SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico has accused the state Corrections Department of violating public records law by denying a request for documents related to use of force incidents against inmates in a Las Cruces prison.
The department cited internal policies intended to keep inmates safe that call for keeping inmate grievances and use of force within prisons confidential, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported.
“Certain inmates, if they were able to obtain copies or review the grievances filed by other inmates, would use the personal and sensitive information in the grievances to harass or intimidate the inmates or create disturbances,” the department said in a statement.
The complaint filed Monday in state district court in Santa Fe asks a judge to determine if the policy is unlawful.
The lawsuit comes after ACLU-New Mexico was denied a request for records from July to October seeking documents on use of force, restraints and chemicals to discipline or subdue inmates, incidents involving those methods, documents naming employees involved and overall procedures.
ACLU attorney Nicholas Davis said recent cases support making such records public.
Department spokesman Eric Harrison said Wednesday he could not comment on pending litigation.
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