana prison, San Cristobal, Tachira, Venezuela 30 inmates
2008, March 28 Federal Correctional Institution, Three Rivers, Live Oak County, Texas, United States 1 inmate 22 injured [33]
2008, April 20 United States Penitentiary, Florence High, Florence, Colorado, United States 2 inmates A large scale race riot erupted between white supremacist inmates and black inmates, resulting in 2 deaths and 5 serious injuries. [34]
2008, October 20 Cedes prison, Reynosa, Mexico 21+ 8 injured [35]
2009 Ciudad Juárez prison riot 2009, March 4 CERESO state prison, Ciudad Juárez, Mexico 20 15 injured
2010, May 5 Santa Ana prison, San Cristobal, Tachira, Venezuela 8 3 injured [36]
2011, October 15 Matamoros prison, Matamoros, Mexico 20 12 injured [37]
Altamira prison brawl 2012, January 4 Cereso de Altamira, Altamira, Mexico 31 13 injured
Apodaca prison riot 2012, February 19 Apodaca, Mexico 44 12 injured
2012, May 20 Adams County Correctional Facility, Natchez, Mississippi, United States 1 guard 7 injured [38]
Yare prison riot 2012, August 20 Yare Prison near Caracas, Venezuela 25 43 injured
2012 Welikada prison riot 2012, November 9–10 Welikada Prison, Sri Lanka 27 40 injured
2013 Uribana prison riot 2013, January 25 Uribana prison, Barquisimeto, Venezuela 61 120 injured
2013 Palmasola prison riot 2013, August 23 Palmasola, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia 31 37 injured
Kaohsiung Prison riot 2015, February 11–12 Kaohsiung, Taiwan 6 (suicide)
Topo Chico prison riot 2016, February 10–11 Topo Chico prison, Monterrey, Mexico 52+ 12 injured
2016, July 19 Pavón Prison, Fraijanes, Guatemala 13 [39]
2016 New Bilibid Prison riot 2016, September 28 New Bilibid Prison, Muntinlupa, Philippines 1 4 injured
Agricultural Penitentiary of Monte Cristo riot 2016, October 16 Agricultural Penitentiary of Monte Cristo, Boa Vista, Roraima, Brazil 25 inmates
2017, January 1 Anísio Jobim Penitentiary Complex, Amazonas, Brazil 60+ [40]
2017, January 2 Prison Unit of Puraquequara, Manaus, Brazil 10 [41]
2017, January 6 Agricultural Penitentiary of Monte Cristo, Boa Vista, Roraima, Brazil 37 [42]
2017, January 8 Desembargador Raimundo Vidal Pessoa jail, Manaus, Brazil 4 [43]
2017, January 15 Natal State Prison, Natal, Brazil 27 9 injured [44]
2017, February 1 James T. Vaughn Correctional Center, New Castle County, Delaware, United States 1 officer [45]
2017, May 15 Buimo prison, Lae, Papua New Guinea 17 [46]
2017, June 7 Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig, Philippines 2 17 injured [47]
2017, July 6 Las Cruces prison, Acapulco, Mexico 28 [48]
2017, August 11 Cedes prison, Reynosa, Mexico 9 11 injured [49]
2017, October 11 Cadereyta prison, Nuevo León, Mexico 13 [50]
2018, April 15 Lee Correctional Institution, Bishopville, South Carolina, United States 7 [51]
2019, May 20 Vahdat prison, Vahdat, Tajikistan 32 [52]
Acarigua prison riot 2019, May 24 Police station cellblocks in Acarigua, Venezuela 29 19 injured
July 2019 Cameroon prison riots 2019, July 22–24 Kondengui Central Prison and Buea prison, Cameroon Unknown Unknown
2019 Altamira prison riot 2019, July 29 Centro de Recuperação Regional de Altamira prison, Altamira, Brazil 62
2019, December 23 El Porvenir prison, La Ceiba, Honduras 18
Cieneguillas prison riots 2019, December 31 Cieneguillas Regional Center for Social Reintegration, Cieneguillas, Mexico 16 inmates 5 injured
Cieneguillas prison riots 2020, January 2 Cieneguillas Regional Center for Social Reintegration, Cieneguillas, Mexico 1 inmate 5 injured
2020, March 8–9 Sant'Anna prison, Modena, Italy 8 inmates According to Modena's magistrature, all 8 deaths were caused by methadone and benzodiazepine overdose. The substances were looted from Sant'Anna's pharmacy.

Modena's Procura requested the dismissal of all deaths on the 3rd of March 2021.

[53]
Bogotá prison riot 2020, March, 22 La Modelo prison, Bogotá, Colombia 23 90 injured [54]
2020, March 30 Sepidar Prison, Ahvaz, Iran 18 [55]
2020, March 31 Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz, Iran Unknown [56]
Guanare prison riot 2020, May 1 Los Llanos prison, Guanare, Venezuela 47 75 injured [57]
February 2021 Ecuadorian prison riots 2021, February 24 Regional & Penitenciaría del Litoral, Guayaquil; Cárcel de Turi, Cuenca; Centro de Rehabilitación Social Sierra Norte Cotopaxi, Latacunga, Ecuador 79 Coordinated riot as a result of a drug turf war. Eighteen beheadings and at least one prisoner had his heart cut out. [58]
September 2021 Guayaquil prison riot 2021, September 29 Penitenciaría del Litoral, Guayaquil, Ecuador 118 Coordinated riot as a result of a drug turf war. [59]
November 2021 Guayaquil prison riot 2021, November 13 Penitenciaría del Litoral, Guayaquil, Ecuador 68 25 Injured [60]
2022, January 25 Social Rehabilitation Center (Cereso) Colima, Mexico 9 [61]
Battle of al-Hasakah (2022) 2022, January 20–30 Al-Sina'a prison, Al-Hasakah, Syria 507 Large-scale Islamic State attack and prison riot aimed at freeing arrested fighters of the Islamic State.
Tuluá prison riot 2022, June 28 Tuluá prison, Tuluá, Valle del Cauca, Colombia 52 [62]
2023, January 1 CERESO state prison, Ciudad Juárez, Mexico 14 (4 inmates, 10 guards) [63]
2023, February 9 Hatay Closed Prison, Hatay Province, Turkey 3 Three inmates were killed and 12 more injured after soldiers opened fire during a riot. The prisoners were demanding to see their families affected by the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake. [64]
Támara prison riot 2023, June 20 Women's Center for Social Adaptation, Támara, Honduras 46+ A conflict presumed to be between MS-13 and Barrio 18 killed 46 people, after a riot caused a major fire. [65]

Gulag uprisings

Main article: List of uprisings in the Gulag

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Bidna, H. (1975). Effects of increased security on prison violence. Journal of Criminal Justice, 3. 33–46.
  2. ^ Ellis, D. (1984) Crowding and prison violence: Integration of research and theory. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 11 (3). 277–308.
  3. ^ Gaes, G. (1994). Prison crowding research reexamined. The Prison Iran prison riot Journal, 74, (3). 329–363.
  4. ^ Useem, B. (1985). Disorganization and the New Mexico prison riot of 1980. American Sociological Review, 50 (5). 677–688.
  5. ^ Newbold, G. (1989). Punishment and Politics: The Maximum Security Prison in New Zealand. Auckland: Oxford University Press.
  6. ^ Colvin, M. (1982). The 1980 New Mexico prison riot. Social Problems, 29 (5). 449–463.
  7. ^ Useem, B. and Kimball, P. (1987). A theory of prison riots. Theory and Society, 16 (1). 87–122.
  8. ^ Dinitz, S. (1991). Barbarism in the New Mexico state prison riot: The search for meaning a decade later. In Kelly, R. and MacNamara, D. (eds.). Perspectives on Deviance: Dominance, Degradation and Denigration. Cincinnati: Anderson Publishing Company.
  9. ^ "Maintenance | Cairn International".
  10. ^ Ellis, D. (1984). Crowding and prison violence: Integration of research and theory. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 11 (3). 277–308.
  11. ^ "Prison outbreak worst in history". coloradohistoricnewspapers.org. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  12. ^ "The 1954 Riot at Missouri State Penitentiary". missouripentours.com. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  13. ^ "A Forgotten Past – 'Prison on Fire' at Pulau Senang". remembersingapore. 26 July 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  14. ^ "Idaho inmates riot: destroy 2 buildings". NYTimes. 11 August 1971. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  15. ^ "The Story Behind This Oklahoma State Penitentiary Riot Is Truly Disturbing". onlyinyourstate. 12 August 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  16. ^ "Metropolitan Briefs - 45 Women Inmates in Disturbance". The New York Times. 30 Aug 1974. Retrieved 13 Jul 2021.
  17. ^ "Nor Meekly Serve Her Time: Riots and Resistance in Women's Prisons". newpol.org. 12 January 2010. Retrieved 2017-03-22.
  18. ^ "Inmates at a prison in central Mexico took guns..." upi. 21 July 1988. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  19. ^ "Vzpoura vězňů v Leopoldově před 20 lety: plamenomety a barikády ve věznici". iDNES.cz. 14 March 2010. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  20. ^ a b "Robinson Correctional Institution Profile and Valuable Information". golookup. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  21. ^ Gili Cohen, 20 Years After Infamous Military Prison Revolt, Reform Still Proves Hard Sell in Israeli Army, Haaretz, September 13th 2017
  22. ^ "At least 28 die in Chile prison riot fire". CNN. 21 May 2001. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  23. ^ "40 believed dead in Brazilian prison riot". The Guardian. 3 January 2002. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  24. ^ "Honduras rioters back in prison". CNN. 7 April 2003. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  25. ^ "Honduran Prison Riot Leaves 86 Dead". CNN. 17 May 2004. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  26. ^ "38 dead in Brazil in brutal prison riot". cbc.ca. 1 June 2004. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  27. ^ "El Salvador prison riot kills 31". news.bbc.co.uk. 19 August 2004. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  28. ^ "8 Are Killed as Inmates Try to Escape Kabul Prison". The New York Times. 18 December 2004. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  29. ^ Punay, Edu (16 March 2005). "Troops storm jail; 23 dead". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  30. ^ "The Worst Prison Riots of All Time". worldatlas. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  31. ^ "Inmates riot in Afghanistan prison". CNN. 26 February 2006. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  32. ^ "El Salvador jail rioters kill 21". news.bbc.co.uk. 7 January 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  33. ^ "Gang riot at Three Rivers prison leaves inmate dead". Chron. 29 March 2008. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  34. ^ "Racist Prison Riot on Hitler's Birthday". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
  35. ^ "At least 21 dead in Mexico prison riot". chinadaily. 20 October 2008. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  36. ^ "Venezuela's Santa Ana Prison riot leaves eight inmates dead". news.com.au. 5 May 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  37. ^ "Mexico prison fight kills 20 in Matamoros". BBC. 15 October 2011. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  38. ^ "Guard killed, several others injured in riot at Mississippi prison, officials say". CNN. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  39. ^ "Thirteen Killed in Guatemala Prison Riot: Reports". news18. 19 July 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  40. ^ "Dozens killed in prison riot in Brazil city of Manaus". aljazeera. 2 January 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  41. ^ "10 die in new Brazilian prison riot". gantdaily. 14 January 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  42. ^ "In Brazil, prison riots and killings expose the structural failures of mass incarceration". penalreform.org. 28 March 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  43. ^ "New Brazil prison clash leaves at least four dead in Amazon region". reuters. 8 January 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  44. ^ "Death toll from Brazil jail riot at 27, nine injured". reuters. 15 January 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  45. ^ "16 inmates charged with murder in Delaware prison riot". 6abc. 17 October 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  46. ^ "Seventeen killed in mass prison break in Papua New Guinea". BBC. 15 May 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  47. ^ "2 inmates dead, 17 wounded in riot during protest over power outage in Camp Bagong Diwa jail". interaksyon. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  48. ^ "Mexico violence: 28 dead in prison fight in Acapulco". BBC. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  49. ^ "9 inmates killed in Reynosa prison riot". mexiconewsdaily. 11 August 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  50. ^ "Mexico prison riot leaves 13 dead". BBC. 11 October 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  51. ^ "Who are the seven inmates killed at Lee Correctional Institution?". wistv. 16 April 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  52. ^ "Islamic State prison riot in Tajikistan leaves 32 dead". telegraph.co.uk. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  53. ^ "8 morti in rivolta a Modena, chiesta archiviazione" [8 dead in Modena riot, dismissal requested]. ANSA (in Italian). 3 March 2021.
  54. ^ "Riot in Colombia prison leaves 23 dead: government". thejakartapost. 23 March 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  55. ^ "Dozens Killed In Iran Prison Riots, Local Reports Say". iran-hrm. 2 April 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  56. ^ "Inmates' families kept in the dark following prison riots in southwest Iran". iran-hrm. 5 April 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  57. ^ "Venezuela prison riot death toll rises to 47, report NGO and official". malaymail. 3 May 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  58. ^ "Ecuador Raises Death Toll From Prison Riots to 79; Police Chief Warns of New Riot". usnews.com. 24 February 2021. Retrieved 27 Feb 2021.
  59. ^ "(En vivo) Presidente Guillermo Lasso ofrece rueda de prensa sobre situación carcelaria tras masacre en Penitenciaría del Litoral". El Universo (in Spanish). 29 September 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  60. ^ "Dozens of inmates killed in latest Ecuador prison clashes". Al Jazeera. 13 November 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  61. ^ "9 dead, 7 injured as inmates riot inside Mexican prison". ABC News. 26 January 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  62. ^ "Death toll rises to 52 in southwestern Colombia prison riot". thelocalread.com. 28 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  63. ^ "14 killed in attack on prison in Mexico border city".
  64. ^ "Three inmates killed in prison riot in Turkey's quake-hit Hatay". duvarenglish.com. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  65. ^ "Honduras prison violence: At least 41 killed in women's jail riot". BBC News. 2023-06-20. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
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