Car rally held outside of ACI, advocates push for more out-of-cell time for inmates

CRANSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — There was a car rally held at the ACI in Cranston Wednesday.

Protestors that were part of the ‘Stop Torture of RI Coalition’ said inmates at the medium security prison are not being given their full 10 hours of out-of-cell time.

Protestors said it all started happening when Wayne Salisbury became the DOC director, and that a shortage of correctional officers is one of the reasons it’s happening.

One advocate said lack of out-of-cell time hinders any type of self improvement for inmates as they work to better themselves before release.

“They didn’t do anything wrong to be deprived of their recreation, of their rehabilitation or the education programming so we’re asking what is the problem?” said Brandon Robinson of Stop Torture RI Coalition.

In a statement to ABC6 News, DOC Public Information Officer J.R. Ventura said in part, “On occasion, our facilities are required to reprioritize operations for security purposes, and recreational time runs on a modified schedule. Even then, our population receives out-of-cell time, educational courses and programs, and other services daily.”