700 Juárez, Chihuahua inmates head to Islas MarĂ*as federal prison

by Marisela Ortega Lozano / El Paso Times
Posted: 06/09/2011 06:19:05 PM MDT

Nearly 700 federal inmates were transferred Wednesday from Chihuahua state prisons to Islas MarĂ*as penitentiary along the Pacific Ocean to ease overcrowding prisons in Juárez and Chihuahua, Chihuahua authorities said.

It also was done to prevent crime inside those facilities. Of those prisoners transferred, 300 of them were from Juárez.

Chihuahua Gov. CĂ©sar Duarte said that action is aimed to prevent crime and brawls inside state prisons. He said inmates often settle into prison gangs so they can break the law from behind and beyond bars.

Those inmates are mostly convicted of federal crimes like drug trafficking and firearms smuggling.

Lately, rival gangs have been involved in bloody brawls behind bars both in Chihuahua City and Juárez. Several inmates have been killed during those violent clashes.
On March 9, 2010, five inmates died and 14 were wounded after a riot inside Aquiles Serdán prison near Chihuahua City.

Most recently, two inmates were found stabbed to death inside a cell at Aquiles Serdán on May 26.

Also in May, federal police and local authorities discovered a bar at a minimum-security prison in Chihuahua city.

Officers seized 20 bottles of vodka, 12 bottles of tequila, 200 beer cans, three guns, 20 cell phones, 180 doses of marijuana, and 90 doses of heroin, as well as makeshift knives and firearms.

Amid the inquiry, deputy warden Fernando Oropeza resigned. He was later killed.

"Tons of barrels of ink had been wasted to write down strategies to improve prison conditions, but that's it," Duarte said. "But now, we are getting rid of federal inmates for good."
Marisela Ortega Lozano may be reached at mortega@elpasotimes.com; 542-6077.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_18242157