SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Representatives of New Mexico prison inmates have filed a lawsuit claiming four state prisons are in violation of an agreement to give inmates adequate cell space.
The representatives filed the lawsuit this week in U.S. District Court, claiming the four prisons are in violation of the Duran Consent Decree, which guarantees each inmate at least 60 square feet (5.6 square meters) of "living and sleeping space," the Santa Fe New Mexican reported.
The suit claims the prisons have reduced inmate space by adding extra bunks to single cells and have crowded prisoners into small dormitories. It also claims the prisons are housing prisoners in spaces not intended for living.
Gov. Susana Martinez is the suit's lead defendant.
Corrections Department spokesman S.U. Mahesh said the claims are either wrong or have been addressed.
"We are very confident that we are in compliance with Duran," Mahesh said. "The Springer Correctional Facility is a Level 2 facility and does not fall under the Duran decree. The Western New Mexico Correctional Facility's double bunking issue was addressed and resolved last year. We no longer house inmates in the day rooms at the Central New Mexico Correctional Facility and the Otero County Correctional Facility's square footage per inmate complies with Duran."