US military planning new prison in Iraq News
US military planning new prison in Iraq

[JURIST] The US military is planning to expand the current Abu Ghraib [JURIST news archive] and Camp Bucca [Wikipedia backgrounder] detention facilities in Iraq and build a third major facility in the north of the country to accommodate a growing number of Iraqi prisoners. Military officials say the existing prisons – now holding over 10,000 detainees – are nearing their maximum "surge" capacities with no decrease in the number of new prisoners expected. Expansion and a new facility for 2,000 could allow the US to hold as many as 16,000 detainees. Both Abu Ghraib and Camp Bucca have been scenes of repeated riots and escape attempts [JURIST report] and the notoriously hot summer in Iraq plus a likely rise in violence as the constitution drafting and ratification process continues through the summer and early fall are only expected to increase intake and problems with inmates. The Los Angeles Times has more.