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Arizona Prisons
After 15 months of gathering and analyzing more than 11,000 documents and building a computer program that downloaded tens of thousands of public profiles about prisoners that the Arizona Department of Corrections refused to provide, reporters at the Arizona Republic and KJZZ News found that prison labor has become ubiquitous across the state.
→ More Arizona prison news
→ More Arizona prison news
The Arizona Department of Corrections said Tuesday it had been notified that "two inmates have tested positive for COVID-19." The statement said 60 inmates out of a total of more than 42,000 in custody have been tested.
Apr. 7, 2020
Despite Attorney General William Barr ordering the release of some inmates from federal prisons to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, Arizona’s governor and Department of Corrections director say they will not be releasing inmates from state prisons.
→ Department Of Corrections Confirms First Cases Of Coronavirus In State Prisons
→ Department Of Corrections Confirms First Cases Of Coronavirus In State Prisons
Apr. 7, 2020
New COVID-19 testing information for Arizona prisons has been released due to a recent federal court order. The Department of Corrections must now issue weekly reports on how many inmates in state-run prisons have been tested and the results of those tests.
→ Get The Latest News On The Coronavirus
→ Get The Latest News On The Coronavirus
Apr. 4, 2020
The director of the Arizona Department of Corrections has changed a policy for employees, allowing them to wear masks to work in an attempt to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus in state prisons.
Apr. 3, 2020
The health care contractor for the Arizona Department of Corrections has identified approximately 6,600 inmates in state prisons at high risk for contracting the coronavirus, based on their age and underlying medical conditions. But on Tuesday, a spokesperson for Gov. Doug Ducey, Patrick Ptak, said Ducey will not be releasing any inmates to mitigate the spread of the virus.
Apr. 1, 2020
The Arizona Department of Corrections announced a plan Monday to suspend sending people convicted of crimes from county jails to state prisons to mitigate the risks posed by the coronavirus. But the sheriff of Maricopa County says he did not sign on to the plan and is concerned about its implementation.
Mar. 30, 2020
Five incarcerated people who are near death are waiting on Gov. Doug Ducey's signature to be released from the Arizona Department of Corrections. The inmates are hoping for release before the coronavirus enters state prisons.
→ Get The Latest News On The Coronavirus
→ Get The Latest News On The Coronavirus
Mar. 26, 2020
A federal judge has denied an emergency motion that would have required the Arizona Department of Corrections to implement procedures addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mar. 23, 2020
Members of a private Facebook group for Arizona Correctional Officers say the Department of Corrections is selling prison toilet paper to employees at cost during a pandemic that has caused shortages of personal hygiene products.
Mar. 20, 2020
The ACLU of Arizona is asking state and county officials to take steps to reduce the number of people in jails and prisons as the coronavirus pandemic spreads.
Mar. 19, 2020
Under pressure from a federal judge, the Arizona Department of Corrections has changed some of its policies related to health care in state prisons.
Mar. 18, 2020
The Arizona Department of Corrections has canceled in-person visitations for all publicly and privately run-prisons. But there are still ways for families to communicate with loved ones.
Mar. 16, 2020
A federal judge has ordered the Arizona Department of Corrections to submit its plans for preparing and managing the coronavirus in state prisons.
Mar. 16, 2020
Attorneys representing the people incarcerated in state prisons say the Arizona Department of Corrections and its private health care provider, Centurion, are not adequately prepared for a possible coronavirus outbreak.
Mar. 14, 2020
Infectious diseases can spread quickly in the close confines of jails and prisons. The Arizona Department of Corrections says it is in contact with the Arizona Department of Health Services and prepared to handle any cases of the coronavirus in state prisons, should they occur.
Mar. 5, 2020
State and county agencies are still trying to determine the cause of water contamination at a state prison in southern Arizona, four months after the issue was first reported by KJZZ. In October 2019, after inmates in the Douglas prison complained of brown, foul smelling water, the Arizona Department of Corrections confirmed water at the prison had a “noticeable petroleum odor and taste.”
Feb. 20, 2020
The Arizona Department of Corrections is facing millions of dollars in fines each month if it fails to comply with an ongoing settlement agreement over health care in state prisons. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals recently upheld a $1.4 million fine against Arizona over poor prison health care that was first issued in June 2018.
Feb. 6, 2020
Once again, families of inmates living at the Douglas prison say their loved ones are reporting drinking water that smells and tastes like diesel fuel. In October 2019, after inmates in the Douglas prison made similar complaints of brown, foul smelling water, the Arizona Department of Corrections confirmed water at the prison had a “noticeable petroleum odor and taste.”
Jan. 30, 2020
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled against the Arizona Department of Corrections, allowing a $1.4 million fine for poor health care in state prisons to stand. The court handed down a unanimous opinion Wednesday rejecting the Department of Corrections’ appeals of several district court orders in the Parsons vs. Ryan prison health care case. The court handed down a unanimous opinion Wednesday.
Jan. 29, 2020
A high-ranking former Arizona prison health care official has testified about what he calls cruel, dated, insensitive and inhumane conditions in state prisons. Dr. Urdaneta said he quit his job with Corizon in Arizona in May 2019. “I did not want to continue really working within a system that I think was failing in many ways,” he said. “I found the Arizona system very onerous, difficult to work with, misguided and jaded.”
Jan. 23, 2020
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