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120 Men Sign Letter Alleging Abuse, Neglect at Eloy Detention Center

May 2026·Location: Eloy, AZ

120 Men Sign Letter Alleging Abuse, Neglect at Eloy Detention Center
Photo via firrp.org

In May 2026, Mr. Contreras-Perez, a man detained at the Eloy Detention Center, sent the Florence Project a four-page letter documenting conditions, now signed by 120 people from his housing unit. It says people are locked in their cells up to 18 hours a day without phones or tablets because of staffing shortages; that medication is denied and people are sometimes not taken to off-site medical appointments; that medical staff push people to buy vitamins and ointments from a commissary with exorbitant prices; that the air system is clogged and dirty, causing coughs and infections; and that the free tap water causes stomach problems. It describes food as potatoes with more potatoes, with chicken once a month and meals sometimes served frozen or raw. The letter also says people who complain too much are sent to solitary confinement, referred to by detainees as 'The Hole,' and threatened with charges that could harm their legal case, and that officers face no consequences for abuse or negligence. The letter further alleges verbal and physical abuse by guards and inadequate mental healthcare.

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