Barbara Ciara gives a sneak-peek at prison life in Gitmo
8:37 p.m. EST, November 8, 2011
NewsChannel 3s Barbara Ciara is on special assignment in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where the trial for the man accused of planning the attack on the USS Cole is being held. Barbara gave us a peek at life in Gitmo for the detainees being held there.
If you are a detainee at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, like most prisons you are entitled to three square meals and the promise of human treatment.
But the detainees at Camp Five have revolted on occasion. The guards wear face masks to avoid being sprayed with human excrement. This is such a problem that guards have designed a way to avoid physical contact with the so-called highly non-compliant prisoners. Guards use a splash box from the Federal Bureau of Prisons, a temporary attachment to doors of detainees to protect them from prisoners who splash urine and feces at them.
A total of 171 detainees are spread between several camps and a psych ward at Gitmo.
Those who are well behaved spend fewer than four hours in their cells.
The cell block is used as a classroom but detainees are still shackled by the ankles to the floor for the safety of the instructor.
The cell block holds 22 and the detainees select a group leader.
Compliant prisoners are free to roam about the cell block, but if they cause trouble or assault the guards, they will spend 22 hours a day in 95 square feet of space with little human contact.
The officers in charge of the detention camps tell NewsChannel 3s Barbara Ciara that there are fewer negative interactions between guards and detainees in recent year! sthey gi ve credit to a more structured approach, rewards for good behavior, and humanely addressing the concerns of the detainees.