KTRV Fox 12 Civil liberties group sues private prison company
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Associated Press - March 11, 2010 6:14 PM ET
BOISE, Idaho (AP) - The American Civil Liberties Union has sued state prison officials and a private company, claiming violence is so rampant at the Idaho Correctional Center that it's known as "gladiator school" among inmates.
The ACLU filed the lawsuit Thursday against Corrections Corp. of America in U.S. District Court in Boise.
The lawsuit says Idaho's only private prison is extraordinarily violent, with guards deliberately exposing inmates to brutal beatings from other prisoners as a management tool.
The group contends the prison then denies injured inmates medical care to save money and hide the extent of injuries.
The Nashville, Tenn.-based company and prison officials declined to comment.
ACLU senior attorney Stephen Pevar said he has sued at least 100 jails and prisons, but none came close to the level of violence at Idaho Correctional Center.
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