Old Main was virtually destroyed and 33 inmates were murdered. His 2007 civil rights complaint alleges that he endured total mind-numbing sensory deprivation, 24 hours per day, seven days per week, except for brief and meaningless escorts to the humiliating bare outdoor quasi-dog cages, where he would pace back and forth, and quickly breathe fresh air. A lot may have hinged on our particular guide, a retired guard who started work in the facility in 1981, not too long after the riots. Corrections Officer: Call for hourly fee per officer while on property. Would you want to tour Old Main? And while this rate has declined slightly since 2008, according to an email correspondence with BJS statistician Lauren Glaze, the US still has experienced a 500 percent increase in its prison population over the last 30 years. [6] The design of the original facility on Cerrillos Road was based on the same plans used for Sing Sing and Joliet. By the time the National Guard retook the prison,33 inmates had been killed at the hands of their counterparts, 200 others were injured or had overdosed, and 12 of the guards had been raped or otherwise brutalised. New Mexico over-built its prison system in reaction to the security failures in 1980, says Mark Donatelli, one of the lawyers instrumental in establishing the Duran Decree Consent Decree that mandated federal oversight of the prison and provided a humanitarian bottom line to protect the human rights of inmates. In the 80s no one was paying attention. We are closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. The tour took about two hours. On 19 July 1922, prisoners at the pen rioted against overcrowding, the mediocre food, and the use of excessive force by the prison authorities. views punishment as a prisons main function. Since then a new prison has been built next to the remains of Old Main.. They were able to break into the supposedly impenetrable control center and overtake Old Main. PNM is the Departments only super-max facility, housing the highest security classification of offenders in the state of New Mexico. Those in solitary would get maybe an hour a day outside in ayard the size of a dog pen. Up to 50% OFF. 19th ANNUAL BELEN MATANZA BELEN, NM Jan 26, 2019. At least 90 other inmates were seriously injured in the riot, suffering from drug overdoses or beatings, stabbings, and rapes inflicted by other convicts. Early Saturday morning, fitful negotiations began with some inmate leaders. Sam [Chavez] never had a write-up for violence the entire 26 years he was there, says Macias, speaking about the years of solitary confinement Chavez was subjected to. You are subject to their [the prison guards] whims, their anger, their frustration whatever [problems] they had at home was brought out on you, says Chavez, whose experiences reflect the devolution of what was once a short-term punishment into an institutionalised prison tool. 7 Quirky Facts About New Mexico That Sound Made Up, But Are 100% Accurate, The Tsankawi Unit At Bandelier National Monument In New Mexico Will Be Closing In Mid-March: Heres What To Do In The Meantime, Open For More Than Half A Century, Dining At The Shed In New Mexico Is Always A Timeless Experience, The Marvelous 2-Mile Trail In New Mexico Leads Adventurers To A Little-Known Overlook, The Deadly History Of This New Mexico Penitentiary Is Terrifying But True, The Story Of The Serial Killer Who Terrorized This Small New Mexico Town Is Truly Frightening, The Remnants Of This Abandoned Fort In New Mexico Are Hauntingly Beautiful, This One Tiny New Mexico Town Transports You To The Days Of The Wild West, New Mexico Corrections Department website. Visit New Mexico for a unique family vacation filled with exciting activities like skiing, hiking, shopping and sight seeing. Inmates who were gang members started hunting their enemies and found them. Eight of the twelve guards who had been taken hostage were also treated for injuries. Our guide in action. The central argument is . Isolation/segregation was the biggest stick available, Haney said in an email to Al Jazeera, explaining the dramatic departure from pre-existing norms concerning the use of punitive segregation. Thank you! He spent the better part of a decade unjustifiably isolated at both Old Main and another supermax, known simply as North. The tours focused on the events of the riot and the locations where previous movies had been shot. The tour itself was done in interesting way, telling the hour-by-hour story of how the riot began and developed. The riot was a tipping point, says Trinidad Lucero, leading a group of eager tourists through the defunct hallways of Old Main, hatchet marks and burns still visible on the ground, where two people had been murdered decades prior. While we didn't see any paranormal activity, I do believe I heard a presence walk up behind me just before we headed down a very dark alley. Right now, we have way too many nonpredatory prisoners in segregation. [2] [3] It is operated by the New Mexico Corrections Department . It was amazing that not a single guards had been killed. It was pure insanity, says retired criminal defence lawyer and former inmate Gary Nelson, describing to Al Jazeera the apocalyptic scene he witnessed as inmates some high on prescription drugs and armed with assorted power tools began a murderous rampage that would leave 33 fellow inmates dead in 36 hours. The facilities are now referred to as Level V (opened 1985), Level VI (opened 1985) and Level II (opened 1990) for the minimum restrict facility, based upon the New Mexico adaptation of the Federal Bureau of Prisons system for inmate classification and restriction. In the report following the riot, the prison authorities were blamed for lack of experience, and failure to understand how to control a prison population. This mass incarceration is connected to shifts in policy and public opinion dating back to the 1970s and 1980s, when prisons moved away from a rehabilitation model to the so-called tough on crime approach that views punishment as a prisons main function. which is now complete with shuttle service, a personalised mug shot, and an NMCD-produced greeting video in which a diverse set of officers outline the rehabilitative work and positive impacts the New Mexico corrections department has on prisoners and the state. He brings a fair perspective to events and he's a wealth of information on local and non-local history. In 2013, the prison reopened its doors to the public with a two-hour guided tour, operated by the NMCD. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. The early prison industry in New Mexico produced bricks. CORONAVIRUS a simple mask for an old man! Now, for under $20, customers can explore one the darkest moments in US penal history, one that fundamentally altered the New Mexico prison system and whose legacy is still felt today. At the 1:30am count, inmates attacked the officers and took three of them hostage. Some concerned necessary prison conditions like overcrowding, inmate discipline, educational services and improving food. While the corrections department had a policy that no mentally ill prisoner would be transferred to the SCFs, mental disorders were in fact endemic at the SCFs, according to the lawsuit documents. The lawsuit was settled in 2003, and the ruling required the corrections department to provide for expanded and improved mental healthcare, visitation rights, personal property allowances, staff training, education and access to legal recourse, among other amenities. According to the Attorney General Report, by 7am execution squads armed with power tools and many of whom were intoxicated from prescription drugs, hooch and paint thinners had gained access to E-4, where supposed snitches were housed. Adventure awaits at every corner. SANTA FE, N.M.- Tickets are now available for upcoming tours of a closed New Mexico prison where one of the nation's deadliest riots took place. Thirty-three inmates were found dead inside some of them horribly butchered by their fellow prisoners. Video was shot August, 2016 and filmed with permission of staff and tour guide. This second riot led to the construction in 1956 of a new facility about 11 miles south of the original prison, in open country along State Road 14, which came to be called "the main unit." Required fields are marked *. I think they [the prison guards] tried to say [to Chavez] stop doing what youre doing, says Francisco Macias, a lawyer based in El Paso, who was previously representing Chavez in a civil rights lawsuit against the NMCD that alleges, onfined at the Special Control Facilities (SCFs), a 544-bed segregation facility in both the high-security North and South units of the current New Mexico Prison. Inmates took complete control of the prison and twelve officers were taken hostage. I happened to overhear the grownups talking about what went down, and happened to see photos (a family friend, unfortunately for her, was a paralegal with the state attorney generals office and had to deal with all the materials). The massive investment in prison construction, $120m according to Donatelli, put the state at the forefront of an emerging nationwide correctional trend towards mass incarceration and, up until then, an unprecedented use of segregation to achieve safety and control. "Old Main" was virtually destroyed and 33 inmates were murdered. The riot became a black mark on New Mexicos history as the national press was captivated by the horror stories that leaked out of Santa Fe. You must know an offender's first and/or last name or NMCD Number to begin the search process. The New Mexico Department of Corrections conducts tours of Old Main at the New Mexico Prison in Santa Fe. tours? Please complete and submit the form below or contact Francine Schiffman (Senior Manager, Group Sales and Events) at fs@easternstate.org to schedule your group tour. As the riot escalated, so did the violence. New Mexico State Penitentiary (Old Main), Santa Fe, NM (Haunted New Mexico) New Mexico State Penitentiary (Old Main) Santa Fe, NM If there was ever a haunted prison in the United States, the New Mexico State Penitentiary has the potential to be a hotbed of supernatural activity for obvious reasons. [1] " Old Main" was closed up after the prison riot of 1980. Full tour. I was seven years old then; we lived about 45 minutes down the road. The night of the riot started uneventfully, according to Nelson. We found Allan so inspiring we made fun art in response to our time together! The complex consists of three separate facilities. [6] A popular (but untrue) legend holds that the citizens of Santa Fe were given the choice between acquiring either the penitentiary or the first university in the region, but chose the penitentiary. Very glad we booked with him and would go again. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Ghandnoosh, a research analyst for the Sentencing Project, a nonprofit organisation working for prison and criminal justice reform, spoke about the connection between this mass incarceration and segregation, saying that there was a willingness from the public to use punishment instead of rehabilitation as the way we deal with crime. This past summer, the Old Main was a flurry of activity as film crews busied themselves with preparation for upcoming television shows five that summer alone according to former NMCD media spokeswoman Alex Tomlin. We really dropped the ball on this one, says Trinidad Lucero, an officer with NMCD who spoke to Al Jazeera last summer from inside Old Main. The guard on duty fled, leaving behind keys that could open most of the prison gates and doors. Is your tour suitable for children ages 7-14? The prison underwent a brutal transformation as the sun rose, wrote Nelson in an unpublished manuscript, which was shared with Al Jazeera, about his time in prison. Limited numbers of visitors walk through the building, where hatchet marks are still visible on the floor. Inmates were given no access to outdoor exercise, subjected to frequent strip searches intended to humiliate and harass, denied family visits and allowed only five pieces of paper a week. Get more stories delivered right to your email. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Inmates protesting the use of excessive force seized Deputy Warden Ralph Tahash and twelve guards and held them hostage. Maximum of 20 people per scout). Hollywood has taken a liking to this place, says Trinidad Lucero, leading the tourists back to the prisons old booking area, where a van is unloading another group of visitors. An approved visitor can send a money order with the inmates name and number to the facility. Main entrance to the State Pen, opened in the 1950s. The design was based on the same plans used for Sing Sing and Joliet. Maybe I will cross-post it this week. This emphasis on segregation is connected to the larger prison explosion that began in the late 1970s. The territorial legislature authorized the prison in 1884, but the University of New Mexico was not authorized until 1889. Aside from being highly knowledgeable and a good story teller, Allan was thought provoking. Gary Maciel Director Office: 505.827.8519 Fax: 505.827.8801 Timothy Hatch Deputy Director Office: 505.827.8519 Fax: 505.827.8801 James Yates Deputy Director 4331 State . The prison is reputedly haunted, with numerous unexplained phenomena, from prison doors opening and closing of their own accord, to ghostly voices and footsteps. In 2002 inmates confined at the Special Control Facilities (SCFs), a 544-bed segregation facility in both the high-security North and South units of the current New Mexico Prison, filed a class-action lawsuit alleging widespread rights violations inside the prison. One of the fellas I used to play Eagles songs with began hollering about prison conditions, says Nelson. [2][3] It is operated by the New Mexico Corrections Department. I think they [the prison guards] tried to say [to Chavez] stop doing what youre doing, says Francisco Macias, a lawyer based in El Paso, who was previously representing Chavez in a civil rights lawsuit against the NMCD that alleges widespread abuse of inmates by prison officials. The inmate declared that he was tired of this place, and plotted that night with the other prisoners: When the correctional officers come to do the count, if they dont lock the door, were going to jump them and take over, the inmate had said. Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights, widespread abuse of inmates by prison officials. After I got over the cognitive dissonance (prisons? Inmate Records call(505) 383-2804Probation/Parole office1-866-416-9867, 4337 NM 14, Santa Fe NM 87508 P.O. INDONESIAN RICE TABLE (RIJSTTAFEL) a treat from Amsterdam in Philadelphia?? The only contact you had was with guards handcuffing you, putting you on dog leashes, beating you, says Chavez, explaining the conditions he faced living in a cell the size of a parking space. Cell Block 3was , Opened in 1885, the New Mexico Penitentiary had been authorized by Congress since 1853. . Between 1992 and 1995, he was left in isolation at North for a 32-month stretch. 45,547 views May 2, 2017 Enjoy this tour of the Old Main Prison located near Santa Fe, New Mexico. Which was still a little hard for me to grasp, actually, because that prison, which is no longer in use, was the site of one of the countrys worst prison riots, in 1980. Eastern State Penitentiary is currently open for daytime tours every day from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. potential to be a hotbed of supernatural activity for obvious reasons. So here we have a great example of when the conclusions of the Southwest Ghost Hunter's Association and myself differ. Men were brutally butchered, dismembered, and decapitated and hung up on the cells and burned alive. According to Human Rights Watch, [Solitary confinement] units are virtual incubators of psychoses seeding illness in otherwise healthy inmates and exacerbating illness in those already suffering from mental infirmities.. It was a great experience; a highlight of our familys trip to Santa Fe. Browse the best tours in New Mexico with 6 reviews visiting places like Santa Fe and Albuquerque. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), on average, 80,000 individuals find themselves locked up in isolation on any given day, with a full 20 percent of the countrys prison population spending time in isolation. Other sites of trauma and tragedy should be so lucky to have their stories told so well. The New Mexico Prison Riot left plenty of mutilated corpses in it's wake. Not only was the prison overpopulated, but it was severely understaffed. Don't hesitate to ask your questions. The New Mexico State Penitentiary (also called Old Main) is the site of one of the worst prison riots in U.S. history. Other inmates got into the infirmary and began taking drugs. In the years since its final closure in 1998, the prison has come to occupy a near-celebrity status in New Mexico, engendering its own folklore, ghost stories and becoming a popular set for the burgeoning New Mexico TV and film industry. Inmates protesting the use of excessive force seized Deputy Warden Ralph Tahash and twelve guards and held them hostage. upspeak? I would try to keep my body occupied so I didnt go insane, Chavez said, adding that hed have absolutely no contact with other prisoners during this time. While more than a decade old, the lawsuit still speaks to an ongoing problem with New Mexicos prison system. Half-Day Santa Fe Food and History Walking Tour. Guards had also failed to secure several doors that were supposed to be locked. Some invitations already have gone out for the Oct. 25 tours. Adventure Styles. Old Main closed in 1998 but you can sometimes take a tour. The riot had taken place between February 2 and February 3 of that year. He was denied outdoor privileges, denied attorney and telephone privileges, and even had his glasses taken away for eight months, leaving him unable to read or write. In the new 1956 facility, between the years 1967 and 1970, the population was below capacity and dorm rooms were used as classrooms. 33 Art Classes from $85.00 While more than a decade old, the lawsuit still speaks to an ongoing problem with New Mexicos prison system. The majority of the snitches met a horrible end. This prison was the. [13], In 1980, Cell Block 4, at the far northern end from the Control Center, was the scene of one of the most violent prison riots in the correctional history of the United States. Security and recidivism reduction are the priorities of the Division. Our 19 year old twins went on this private tour with Allan and loved it. Note: Background checks and liability forms are required for access to this location. Al was a lot of fun to talk with and listen to. His experience kept the tour from seeming morbid or voyeuristic. We were safe but some of us were spooked! Some of them had been severely beaten while others were suffering from drug overdoses. Facility Type. PNM is the Department's only super-max facility, housing the highest security classification of offenders in the state of New Mexico. (505) 827-8205. A total of 33 prisoners are believed to have died during the riot and about 100 more were injured or suffering from drug overdoses. [8] When the inmates refused to return to their cells, the tower guards opened fire, killing one inmate and injuring five others. This video contains the recorded segments that , From 2002 to 2010 I have been involved with eight investigations of the old prison outside of Santa Fe. The emergency room at St. Vincent Hospital in Santa Fe was overwhelmed with more than 100 inmates. Smoke poured out of the prison gymnasium. It was a really good tour. OMG! [15], Coordinates: 353343N 1060337W / 35.56194N 106.06028W / 35.56194; -106.06028, Johnson, Judith R. (1994) "A Mighty Fortress is the Pen: Development of the New Mexico Penitentiary" pp. Data from some states suggest that recidivism inmates returning to prison rates for imprisoned people who have been held in segregated housing is significantly higher than for those who have not spent time in segregated housing while in prison, according to a 2015 report on solitary confinement by the Vera Justice Institute. By 1980, Old Main was overcrowded, understaffed, sorely lacking in educational and rehabilitation programmes and further plagued by inmate abuse and mistreatment. Opened in 1885, the New Mexico Penitentiary had been authorized by Congress since 1853. In the resulting melee, guards killed two inmates and wounded many others. DEFAULT MEALS, a simple solution for older living! Maybe they still arent.. We had an awesome time and learned so much history from Allan! The New Mexico Department of Corrections conducts tours of Old Main at the New Mexico Prison in Santa Fe. The Penitentiary of New Mexico (PNM) is located along the old turquoise Trail, 14 miles south of Santa Fe. The theme of these tours is: Respecting our Past to Create a Better Future, so its not a haunted prison tour. The rioters had keys to the block, but not to the individual cells. While some prisoners simply tried to find a safe place to wait out the riot, others banded together to rampage through Old Main, torturing and murdering other inmates. New Mexico State Penitentiary, Santa Fe, NM (My Opinion), New Mexico State Penitentiary, Santa Fe, NM (More Witness Accounts and Ghost Stories), New Mexico State Penitentiary, Santa Fe, NM (Investigations Summary of 2005), 94 Rock's visit to the New Mexico State Pen, New Mexico State Penitentiary, Santa Fe, NM (Personal Experiences), New Mexico State Penitentiary, Santa Fe, NM (Paranormal Claims), New Mexico State Penitentiary, Santa Fe, NM (History). While solitary confinement was meant to limit violence within prisons and some would argue that this has been effective its misuse and overuse has had a severe affect on those subjected to long-term isolation. One of the popular ghost stories that have come out of the prison involves a member of one of the film crews who reported seeing the dark-garbed , We visited the prison several times in October of 2005, mostly to familiarize ourselves with the facility as we were going to be the first ones to , In 2002 94 Rock and the Southwest Ghost Hunters went to the old NM State prison to look for ghosts. Some impatient killers threw flammable liquids into locked cells and ignited them, according to the official report, while other inmates meticulously cutthrough the bars of the E-4 cells with the torches left behind by construction workers. I took the tour in 2012. Prisoners began approaching the perimeter fence. He remains, as of 2017, the only execution in New Mexico since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976.[5]. Report of the Attorney General on the February 2 and 3, 1980 Riot at the Penitentiary of New Mexico: Part I The Penitentiary, The Riot, The Aftermath, Report Mandated By Section 9, Chapter 24, Laws of 1980. New Mexico State Penitentiary, Santa Fe, NM (History) November 1, 2002 by Cody Polston. [11], The second riot was 15 June 1953. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. I remember I would run in the cell, seven-and-a-half paces towards the door, then I would turn around and head back. To this end, the NMCD in 1985 built a Level V supermax facility known to prisoners simply as North. Old Main photos. Ballejos had been diagnosed with severe personality disorder as well as an anxiety disorder. I was playing guitar and singing songs with some fellow inmates.. 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