Run by the Corrections Corporation of America,[1] the low-security facility was established in 1985 under a contract with the Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP).
[2] Initially, the creation of a privately run prison was seen as a benefit to the town of Eden, bringing in job opportunities and growth.
[9] In October 1995, owner Roy Burnes, who had owned the prison since its creation, sold the EDC to Corrections Corporation of America (now CoreCivic) for $18,000,000.
[13] In August 2016, Department of Justice officials reported that the FBOP would be reducing its use of contracted facilities, on the grounds that private prisons provided less effective and less safe services with no major cost reductions.
[15] Throughout the history of Eden Detention Center, there have been several protests, petitions, and riots by prisoners against alleged substandard living conditions and lack of wanted privileges.
Center president Roy Burnes denied the allegations, and San Antonio federal inspector John Morris stated that some of the complaints were overexaggerated.
[17] During the evening of 23 May 1989, a formal protest was held where over 300 prisoners at the facility refused to return to their cells, citing substandard living conditions and unacceptable food quality.
[23] Unlike the previous protest, negotiations "fell through", and prisoners proceeded to riot, smashing windows, setting off fire extinguishers, and breaking cameras and furniture, costing thousands of dollars in damages.
[29] Unpopular locally, many residents of Eden and the surrounding areas felt that the FBI and prison superintendent caving to protestors was done in poor taste.
They were allegedly upset about the change in dinner for the evening, which consisted of chicken fried steak, rather than the Mexican food that was established following the May 1989 protest.
[33] An aftershock of the protest continued two days later, leading to administrator John Morris requesting "30 to 35 ringleaders" be split up in various other federal prisons.
", citing that although they consistently participated in protests against conditions, that the dormitories at EDC were fully stocked with televisions and microwave ovens.
[37] A second incident in August 1994 saw six more inmates transferred to EDC from Reeves after riots sparked from corporate downsizing that resulted in the destruction of big screen TVs, exercise equipment, soda dispensers, and foosball tables.
[40] Although no demands were made prior to the riot, Craven stated that prisoners were unhappy with food service, hobby and crafts, and dental care.
[45] Four inmates, Enrique Perez-Munoz, Gilberto Garcia-Lua, Juan Balenzuela-Galaviz, and Ramon Inzunza-Sandoval, were all formally charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon as a result of their actions during the riots.
[46] After over five years of tranquility, another riot took place in the prison on 13 March 2001 when members from two rival gang groups butted heads.