Arizona Halts Use Of Outdoor Prison Holding Cells (in the wake of an inmate's death)

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

The director of Arizona state prisons has suspended the use of unshaded outdoor holding cells in the wake of an inmate's death.

Authorities said Friday that crews will retrofit the cells to provide shade and water.

The move follows the death last week of 48-year-old Marcia Powell. She was left in an unshaded enclosure for nearly four hours May 19 as temperatures topped 100 degrees.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/05/29/national/a110814D56.DTL

[Taverner]

1. Ahhhh Sherriff Joe, the Asshole's Asshole

[Ptah]

8. The State Prison system is not run by Sheriff Joe

[alstephenson]

11. You beat me to it.

[alstephenson]

10. Sheriff Joe is an asshole, but this was in a state prison.

Joe is sheriff of the Maricopa County DPS. This just shows the rampant disregard for the lives of prisoners in Arizona. We spend more money on prisons than on education in Arizona, you'd think they could at least provide some shade and water... Disgusting and very, very sad.

[canetoad]

2. In other words

she was tortured to death.

It's too late for the poor woman. I sincerely hope that as well as modifying the 'cells' (cages?), every person who contributed to this cruel killing is prosecuted to the extent of the law. And then some.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

3. There are those

who would argue that punishment is punishment, and if you can't take it, don't do the crime.

They, of course, are assholes....................

[canetoad]

20. Strange, strange attitude

I forget which crime resulted in her imprisonment, but it surely was not a death penalty offence.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

21. Our Constitution specifically prohibits

"cruel and unusual punishment."

I'd say her treatment qualified.

I hope her family sues the asses off the people who killed her .......................

[Ptah]

24. It is a common practice for ADOC. Many inmates spend many hours in those cages.

http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/hourlyupdate/294932

The Arizona state prisons director has suspended the use of
all outdoor holding cells while crews retrofit them to provide shade and water.

The move follows the heat-related death last week of Marcia Powell,
a 48-year-old inmate who had been left in an unshaded enclosure on a
day when temperatures topped 100 degrees.

The decision was disclosed on Friday by a prison spokesman after an
inquiry by The Associated Press.

The Arizona Department of Corrections operates
233 outdoor holding cells at 10 prisons.
The chain-link cells are used to house inmates who are being
transferred between various sections of the prison.

[JonLP24]

23. Prostitution

http://www.azcorrections.gov/inmate_datasearch/results.aspx?InmateNumber=109416&LastName=POWELL&FNMI=M&SearchType=SearchInet

Don't be alarmed by the danger/repetit/enhance. Danger/Repetit/Enhanced means that an inmate has had more than one tour in prison so he/she is repetitive and is serving an enhanced sentence.

[tj2001]

4. UNSHADED - in the Arizona desert?

Somebody ought to be charged with homicide.

[madeup64]

5. That would be nice

Had a friend just get out of the tents last weekend. Did four months for DUI. Said it was absolutley awful in there. He felt like the guards did things to provoke the inmates just to get them to attack the guards.

[Wizard777]

12. I would charge them with capital murder. This is a torture that ended in homicide.

Exposure to extreme temperatures is a torture. With the torture ending in death. That makes them death penalty eligible. It should be pursued.

[Hansel]

22. Absolutely right.

The prison admin was well aware of the risk when they set up these unshaded temporary holding cells. There is no excuse for them not to be shaded. The warden, those who put her in the cell and those who knew she was in it and did nothing about it should be charged with murder.

[xultar]

6. Legally even dogs* are supposed to be provided with shade and water.

*In the interest of faireness I don't consider my 5 Chihuahuas dogs, they are in fact my children. The best love, clothing, home environment, strollers, bottled water, medical care, food both kibble and raw diets money can provide.

[DesertFlower]

7. i live in phoenix. i can tell

you that it is unbearable being outside in this heat. i always wonder how the construction workers and landscapers are able to do it.

[AnneD]

9. Step dad was in construction for years in AZ....

They start work at three in the morning and knock off after noon. Most of Dad's lunch was fruits and veggies and a sandwich and lots of water and gatorade during the summer. Metal tools had to have a foam wrap like a beer coozie on them because they would be too hot to pick up if they had been sitting in the sun.

[JonLP24]

14. They start work at 3 or 4 in the morning

However you have to give kudos to those troops working in the motor pool at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. Temperatures average 117 in the summertime and they work hours on end. Though we had plenty of water to drink.

[DesertFlower]

16. i certainly give kudos to our troops.

a few years ago i donated money for misty mates for the troops.

http://www.coolourtroops.com/

[JonLP24]

17. That is very cool

I always wanted one of those things while over there. Central Iraq is more like Phoenix weather but Kuwait was just an unberable hotbox.

[DesertFlower]

18. thank you for your service.

:toast:

[JonLP24]

13. It doesn't say what complex

I know someone currently residing in ASPC Lewis. 10 miles north of Gila Bend. It mentions they will now add water? Wth? They didn't have water before? Shade really doesn't mean anything in this weather but no water? Is that what they are saying?

[JonLP24]

15. Perryville

http://www.azcorrections.gov/inmate_datasearch/results.aspx?InmateNumber=109416&LastName=POWELL&FNMI=M&SearchType=SearchInet

She was in there for prostitution of all things. Perryville appears to be located west of Phoenix.

[Tansy_Gold]

19. Locations

Perryville is a sprawling complex about 25 miles due west of Phoenix, on the north side of Interstate 10.

Lewis is approximately another 10 miles west and 20 miles south of Perryville, on Hwy 85 south of Buckeye (of which it is actually part) and north of Gila Bend.

Both areas are rural desert, where shade temperatures in summer routinely hit 110, 115. In the sun, it's an entirely different matter. And while 100 degrees in the shade on a nice dry day is really not at all uncomfortable for those acclimated to it, 100 degrees in the sun means not only heat but burned skin, rapid fluid loss, dehydration.

A friend who spent a couple of afternoons trimming some trees a few days ago -- temps in the high 90s -- bragged that with plenty of gatorade and frequent short breaks he could work all day. Today he's suffering the effects of mild heat exhaustion. Fit, healthy, with plenty of fluids and access to both shade and indoor a/c, just a few hours in the heat took their toll. It was his choice; it was not this poor woman's.


Tansy Gold, who lived about 5 miles from Perryville prison for 20 years.