Prison in Lockdown After Food Protest

The Northeast Ohio Correctional Center (NOCC) in Youngstown remains in lockdown, twenty-four hours after 140 inmates began a protest over poor food service. The inmates were outside and refused to reenter the facility when the time was over.

Youngstown Mayor John McNally believes the prison operator, Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), are in violation of their duties to notify both the city and the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections in the event of any criminal or delinquent acts at the prison. The NOCC is a federal prison and CCA has kept the Federal Bureau of Prisons current on the situation.

State Representative Bob Hagan tried to meet with inmates to hear their grievances, but was denied access. He is now calling upon the Ohio Corrections Institute Inspection Committee to conduct a full review of the facility.

The State of Ohio sold or contracted the operations of several prisons to private corporations during the recent economic downturn in an effort to balance the budget and alleviate Ohio’s then $8 billion deficit. The NOCC is the only Federal prison in Ohio.