🚨 Incarcerated people in at least three different units at the Eyman prison in Florence, Arizona are reporting the water is out - looks like the whole complex might be affected - I have reached out to @AZCorrections for more information
It's going to be close to 100 degrees tomorrow and Monday in Florence and most of these guys have "swamp coolers" that use water to keep their housing units somewhat tolerable - not to mention that whole needing drinking water to live thing
More: 10 gallons of water for 100 men to drink, bathe and wash clothes
I correspond with this man regularly at Eyman - He says they've been without running water for 12 hours - the prison is bringing in jugs of water but it's not enough for the more than 5,000 people who live there
The Arizona Department Of Corrections' annual budget is $1.3 Billion:
"We are in a struggle to decide whether to use the water we do get for hygiene, food, or drinking"
People at Eyman say they still haven't been given any updates as to why the water is out or when it will be back (Neither have I ) Basic communication from the Department could prevent so much anxiety and unrest amongst our incarcerated population
If this goes anything like previous instances, I'll get an email tomorrow that says:
Jimmy,
For a brief period of time Saturday the water system at Eyman was taken offline for routine maintenance. Inmates had access to clean water and portable toilets and everything is fine now
Still no update from DOC as to what happened but I'm getting reports from prisoners and families that the water is back on this morning - so that was 24 hours without running water for more than 5,000 incarcerated people - this is a regular occurrence in our prisons
Water outage at Eyman confirmed - This is an email from a Deputy Warden to the prisoners: "There was an issue with the well not filling"
Another incarcerated person at Eyman says a Deputy Warden told them there will be no showers or water for swamp coolers until the issue is resolved
Yet another prisoner describes the impacts of the water outage at Eyman:
"It was a free-for-all to get any water from the jug and of course the tough guys had plenty while the rest of us suffered. I managed to get one more cup all day."
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…