Reactions to proposed changes to CCA's detention centers

Andrew reported last month on the proposed changes to nine of Corrections Corporation of America's Immigration and Customs Enforcement-contracted detention centers.  The changes are occurring in response to the alleged sexual abuse of detained women at CCA's T. Don Hutto detention center.  The changes include plans for "movie nights, bingo, arts and crafts, dance and cooking classes, tutoring and computer training," according to the Houston Chronicle (Susan Carroll, "ICE to make detention centers more humane," Houston Chronicle, 8 June, 2010).

However, advocates aren't so impressed.  Texas Prison Bid'ness's own Judy Greene weighed in a story in the Tennessean (Getahn Ward, "CCA may make some immigration prisons less jail-like," June 25),

“Bingo nights is one thing, but still having personnel that can’t figure out how to comport themselves around women detainees or women in state custody shows that (CCA) doesn’t learn from its mistakes,” Greene said.

The proposed changes affect Texas prisons including the Laredo Processing Center, Hutto, and the Houston Processing Center.  We'll keep you posted on any developments.  If you have a loved one in one of these facilities, we'd love to hear your experiences with the changes as well.  You can comment on this post, or get in touch using our Contact Form.