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



INDIGENOUS ACTION MEDIA

INDIGENOUS ACTION MEDIA
ANTICOLONIAL zines, stickers, actions, power

Taala Hooghan Infoshop

Taala Hooghan Infoshop

Kinlani/Flagstaff Mutual AID

Kinlani/Flagstaff Mutual AID

MASS LIBERATION AZ

MASS LIBERATION AZ
The group for direct action against the prison state!

Black Lives Matter PHOENIX METRO

Black Lives Matter PHOENIX METRO
(accept no substitutions)

BLACK PHX ORGANIZING COLLECTIVE

BLACK PHX ORGANIZING COLLECTIVE

BLACK PEOPLE's JUSTICE FUND

BLACK PEOPLE's JUSTICE FUND

PHOENIX: Trans Queer Pueblo

PHOENIX: Trans Queer Pueblo

COVID Mutual AID PHOENIX

COVID Mutual AID PHOENIX
AZ Prison Watch BLOG POSTS:


Monday, December 14, 2009

AZ House Cmte on Sentencing: 12/15 TUES 9am

Upcoming Events
December 13-19: AZ Week of Humanity and Action.
December 14: 5th Special Legislative Session Convenes. Be There.
December 15: AZ House Sentencing Committee Public Hearing. 9am.

December 17: International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers Memorial in Tucson.
December 18: Sex Workers Outreach Project Protest at the AZ DOC, Noon, in Phoenix.


----------------------------
This passed on to us tonight by from our friends with the Arizona Coalition for the Wrongly Convicted. Here is the link to the criminal code sentencing chart, for current guidelines.

---------------


Sentencing-Agenda Committee Tues. Dec. 15, 9:00 


Meeting  Arizona Legislature House of Representatives. 


Interim agendas can be obtained via the Internet at

ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
INTERIM MEETING NOTICE

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

 HOUSE STUDY COMMITTEE ON SENTENCING

Date:                        Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Time:                        9:00 A.M.

Place:                        HHR 5

AGENDA



1.
Call to Order
2.
Opening Remarks
3.
Presentations on Sentencing
·      Rudolph J. Gerber, Retired Judge Arizona Court of Appeals
·      Carissa Byrne Hessick, Associate Professor, Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
·      Paul W. Ahler, Executive Director, Arizona Prosecuting Attorneys' Advisory Council
·      Kathy Waters, Director, Arizona Supreme Court Adult Probation Services Division
·      Steve J. Twist, President, Arizona Voice for Crime Victims; Adjunct Professor, Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
·      Christina Phillis, Maricopa County, Attorney Manager, Juvenile Public Defender
·      Billy Little, Col., USAF Reserves, Pentagon Air Force Surgeon General's Office; Maricopa County Public Defender
·      Penny Pestle and Matt Lowen, Steering Committee Members, Arizonans for Public Safety and Fiscal Responsibility
·      Statement by Robert Hirsh, Pima County Public Defender, read by Paul Lovelis, Project  Coordinator, Pima County Public Defenders Office
4.
Discussion on Sentencing Reform and Evidence-Based Sentencing
5.
Public Testimony
6.
Adjourn


Members:
Representative Cecil Ash, Chair

Representative Doris Goodale

Representative Laurin Hendrix

Representative Bill Konopnicki

Representative Kyrsten Sinema

Representative Anna Tovar


12/11/09
jjb

People with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations such as interpreters, alternative formats, or assistance with physical accessibility.  If you require accommodations, please contact the Chief Clerk's Office at (602) 926-3032, TDD (602) 926-3241.
Posted by at
Labels: , ,

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

The House Interim Committee on Sentencing Reform is taking mail from the public for the support of reforming the criminal code. Send to: The Committee on Sentencing Reform, 1700 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85007.
PLEASE SUPPORT THIS BILL TO GET SOME OF OUR LOVED ONES WHO ARE IN FOR PETTY OFFENSES! GOD BLESS!

December 16, 2009 at 11:02 AM

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)