I saw this drug flood my hometown in Indiana almost 20 years ago. Several of my friends died from pain pill addiction, & not just any pills, #Oxycontin specifically. No one had ever heard of it, and then one day it was everywhere propublica.org/article/watch-…
i remember it was at almost the exact same time that the meth epidemic hit - average young people were smoking pot and being very chill and then these two horrifying and powerful drugs came along and it was like everyone went crazy
i have friends who served time for meth, people who turned to dealing after succumbing to addiction, and our prisons are full of them, but the people who pushed pain pills seem to continue to evade criminal prosecution
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EXCLUSIVE: Investigation finds "ASTRONOMICAL" death rate in Maricopa County jails. With 43 deaths in 2022 and 43 in 2023, they are among the deadliest jails in the country. But you wouldn't know that, because the deaths were underreported — until now. azcentral.com/story/news/loc…
A review by The Arizona Republic of Maricopa County's in-custody jail deaths from 2019 through 2023 found the death rate was among the highest of major jail systems in the country, and four times the national average.
The death rate for Maricopa County jails in 2023 was twice as high as jails with similar populations, as well as jail systems with much larger populations.
NEW: Bombshell internal investigation conducted by Arizona's new prisons director reveals "State is in no position to conduct an execution" azcentral.com/story/news/loc…
According to the newly appointed Arizona Department of Corrections director, no written records exist from the previous administration on where the state’s death penalty drugs came from, how they were procured or who prepared them.
The revelations came amidst the case of death row prisoner Aaron Gunches. The state supreme court is considering a petition that would compel Gov. Hobbs to carry out the execution of Gunches, despite her previous statement that she would not. azcentral.com/story/news/loc…
BREAKING: @GovernorHobbs has appointed a Death Penalty Independent Review Commissioner, and @AZAGMayes has filed to withdraw a motion for the only pending death warrant, effectively pausing executions in Arizona.
"The Commissioner is tasked with reviewing and providing transparency into the Arizona Department of Corrections lethal injection drug and gas chamber chemical procurement process, execution protocols, and staffing considerations." azgovernor.gov/office-arizona…
"The Commissioner will then issue a final report that includes recommendations on improving the transparency, accountability, and safety of the execution process."
BREAKING: Governor Hobbs has appointed Dr. Ryan Thornell, Deputy Commissioner of the Maine Department of Corrections, to take over Arizona’s troubled prison system. His first day in office will be January 30. azcentral.com/story/news/loc…
Thornell has worked in corrections for more than 18 years. He has a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Cincinnati, and a Doctorate in Political Science from the University of South Dakota.
Governor Hobbs' office said Thornell has experience "reforming a wide variety of adult corrections areas, challenging the status quo and implementing 21st century, normalized corrections practices."
IMPACT: @GovernorHobbs & @AZAGMayes condemn Arizona's "barbaric" practice of inducing the labor of pregnant prisoners, vowing to stop it – AND – @AthenaSalman pledges to introduce a bill protecting the autonomy of incarcerated medical patients. azcentral.com/story/news/loc…
.@GovernorHobbs calls forced inductions "wrong and inhumane."
"The choice of when and how to give birth is deeply personal and that does not change just because someone is incarcerated. The reproductive rights of all women must and will be safeguarded and respected."
@AZAGMayes: "Our office will be working with Governor Hobbs to ensure this barbaric treatment of incarcerated pregnant women does not continue moving forward."
A tipster shared these pictures with me. Apparently prison labor was used to set up the inauguration of Arizona's new governor today at the state capitol in Phoenix. The incarcerated workers were hurried away from the event as volunteers and staff arrived.
Arizona quite literally runs on prison labor, and apparently will continue to do so under the new administration. Our cities and towns are maintained by incarcerated people who are forced to work for pennies a day. Read our @azcentral investigation here: azcentral.com/in-depth/news/…
It's no secret - the current Department of Corrections director told the legislature that Arizona communities would “collapse” without cheap prison labor. azcentral.com/story/news/loc…