Five officers injured at Ocaña I Penitentiary after restraining prisoner
Eight agents had to intervene on Monday in the infirmary module at Ocaña I to restrain a prisoner. Five were injured with bruises and sprains.
Assault at Ocaña I: 'They get away with it because we are not law enforcement officers'
Five officers at Ocaña I Penitentiary were injured on Monday 18 May after restraining a prisoner who resisted receiving medical treatment in the infirmary module, according to ABC. The incident began around 12:00 hours, when the inmate, described as a patient with a pre-existing condition, became "somewhat violent" towards medical personnel.
Up to eight agents had to intervene to contain the prisoner. The five officers affected sustained bruises, contusions and sprains, and received medication so they could continue their shift normally.
"He was quite violent. We had to intervene to restrain him. It is a prisoner who has a certain condition and displays considerable excessive strength. Eight of us had to work together to be able to restrain him, bring him to the ground and apply the necessary coercive measures," said Félix Rodríguez, an assumed name used to protect his identity, one of the five injured officers, in an interview with ABC.
Rodríguez noted that the prisoner is repeat offender in this type of behaviour and has been transferred on several occasions to other modules since his arrival at the centre. The officer stressed that similar situations are becoming "increasingly common" in all Spanish prisons.
Impunity due to lack of legal recognition
The officer reported that prison officers do not have the status of law enforcement officers, which in his view creates a climate of impunity among prisoners. "They take advantage of that lack of status. There have already been many assaults perpetrated in Spanish penitentiaries and because they see that they get away with it, they adopt an attitude of impunity," he stated.
Rodríguez called for a motion to be brought to the Senate and Congress so that this status is formally recognised. He regretted that these initiatives are "always shelved and the cause is forgotten until we have to lament another assault on a colleague, or even the death of our colleague a couple of years ago in Lérida," referring to a female officer murdered by a prisoner in the kitchen of that penitentiary.
"We are exposed to a hostile and violent environment and an urgent solution is needed," he added. The officer also criticised the lack of sensitivity from "the higher-ups" towards prison workers across all areas, including health, security and other services.
Ocaña I, considered one of the "most peaceful" centres
Ocaña I is classified as one of the most peaceful penitentiaries in Spain, partly because prisoners perform paid work for external companies. Nevertheless, Rodríguez stated that "there is no longer any penitentiary, no matter how small, where conflict is not on the rise."
Given this situation, the officer called for three specific measures: more training for personnel, recognition as law enforcement officers, and provision of the necessary coercive means to restrain prisoners safely.
Monday's incident is not the only one recorded recently in the area. Last week there was a disturbance at Ocaña II Penitentiary during prisoner count. In May of last year, also at Ocaña II, a mass brawl among prisoners left one officer injured.
Source: ABC