Retiring Arizona Prison Watch...


This site was originally started in July 2009 as an independent endeavor to monitor conditions in Arizona's criminal justice system, as well as offer some critical analysis of the prison industrial complex from a prison abolitionist/anarchist's perspective. It was begun in the aftermath of the death of Marcia Powell, a 48 year old AZ state prisoner who was left in an outdoor cage in the desert sun for over four hours while on a 10-minute suicide watch. That was at ASPC-Perryville, in Goodyear, AZ, in May 2009.

Marcia, a seriously mentally ill woman with a meth habit sentenced to the minimum mandatory 27 months in prison for prostitution was already deemed by society as disposable. She was therefore easily ignored by numerous prison officers as she pleaded for water and relief from the sun for four hours. She was ultimately found collapsed in her own feces, with second degree burns on her body, her organs failing, and her body exceeding the 108 degrees the thermometer would record. 16 officers and staff were disciplined for her death, but no one was ever prosecuted for her homicide. Her story is here.

Marcia's death and this blog compelled me to work for the next 5 1/2 years to document and challenge the prison industrial complex in AZ, most specifically as manifested in the Arizona Department of Corrections. I corresponded with over 1,000 prisoners in that time, as well as many of their loved ones, offering all what resources I could find for fighting the AZ DOC themselves - most regarding their health or matters of personal safety.

I also began to work with the survivors of prison violence, as I often heard from the loved ones of the dead, and learned their stories. During that time I memorialized the Ghosts of Jan Brewer - state prisoners under her regime who were lost to neglect, suicide or violence - across the city's sidewalks in large chalk murals. Some of that art is here.

In November 2014 I left Phoenix abruptly to care for my family. By early 2015 I was no longer keeping up this blog site, save occasional posts about a young prisoner in solitary confinement in Arpaio's jail, Jessie B.

I'm deeply grateful to the prisoners who educated, confided in, and encouraged me throughout the years I did this work. My life has been made all the more rich and meaningful by their engagement.

I've linked to some posts about advocating for state prisoner health and safety to the right, as well as other resources for families and friends. If you are in need of additional assistance fighting the prison industrial complex in Arizona - or if you care to offer some aid to the cause - please contact the Phoenix Anarchist Black Cross at PO Box 7241 / Tempe, AZ 85281. collective@phoenixabc.org

until all are free -

MARGARET J PLEWS (June 1, 2015)
arizonaprisonwatch@gmail.com



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Thursday, January 21, 2010

Your Voice for Families, Freedom...Fascism.

PearceAlert (From Senator Russell Pearce, to his faithful followers) from www.russellpearce.com in re: SB 1070 hearings yesterday. I don't understand the closing lines...I think he's unraveling.

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Hi,

Thank you for your support yesterday.  Don't be fooled by the miss information given yesterday in committee by those who oppose any and all enforcement.  I will not attend another funeral without having done all I can to enforce our laws.  We must enforce our laws with compassion, but without apology. 

I have been to court (federal court) 7 times on Prop. 200 and 5 times on Employer Sanctions and we have won all 12 times.  The language will survive the challenges by the open border/ACLU/MALDEF/AND OTHERS, as the left and cheap labor crowd continue to tell it has drafting errors.  Not true.  The old attorney trick.   I refuse to attend another funeral of a Police Officer or of a Citizen without doing everything I can do to enforce our laws.  Government is complicit in the deaths, maiming and cost to our citizens.  

Remember the Police Chiefs had a Press Conference several months ago right after Officer Erfle was murdered by an illegal alien and stated they refused to enforce our immigration laws.  No surprise they have concerns (invented to protect the status quo).  They do not want to enforce the laws and have stated, that is why they have so many roadblocks in place and as testified to investigations on officers who called ICE.  In fact they are investigating one commander for arresting homicide suspects that were illegal aliens, because he did not get permission from higher command officers.  Look at the endorsements, Sheriffs, Police Officers, many, many others and just Saturday by a unanimous vote of over 1400 Maricopa County PC's endorsed this effort.  80% of the public support this effort.  

I just had a meeting with law enforcement yesterday afternoon and they were extremely upset that there were concerns about their ability to "know" when and when not to arrest with the silly arguments or concerns presented by some.  That is what they do for a living.  They don't go around arresting people based on appearance!!!!!  They have been restrained from doing the very job they took an Oath to do.  Protect and to Serve.   Enforce all laws.  They have been too many funerals, many which could have been prevented. 

Again, thank you for your support yesterday.

Your Voice for Families, Freedom, Constitutional and Limited Government and a Consistent Conservative Voice:  God... Family ... Country

Russell

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