John Locher / AP
In this July 11, 2018, file photo, a sign marks the entrance to Ely State Prison.
Friday, Dec. 9, 2022 | 2:38 p.m.
A hunger strike by inmates protesting conditions at an eastern Nevada prison has prompted officials to change disciplinary policies, according to the state Department of Corrections.
Dozens of prisoners at the Ely State Prison have participated in the hunger strike, which started over a week ago.
Today, the department announced that administrative sanctions — like revoking an inmate’s phone time or other privileges as punishment — will no longer be applied consecutively.
That means an inmate already subject to a sanction cannot receive another one to be served immediately afterward, officials said.
The strike, which began Dec. 1 with 39 inmates, targeted prisoner conditions, including confinement, property issues and disciplinary sanctions. As of today, 24 inmates were participating, including 19 who have been on strike for nine days, officials said.
The primary motivation among the strikers is the portion sizes of their meals, officials said.
The Corrections Department said it is auditing portion sizes at all its facilities and reviewing its contract with the current food vendor.
“Our supervisors are monitoring each feeding and personally observing the food deliveries to ensure proper portion sizes daily,” acting DOC Director William Gittere said in a statement.
Other prisoner complaints include a lack of privileges — such as fundraisers and food drives —offered at other corrections facilities and a lack of programming, the department said.
Though he called some of the claims made by strikers “false,” Gittere said many have merit, and the department wants to respond accordingly.
"We understand offenders are dissatisfied that we can’t turn around these changes as quickly as we’d like," he said.
