Prison Riot Leads to Suspension of Arizona Transfers

State officials have suspended the transfer of hundreds of new inmates from Arizona to the state prison in New Castle, after a riot at the facility yesterday. The investigation centers on whether Arizona prisoners were upset about their treatment in Indiana. Indiana Department of Correction Commissioner J. David Donahue says Indiana prisons operate differently. "We are a non-smoking system. We don't allow our populations to possess tobacco products. In Arizona, they were available to them, if they chose to participate as a smoker," said Donahue. The riot lasted two hours and resulted in injuries to two prison staff members and seven prisoners.