By C1 Staff
SALT LAKE CITY — Prison officials have started to discipline the inmates who have now reached the fifth day of their hunger strike at the Utah State Prison.
KSL reports that inmates are losing privileges such as confiscated televisions and commissary food from their cells, curtailed personal television access, and restrictions on commissary spending. Losing privileges varies on a case-by-case basis.
The inmates, all gang members, began their strike Friday to ask for relocation of some gang leaders within the prison, along with other demands.
The American Civil Liberties Union in Utah has voiced its support for the inmates, calling their living conditions “extreme” and saying that those conditions are the main cause of the protest.
Officials responded by saying the prisoners’ behavior is merely an attempt to intimidate prison staff and disturb daily routines at the facility.
After inmates were disciplined, some acted out with unruly and violent outbursts, including breaking sprinklers in their cells to cause flooding, covering up cell windows and refusing to submit to handcuffs to allow officers to enter their cells.
The five inmates involved in those incidents were moved to higher security.
Some inmates who claim to be participating in the hunger strike hoarded food before the strike began and have been eating those items in their cells, according to officials.
Four of the striking inmates reportedly consented to breakfast trays Tuesday. Two others with health conditions accepted nutritional drinks.
Medical staff are keeping a close eye on the inmates, though prisoners have largely refused health checks.