penal system

Prison locked down

The prison in David was locked down yesterday because of violence among inmates.

Gladys Alvarado de Soto, regional deputy director of the Penitentiary System, said that prisoners in one section broke through a door to attack prisoners in an adjoining area. Guards were able to bring the situation under control before anyone was seriously injured.

The prison in David is one of the most overcrowded in the system with more than 800 inmates being held in a facility designed to hold 300. Authorities have petitioned the government to address the situation, but no significant changes have been made.

During Saturday's incident, the streets surrounding the jail were blocked off as police were called in to help secure the facility. Visitors were not allowed in the facility until after 2 p.m. Often, relatives of family members bring in food and essential items to help prisoners survive.

One person, who asked not to be identified, said she brings special food for her son who has an ulcer and can't eat the food provided to inmates.

The mother said that prison officials have refused to provide proper health care for her son, which has made his condition worse.

Another woman, who also declined to give her full name, said she was there to visit her brother. She said one positive change that has been made at the facility was lengthening the visiting period from 10 minutes to 20 minutes, but the facility still has many problems that need to be addressed.

Some relatives said that they were not surprised by the incident because violence inside the prison is becoming commonplace.

The dispute seems to be a long-standing dispute between inmates in two different cell blocks. Last week, there was another clash between the inmates that apparently prompted Saturday's unrest.

Relatives have asked prison officials to move foreign prisoners in between the two cells blocks of Panamanian prisoners in an effort to make the facility more peaceful.