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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Monday, June 3, 2013

AZ Legislature 2013: Who will represent the prisoners?


These are the people responsible for representing prisoners - at least, they're getting credit for having all those captive bodies and swell jobs in their districts, and should be responsible for assuring that civil rights are protected, so keep them in the loop of all your correspondence with the DOC if you're fighting with them right now - put them in the cc line next to the ACLU. Also don't hesitate to call their offices and ask for direct assistance for your loved one if their rights are being violated and the DOC isn't responsive. The toll free number for both the AZ House and the Senate is 1-800-352-8404. The snail mail address for all Arizona state legislators is below.  

The names below will take you to thier bio pages - get to know them a little before you write. Keep in mind that most of these folks are pro-prison and will refuse to acknowledge that cops and guards are capable of brutal or criminal conduct, so it may take some patience to bring them along. While most of these legislators are on relevant committees that should be investigating the prisons in light of all the problems, few ever raise concerns for the welfare of prisoners. I think that's just because families and prisoners just haven't lobbied them yet quite like law enforcement does, so let's give this a try. Maybe once they see us all as human beings, they'll start to listen.

If anyone out there has any success getting a legislator involved who is actually helpful, please let me know so I can share. Likewise, report those who are absolutely useless and I'll share that as well.


Arizona State Legislature
1700 W Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85007

ASPC - Tucson
10000 South Wilmot
Tucson, AZ 85734
Tel 520-574-0024
Main Fax # (520) 574-7300



                 

           
ASPC - Lewis
26700 South Highway 85
Buckeye, Arizona 85326
Telephone: (623) 386-6160
Fax: (623) 386-7332

Rep Lisa Otondo



                       
                       
ASPC - Yuma
7125 East Juan Sanchez Blvd
San Luis,  AZ 85349
Main Telephone # (928) 627-8871
Main Fax # (928) 627-6703

Rep Lisa Otondo


                         
           
ASPC - Douglas
6911 N. BDI Blvd
Douglas, AZ 85607
Main Telephone # (520) 364-7521
Main Fax # (520) 364-7445


                         
                        

   
ASPC - Safford
896 S. Cook Road
Safford, AZ 85546
Main Telephone # (928) 428-4698
Main Fax # (928) 428-3235



                         

ASPC - Eyman
4374 East Butte Avenue
Florence, AZ 85132
Main Telephone # (520) 868-0201
Main Fax # (520) 868-0276







ASPC - Florence    
1305 E Butte Ave    
Florence, AZ 85132    
Main Telephone # (520) 868-4011    
Main Fax # (520) 868-5333






ASPC - Phoenix
2500 E. Van Buren St
Phoenix, AZ 85008
Main Telephone # (602) 685-3100
Main Fax # (602) 685-3111





                        


ASPC - Winslow
2100 South Highway 87
Winslow, AZ 86047
Main Telephone # (928) 289-9551
Main Fax # (928) 289-2951





ASPC-Perryville
2105 North Citrus Road
Goodyear, AZ 85395
Main Telephone # (623) 853-0304
Main Fax # (623) 853-0425









Arizona State Prison - Phoenix West
3402 West Cocopah
Phoenix, AZ 85009
Main Telephone # (602) 352-0350
Main Fax # (602) 352-0357







Marana CCTF
12610 W. Silverbell Rd
Marana, AZ 85653
Telephone: (520) 682-2077
Fax: (520) 682-2660





ASP - FLORENCE WEST
915 East Diversion Dam Road
Florence, AZ  85132
Main Telephone # (520) 868-4251
Main Fax # (520) 868-4245







Arizona State Prison - Kingman
4626 W. English Dr.
Golden Valley, AZ 86414
Phone: 928-565-2460
Fax: 928-565-7038








Central Arizona Correctional Facility
1401 East Diversion Dam Road
Florence, AZ  85132
Main Telephone # (520) 868-4809
Main Fax # (520) 868-5370






Don't forget to include in your cc line our good friend Chad Campbell, too, the AZ House Mionrity leader who's shown some interest in real justice being done (chcampbell@azleg.gov).