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:


Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Stop AZ Prison Privatization! Organize Now!


The following note comes from the American Friends Service Committee in Tucson, which has been organizing the resistance to prison privatization in Arizona. Turn out for the next meeting on Monday 12/13 (see below).

The graphic to the left, by the way, was added by me, not by the AFSC. It just seemed like an appropriate time and place for it.

For those of you who haven't seen it, here's the Children's Defense Fund's Cradle-to-Prison Pipeline report on Arizona. We should be expanding alternatives to prison for people with mental illness and low-risk offenders, not building new minimum security facilities. Then we might have something left to invest in our kids to keep them out of trouble in the first place.

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

Hello all,


We’ve held a public hearing, had a press conference, and met with the Secretary of State and Attorney General’s offices. We’ve gathered very compelling testimony and uncovered some damning evidence. We raised this issue in the press very successfully and educated a lot of people.


And, we just learned that the Department of Corrections is planning to re-issue the RFP for 5,000 new beds sometime in the next two months. Plus, there’s a bogus commission handpicked by the Governor that is set to release recommendations that the state further privatize its prisons (http://www.azdailysun.com/news/state-and-regional/article_e7f46863-e888-5ec9-96d4-5b6ea22a514f.html).


So, it’s time to gear up once again! The legislative session starts the second week of January, and we have much work to do.


We are holding a working group meeting for anyone who wants to get involved in our work to stop prison privatization in AZ. We will plan events and activities and we need lots of help!


So, please mark your calendar and tell a friend:


Monday, December 13 at 5:30
AFSC office, 103 N. Park Ave., Ste 111.


Our building is on the north west corner of Park Ave and 10th St., but the entrance to our suite is in the BACK of the building, NOT facing Park. Look for the big blue dumpster and follow the metal fence around the back (west side) of the building. Call if you need more directions: 623-9141.


Due to budget constraints, we ask our volunteers to please bring a snack or beverage to share.

Thanks, and see you next Monday!


Caroline Isaacs

Program Director,

American Friends Service Committee

Arizona Area Program

103 N. Park Ave., Suite 111

Tucson, AZ 85719

520.623.9141 p/520.623.5901

www.afsc.org/az
Posted by at
Labels: , , , , , ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)