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42 Utah prison inmates refuse breakfast, begin hunger strike

Prison officials have offered each participating inmate the option to undergo a health checkup.

By Brooks Hays

VERNAL, Utah, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- After refusing breakfast, a group of 42 maximum-security inmates at Utah State Prison's Uinta facility announced a hunger strike and issued demands to state prison officials.

In a press release, the Utah Department of Corrections described the group of inmates as "documented gang members."

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Department spokeswoman Brooke Adams told the Huffington Post the inmates' demands include the release of various gang leaders at a different maximum security unit. She says corrections officials are currently reviewing the list of demands, but declined to share further details.

Prison officials have offered each participating inmate the option to undergo a health checkup in order to check weights and vital signs. The health of inmates will be monitored regularly by prison staff.

"The department also has inventoried food items in each participating inmate's cell to document potential nutritional intake," officials said in a statement. "The department will continue to offer the inmates meals as regularly scheduled."

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