A federal judge says private prison company Corrections Corporation of America persistently understaffed an Idaho prison, failing to meet both the requirements of a state contract and a legal settlement with the American Civil Liberties Union and inmates.
The statements from U.S. District Judge David Carter were made in an order temporarily extending the settlement agreement between the ACLU and the Nashville, Tenn.-based CCA. The extension is designed to give the judge time to review transcripts from the recent contempt-of-court hearing before issuing his final ruling.
The ACLU sued on behalf of inmates at the Idaho Correctional Center in 2010, contending that the prison was so violent inmates dubbed it "Gladiator School." CCA denied the allegations but reached a settlement that required increased staffing levels and other operational changes.