Inspection shows Eloy detention center violated various standards amid pandemic

ELOY, Ariz. (KOLD News 13) - A recent report released on March 30 by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Inspector General says, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, La Palma Correctional Center in Eloy, AZ. failed to give detainees proper care.

Among the various violations, the report states the facility did not enforce precautions in addressing the coronavirus, including the use of face masks and social distancing. The detention center also did not meet the standards of appropriate care for those who were sick, and staff often took more than three days to respond to sick call requests.

Additionally, the report says almost 200 detainees complained about the use of excessive force and mistreatment by detention staff during peaceful protests organized by detainees as a result of the facility not providing appropriate PPE to control the spread of the virus.

In other violations, the Office of the Inspector General said the Eloy detention center was critically understaffed and operated below the required standards. And when it came to handling chronic care medications for patients, the facility failed to appropriately refill prescriptions in a timely manner, with many patients missing medication doses for days at a time.

The entire report, and other violations, can be viewed below.

Eloy Detention Center Violations of Standards Amid Pandemic by Joshua Morales on Scribd