Federal prison in Atwater on lockdown

U.S. Penitentiary Atwater on Monday entered its 13th consecutive day on lockdown status, a prison official confirmed.

Few details were available regarding the situation at the federal prison in Merced County.

Kristi Rodriguez, a prison spokeswoman, said the prison has been on “modified operations” since Jan. 28 as a result of two fights between inmates which she described as “minor altercations.”

One inmate suffered unspecified minor injuries during the fight and was treated at the prison. No other inmates or any correctional officers were injured, Rodriguez said in a brief statement, adding that the public was never in jeopardy during the incident.

“The institution will remain on limited operations while the incidents are investigated and will return to full operations as soon as possible,” Rodriguez said.

She could not provide a more specific timetable for when the lockdown may be lifted. Prison officials also did not comment on what triggered the violence, whether any weapons were used or why it was necessary to keep the prison locked down as a result of minor altercations.

The federal prison in Atwater houses 1,430 “high security” male inmates.

This story was originally published February 9, 2015 at 7:10 PM with the headline "Federal prison in Atwater on lockdown."