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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AZ Prison Watch BLOG POSTS:


Friday, October 8, 2010

Private Prison Public Hearings this fall.

This popped up on Facebook from "Stop The Celling of Arizona." Go sign up for their updates, and turn out for the hearings. We need to stop this madness here and now.

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Public Hearings on Prison Privatization in Arizona

In the wake of the Kingman escapes and the private prison influence-buying scandal, many elected officials have called for legislative hearings, but none have been scheduled. Yet critical questions remain unanswered and state government has not acted to ensure the integrity of our prison system and the safety of our community.

In the interest of government accountability, integrity of our corrections system, and public safety, the American Friends Service Committee, the Private Corrections Working Group, and community partners are initiating a series of public hearings on prison privatization to be held around the state this fall.

The first will be held in Tucson on Wednesday, October 27th from 6:00-8:00pm at Pima Community College, Downtown Campus.

The hearing will be convened by a panel of elected officials and community leaders who will hear the testimony and pose questions. The conveners of the Tucson panel confirmed at present are:

Pima County Supervisor Richard Elias

Tucson City Council Member Steve Kozachik

Assistant City Manager Richard Miranda, former Chief of Police

State Representative Phil Lopes



The hearing will feature testimony from all the parties involved in or impacted by prison privatization:

· The Arizona Department of Corrections

· The for-profit prison management corporations

· Prison staff

· Prisoners, formerly incarcerated people and their families

· Local community members

· Experts on the financial and social impacts of prison privatization

The hearings will be video recorded and will be presented to the state legislature and the Governor, along with written materials produced through the hearings. Members of the public wishing to present testimony are asked to bring a printed copy of their remarks to enter into the record.
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