ACLU Says Private Montana Prison Discriminates

LEN IWANSKI

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A spokesman for the Montana Corrections Department says they're investigating allegations that Native American inmates were mistreated and discriminated against at the Crossroads Correctional Center in Shelby.

The private prison operates under a contract with the state.

The American Civil Liberties Union said Wednesday that Crossroads violated the rights of Native American inmates. The ACLU of Montana filed a complaint with the state Human Rights Bureau alleging the inmates were subjected to en-masse strip searches, were denied the ability to properly celebrate sweat-lodge ceremonies and were retaliated against when they complained about the mistreatment.

The complaint says the strip searches took place between mid-August and mid-October 2008.

"While the en masse strip searches appear to have been suspended ... there is no assurance that they will not resume, and reports indicate that the searches could readily continue," the complaint says.

Bob Anez, spokesman for the state Corrections Department, said the department "is aware of these allegations against Corrections Corporation of America and took appropriate action with CCA to resolve these claims, as indicated in the complaint."