Prison riot

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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.

Contents

Academic studies of prison riots 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.

EventDateLocationDeath tollNotesRef.
Cooking Pot Uprising 1846, July 1Penal colony of Norfolk Island, Australia 4 officials killed [11]
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. [12]
Battle of Alcatraz 1946, May 2–4 Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, Alcatraz Island, United States5
Kingston Penitentiary riot 1954, August 14 Kingston Penitentiary, Kingston, Ontario, Canada 0Two-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 States4 inmates29 injured, including 4 guards [13]
Montana State Prison Riot 1959, April 16–18 Montana State Prison, Montana, United States3
1958, July 31Shita prison, Harod Valley, Israel 13 (2 jailors and 11 inmates)The most deadly prison riot in the history of Israel. The prisoners, most of them were Palestinian Fedayeen, assaulted the prison's duty officer, took control of the armory, and fought against the police reinforcements who arrived to the scene in order to suppress the rebellion. [14] [15]
Pulau Senang prison riot 1963, July 12 Pulau Senang, Singapore 4 prison officers [16]
Kingston Penitentiary riot 1971, April 14 Kingston Penitentiary, Kingston, Ontario, Canada2 inmates
1971, August 10 Idaho State Penitentiary, Boise, Idaho, United States1 inmate2 buildings destroyed, in March 1973 another riot that left multiple buildings destroyed. [17]
San Quentin 1971 riot 1971, August 21 San Quentin State Prison, San Quentin, California, United States6Riot between Black Guerrilla Family and Mexican Mafia
Attica Prison riot 1971, September 9–13 Attica Correctional Facility, Attica, New York, United States43
1973, July 27 Oklahoma State Penitentiary, McAlester, Oklahoma, United States3 inmates21 injured, 24 buildings were damaged and only 4 buildings were left usable. Over $25 million in damages [18]
August Rebellion 1974, August Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, Bedford Hills, New York, United States0Prisoners 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. [19] [20]
New Mexico State Penitentiary riot 1980, February 2–3 Penitentiary of New Mexico, Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States33Over 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 0Prisoners 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 20Centro Penitenciario, Michoacán, Mexico 10 inmates13 injured [21]
Atlanta prison riots 1987, November United States Penitentiary, Atlanta and Federal Detention Center, Oakdale, United States1250 injured
1989 Davao hostage crisis 1989, August 13–15Davao Metrodiscom, Davao City, Philippines 21 (5 hostages and 16 prisoners)
Leopoldov prison uprising 1990, March Leopoldov Prison, Leopoldov, Slovakia 1 inmate40 injured (11 prison officers, 29 inmates) [22]
1990 Strangeways Prison riot 1990, April 1–25 Strangeways Prison, Manchester, England 1 inmate194 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 States0300 to 400 inmates set fire to the mess hall and gymnasium [23]
1993, Easter Sunday Southern Ohio Correctional Facility, Scioto County, Ohio, United States10 (9 inmates, 1 officer)
1994, July 12 Robinson Correctional Institution, Enfield, Connecticut, United States2 inmates37 injured (35 inmates, 2 correctional officers) [23]
Prison Six rebellion 1997, August 9 Prison Six, near Atlit, Israel 0The 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. [24]
Kalutara prison riots 1997, December 12 Kalutara, Sri Lanka3
Bindunuwewa massacre 2000, October 24Bindunuwewa, Sri Lanka26
2001, MayCentro de Cumplimiento Peniteciario, Iquique, Chile 28+150 injured [25]
2002, January 2Urso Branco prison, in Porto Velho, Brazil40 [26]
2003, April 5El Porvenir prison, La Ceiba, Honduras 69 [27]
2004, May 16El Porvenir prison, La Ceiba, Honduras86 inmates [28]
2004, May 29–31Benfica prison, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil38 [29]
2004, August 19La Esperanza prison, San Salvador, El Salvador 3124 injured [30]
2004, December 17 Pul-e-Charkhi prison, Kabul, Afghanistan 8 (4 inmates, 4 guards) [31]
2005, January Camp Bucca, Umm Qasr, Iraq 4 inmates6 injured
2005, March 15 Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig, Philippines23 (22 inmates, 1 officer)Almost all Abu Sayyaf members who rose up, including several leaders, were killed [32]
2005, August Pavón Prison / Granja Pino Canada / El Hoyon, Guatemala 35 [33]
2006, February North County Correctional Facility, Castaic, California, United States1 inmate100+ injured
2006, February 26 Pul-e-Charkhi prison, Kabul, Afghanistan7+ [34]
2007, January 7Apanteos jail, near Santa Ana, El Salvador21 [35]
2007, DecemberSanta Ana prison, San Cristobal, Tachira, Venezuela 30 inmates
2008, March 28 Federal Correctional Institution, Three Rivers, Live Oak County, Texas, United States1 inmate22 injured [36]
2008, April 20 United States Penitentiary, Florence High, Florence, Colorado, United States2 inmatesA large scale race riot erupted between white supremacist inmates and black inmates, resulting in 2 deaths and 5 serious injuries. [37]
2008, October 20Cedes prison, Reynosa, Mexico21+8 injured [38]
2009 Ciudad Juárez prison riot 2009, March 4CERESO state prison, Ciudad Juárez, Mexico2015 injured
2010, May 5Santa Ana prison, San Cristobal, Tachira, Venezuela83 injured [39]
2011, October 15Matamoros prison, Matamoros, Mexico2012 injured [40]
Altamira prison brawl 2012, January 4Cereso de Altamira, Altamira, Mexico3113 injured
Apodaca prison riot 2012, February 19 Apodaca, Mexico4412 injured
2012, May 20 Adams County Correctional Facility, Natchez, Mississippi, United States1 guard7 injured [41]
Yare prison riot 2012, August 20 Yare Prison near Caracas, Venezuela2543 injured
2012 Welikada prison riot 2012, November 9–10 Welikada Prison, Sri Lanka2740 injured
2013 Uribana prison riot 2013, January 25Uribana prison, Barquisimeto, Venezuela61120 injured
2013 Palmasola prison riot 2013, August 23 Palmasola, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia 3137 injured
2015, January 4 Brandvlei Maximum Correctional Centre, Western Cape, South Africa1 inmate death, at least 6 injuredPrison gangs attacked a warder, followed by retaliation from authorities. [42] [43] [44]
Kaohsiung Prison riot 2015, February 11–12 Kaohsiung, Taiwan 6 (suicide)
Topo Chico prison riot 2016, February 10–11 Topo Chico prison, Monterrey, Mexico52+12 injured
2016, July 19 Pavón Prison, Fraijanes, Guatemala13 [45]
2016 New Bilibid Prison riot 2016, September 28 New Bilibid Prison, Muntinlupa, Philippines14 injured
Agricultural Penitentiary of Monte Cristo riot 2016, October 16Agricultural Penitentiary of Monte Cristo, Boa Vista, Roraima, Brazil25 inmates
2017, January 1Anísio Jobim Penitentiary Complex, Amazonas, Brazil60+ [46]
2017, January 2Prison Unit of Puraquequara, Manaus, Brazil10 [47]
2017, January 6Agricultural Penitentiary of Monte Cristo, Boa Vista, Roraima, Brazil37 [48]
2017, January 8Desembargador Raimundo Vidal Pessoa jail, Manaus, Brazil4 [49]
2017, January 15Natal State Prison, Natal, Brazil279 injured [50]
2017, February 1 James T. Vaughn Correctional Center, New Castle County, Delaware, United States1 officer [51]
2017, May 15Buimo prison, Lae, Papua New Guinea 17 [52]
2017, June 7 Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig, Philippines217 injured [53]
2017, July 6Las Cruces prison, Acapulco, Mexico28 [54]
2017, August 11Cedes prison, Reynosa, Mexico911 injured [55]
2017, October 11Cadereyta prison, Nuevo León, Mexico13 [56]
Lee Correctional Prison Riot 2018, April 15 Lee Correctional Institution, Bishopville, South Carolina, United States7 [57]
2019, May 20Vahdat prison, Vahdat, Tajikistan 32 [58]
Acarigua prison riot 2019, May 24Police station cellblocks in Acarigua, Venezuela2919 injured
July 2019 Cameroon prison riots 2019, July 22–24 Kondengui Central Prison and Buea prison, Cameroon UnknownUnknown
2019 Altamira prison riot 2019, July 29Centro de Recuperação Regional de Altamira prison, Altamira, Brazil62
2019, December 23El Porvenir prison, La Ceiba, Honduras18
Cieneguillas prison riots 2019, December 31Cieneguillas Regional Center for Social Reintegration, Cieneguillas, Mexico16 inmates5 injured
Cieneguillas prison riots 2020, January 2Cieneguillas Regional Center for Social Reintegration, Cieneguillas, Mexico1 inmate5 injured
2020, March 8–9Sant'Anna prison, Modena, Italy 8 inmatesAccording 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 3 March 2021.

 [59]
Bogotá prison riot 2020, March, 22 La Modelo prison, Bogotá, Colombia 2390 injured [60]
2020, March 30Sepidar Prison, Ahvaz, Iran 18 [61]
2020, March 31Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz, IranUnknown [62]
Guanare prison riot 2020, May 1Los Llanos prison, Guanare, Venezuela4775 injured [63]
February 2021 Ecuadorian prison riots 2021, February 24Regional & Penitenciaría del Litoral, Guayaquil; Cárcel de Turi, Cuenca; Centro de Rehabilitación Social Sierra Norte Cotopaxi, Latacunga, Ecuador 79Coordinated riot as a result of a drug turf war. Eighteen beheadings and at least one prisoner had his heart cut out. [64]
September 2021 Guayaquil prison riot 2021, September 29Penitenciaría del Litoral, Guayaquil, Ecuador123Coordinated riot as a result of a drug turf war. [65]
November 2021 Guayaquil prison riot 2021, November 13Penitenciaría del Litoral, Guayaquil, Ecuador6825 Injured [66]
2022, January 25Social Rehabilitation Center (Cereso) Colima, Mexico9 [67]
Battle of al-Hasakah (2022) 2022, January 20–30Al-Sina'a prison, Al-Hasakah, Syria 507Large-scale Islamic State attack and prison riot aimed at freeing arrested fighters of the Islamic State.
Tuluá prison riot 2022, June 28Tuluá prison, Tuluá, Valle del Cauca, Colombia52 [68]
2023, January 1CERESO state prison, Ciudad Juárez, Mexico14 (4 inmates, 10 guards) [69]
2023, February 9Hatay Closed Prison, Hatay Province, Turkey3Three 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. [70]
Támara prison riot 2023, June 20Women's Center for Social Adaptation, Támara, Honduras46+A conflict presumed to be between MS-13 and Barrio 18 killed 46 people, after a riot caused a major fire. [71]
2023, August 7Kutama Sinthumule Correctional Centre, Limpopo, South AfricaAt least 1 died in fire, 2 hospitalizedThe fire was allegedly started by rioting prisoners after grievances about conditions and ill-treatment fell on deaf ears. (Prison managed by South African Custodial Management, a public-private partnership.) [72]

Gulag uprisings

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Bidna, Howard (1975-03-01). "Effects of increased security on prison violence". Journal of Criminal Justice. 3 (1): 33–45. doi:10.1016/0047-2352(75)90097-5. ISSN   0047-2352.
  2. ↑ Ellis, Desmond (Sep 1984). "Crowding and Prison Violence: Integration of Research and Theory". Criminal Justice and Behavior. 11 (3): 277–308. doi:10.1177/0093854884011003003. ISSN   0093-8548.
  3. ↑ Gaes, Gerald G. (1994). "Prison Crowding Research Reexamined". The Prison Journal. 74 (3): 329–363. doi:10.1177/0032855594074003004. ISSN   0032-8855.
  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. ↑ Norfolk Island, Melbourne Argus, 14 August 1846, page 2.
  12. ↑ "Prison outbreak worst in history". coloradohistoricnewspapers.org. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  13. ↑ "The 1954 Riot at Missouri State Penitentiary". missouripentours.com. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  14. ↑ "Palestinian inmate badly wounded in northern Israel prison fire". jpost. 14 June 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  15. ↑ The full story of Shita's prison riot, A scan from the Israeli newspaper Davar saved in National Library of Israel, August 8 1958 (in Hebrew)
  16. ↑ "A Forgotten Past – 'Prison on Fire' at Pulau Senang". remembersingapore. 26 July 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  17. ↑ "Idaho inmates riot: destroy 2 buildings". NYTimes . 11 August 1971. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  18. ↑ "The Story Behind This Oklahoma State Penitentiary Riot Is Truly Disturbing". onlyinyourstate. 12 August 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  19. ↑ "Metropolitan Briefs - 45 Women Inmates in Disturbance". The New York Times . 30 Aug 1974. Retrieved 13 Jul 2021.
  20. ↑ "Nor Meekly Serve Her Time: Riots and Resistance in Women's Prisons". newpol.org. 12 January 2010. Retrieved 2017-03-22.
  21. ↑ "Inmates at a prison in central Mexico took guns..." upi. 21 July 1988. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  22. ↑ "Vzpoura vězňů v Leopoldově před 20 lety: plamenomety a barikády ve věznici". iDNES.cz. 14 March 2010. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  23. 1 2 "Robinson Correctional Institution Profile and Valuable Information". golookup. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  24. ↑ Gili Cohen, 20 Years After Infamous Military Prison Revolt, Reform Still Proves Hard Sell in Israeli Army, Haaretz, September 13th 2017
  25. ↑ "At least 28 die in Chile prison riot fire". CNN. 21 May 2001. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  26. ↑ "40 believed dead in Brazilian prison riot". The Guardian . 3 January 2002. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  27. ↑ "Honduras rioters back in prison". CNN. 7 April 2003. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  28. ↑ "Honduran Prison Riot Leaves 86 Dead". CNN. 17 May 2004. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  29. ↑ "38 dead in Brazil in brutal prison riot". cbc.ca. 1 June 2004. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  30. ↑ "El Salvador prison riot kills 31". news.bbc.co.uk. 19 August 2004. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  31. ↑ "8 Are Killed as Inmates Try to Escape Kabul Prison". The New York Times . 18 December 2004. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  32. ↑ Punay, Edu (16 March 2005). "Troops storm jail; 23 dead". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  33. ↑ "The Worst Prison Riots of All Time". worldatlas. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  34. ↑ "Inmates riot in Afghanistan prison". CNN. 26 February 2006. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  35. ↑ "El Salvador jail rioters kill 21". news.bbc.co.uk. 7 January 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  36. ↑ "Gang riot at Three Rivers prison leaves inmate dead". Chron. 29 March 2008. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  37. ↑ "Racist Prison Riot on Hitler's Birthday". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
  38. ↑ "At least 21 dead in Mexico prison riot". chinadaily. 20 October 2008. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  39. ↑ "Venezuela's Santa Ana Prison riot leaves eight inmates dead". news.com.au. 5 May 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  40. ↑ "Mexico prison fight kills 20 in Matamoros". BBC. 15 October 2011. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  41. ↑ "Guard killed, several others injured in riot at Mississippi prison, officials say". CNN. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  42. ↑ "The Rottweiler, the Warders, the Dead Inmate and the Video Footage that spurred a Judge to action". Daily Maverick. 2016-11-24.
  43. ↑ "Prison gang violence leaves Brandvlei warders traumatised - expert". News24. 2016-11-21.
  44. ↑ "Four Correctional Services officials appear in court — eight years after the killing of a prisoner". Daily Maverick. 2023-02-08.
  45. ↑ "Thirteen Killed in Guatemala Prison Riot: Reports". news18. 19 July 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  46. ↑ "Dozens killed in prison riot in Brazil city of Manaus". aljazeera. 2 January 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  47. ↑ "10 die in new Brazilian prison riot". gantdaily. 14 January 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  48. ↑ "In Brazil, prison riots and killings expose the structural failures of mass incarceration". penalreform.org. 28 March 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  49. ↑ "New Brazil prison clash leaves at least four dead in Amazon region". reuters. 8 January 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  50. ↑ "Death toll from Brazil jail riot at 27, nine injured". reuters. 15 January 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  51. ↑ "16 inmates charged with murder in Delaware prison riot". 6abc. 17 October 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  52. ↑ "Seventeen killed in mass prison break in Papua New Guinea". BBC. 15 May 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  53. ↑ "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.
  54. ↑ "Mexico violence: 28 dead in prison fight in Acapulco". BBC. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  55. ↑ "9 inmates killed in Reynosa prison riot". mexiconewsdaily. 11 August 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  56. ↑ "Mexico prison riot leaves 13 dead". BBC. 11 October 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  57. ↑ "Who are the seven inmates killed at Lee Correctional Institution?". wistv. 16 April 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  58. ↑ "Islamic State prison riot in Tajikistan leaves 32 dead". telegraph.co.uk. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  59. ↑ "8 morti in rivolta a Modena, chiesta archiviazione" [8 dead in Modena riot, dismissal requested]. ANSA (in Italian). 3 March 2021.
  60. ↑ "Riot in Colombia prison leaves 23 dead: government". thejakartapost. 23 March 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  61. ↑ "Dozens Killed In Iran Prison Riots, Local Reports Say". iran-hrm. 2 April 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  62. ↑ "Inmates' families kept in the dark following prison riots in southwest Iran". iran-hrm. 5 April 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  63. ↑ "Venezuela prison riot death toll rises to 47, report NGO and official". malaymail. 3 May 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  64. ↑ "Ecuador Raises Death Toll From Prison Riots to 79; Police Chief Warns of New Riot". usnews.com. 24 February 2021. Retrieved 27 Feb 2021.
  65. ↑ "(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.
  66. ↑ "Dozens of inmates killed in latest Ecuador prison clashes". Al Jazeera . 13 November 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  67. ↑ "9 dead, 7 injured as inmates riot inside Mexican prison". ABC News . 26 January 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  68. ↑ "Death toll rises to 52 in southwestern Colombia prison riot". thelocalread.com. 28 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  69. ↑ "14 killed in attack on prison in Mexico border city".
  70. ↑ "Three inmates killed in prison riot in Turkey's quake-hit Hatay". duvarenglish.com. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  71. ↑ "Honduras prison violence: At least 41 killed in women's jail riot". BBC News. 2023-06-20. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
  72. ↑ "One dead and two injured in Limpopo prison riot". Ground Up. 2023-08-11.

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Mahara prison riot was an arson attack which took place between the prison inmates and police officials from 29 November 2020 to 30 November 2020 at the Mahara Prison in Sri Lanka at the outskirts of the capital city of Colombo in Mahara. As of 30 November 2020, 11 inmates were reportedly killed and about 117 inmates were severely injured during the prison riot. Police guards opened fire to control the arson attack and also in order to prevent a jail break. A fire also spread from the Mahara fire following gun shots, and most of the deceased inmates succumbed to gun shots. It was revealed that prison inmates set fire to the kitchens inside the prison facility and briefly took two wardens hostage. The riots occurred following the rumours and speculations regarding the transferring of COVID-19 infected prisoners to Mahara Prison from other crowded prisons. Initially the prison inmates staged unrest demanding the officials and authorities to increase the PCR testing following the surge in COVID-19 cases in Sri Lankan prisons. Prior to the riots, around 12 prisoners tested positive for COVID-19.

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The November 2021 Guayaquil prison riot occurred on 13 November 2021 at the Litoral Penitentiary in Guayaquil, Ecuador, killing at least 68 people and injuring 25.

On 20 June 2023, a prison riot broke out in the Women's Center for Social Adaptation, a women's prison located in Támara, Honduras, about 29 km (18 mi) northwest from Tegucigalpa, the nation's capital. The riot is suspected to be the result of a conflict between female members of the MS-13 and 18th Street gangs. Forty-six people were killed, with most from a fire that began amid the chaos. The precise circumstances surrounding the incident are currently being investigated.

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