Report card on Arizona prisons ~ my perspective

Arizona Prisons, Too Little, Too Late

A Report Card

 

By Carl R. ToersBijns, former deputy warden, ASPC Eyman

 

Introduction – This report card is used for the purpose of evaluating and documenting information collected in local media streams with the sole purpose of providing guidance and support to those advocating better, safer and less costly prisons inside Arizona. Arizona spends more than $ 1 billion dollars on prison management in the past fiscal years and continues to ask for additional funding to keep their agency afloat.

 

Background – The opinions expressed in this report are those of its author and takes into consideration that most data received or collected is anecdotal in nature and may be personal or subjective based on inferences or cultural insights.

 

Overview – This overview is based on rational conclusions acquired and gained a period of time working inside southwest prisons and throughout the approximately thirty years in law enforcement having the experience of working the Arizona prisons for five years and working another twenty years in the New Mexico prisons offering a valid southwest cultural viewpoint on how prisons are management in this part of the country.

 

Report Card – In January, 2009, a new agency director was appointed by then governor Janice K. Brewer. His appointment was interim and pending permanent appointment and approval by the Legislature. Between the years 2004 and 2009, the Arizona prison system was under the directorship of Dora Schriro, a progressive liberal minded individual who focused on inmate programming and education priorities.

 

Mr. Schriro started a new trend in Arizona by promoting self-help programs, therapeutic environment conditions for the mentally ill and expanded the inmate employment program to the point where there was between 79 % to 84 % of the inmate gainfully employed or going to school.

 

This report card will document the progress made since her departure in January 2009, and the arrival of a new director, Charles L. Ryan, a former Arizona corrections official who had returned from tenure with the federal government and assigned in an official capacity at the Abu Ghraib Iraqi prison to train and develop prison programs for that country.

 

 

Summary of Findings – The prevalence of mismanagement complaints about public prisons inside Arizona has made the headlines now for more than three years. These events are well documented and warrant research and analysis by those responsible for public safety and the preservation of civil rights inside Arizona.

 

The reader should focus on the number of staff assaults that have occurred, the number of “natural deaths” reported, the number of suicides committed within the last two years and the flawed delivery of medical and mental health services that are neglected and delayed raising an awareness issue of known cases of communicable diseases, chronic illnesses and other sanitation and health conditions that may impact the communities when prisoners are released,

 

Government’s Response – There have been no significant, positive developments to report since the arrival of Charles L. Ryan as director. Although it appears he might have implemented a number of strategically goals and objectives within his five year plan, they have not made any noteworthy impact through these initiatives and leave much of these problems status quo for the time being.

 

It is clear that government has failed to provide the resources, leadership and vision necessary to address in a comprehensive and progressive manner those issues raised by their own investigative reports, and those by the media or advocacy groups vocal about changing the manner prisons are being operated.

 

There appears to be a lack of coordination and harmonization between this agency and those assigned required services according to the rule of law and internal policies and procedures. As a result, the standards of care related to custodial and healthcare available to prisoners varies between failing and barely meeting minimum requirements per law, standards and contractual obligations.

 

Conclusion – Prison systems have a moral, but also a legal responsibility to act without further delay to address these urgent issues reported and known to be deficient in nature or operation. Today, the government continues to fail to meet its responsibilities for public safety, staff safety and prisoner related safety issues.

There are few positive developments that have occurred since 2009 but the government is clearly not doing all they can do in the matters presented in this report card. It comes down to the quality of leadership within this agency that will make the difference between meeting its moral and legal obligations to the public and do much more to improve the current conditions as they stand.

 

Staff Issues – Cumulative Grade – F

 

Since January, 2009, the number of staff:

 

• resignations have increased
• disciplinary actions have increased
• grievances have increased
• assaults have increased

 

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• manpower resources have decreased
• availability on shift have decreased
• training quality has decreased
• protective measures for staff decreased
• morale has decreased

 

Security Issues – Cumulative Grade – D

 

Since January 2009, the number of:

• escapes or escape attempts have increased
• inmate assaults have increased
• double bunking of prisoners in all custody levels has increased
• hostage situations have increased
• disturbances have increased
• contraband found has increased
• drug related violence has increased
• gang related violence has increased
• prisoners housed in max custody has increased

 

Prison Self- Improvement Skill issues – Cumulative Grade – F

 

Since January, 2009, prisoner:

·        educational programs have decreased

·        vocational programs have decreased

·        employment opportunities have decreased

 

Prison Medical / Dental / Mental Issue – Cumulative Grade – F

 

Since January, 2009, prison health:

 

• medical treatment delays have increased
• medical community health risks have increased
• medical communicable/infectious diseases have increased
• medical services for the geriatric elderly has increased
• medical related “natural deaths” have increased
• medical related mistakes e.g. needle control have increased
• medical use of out-of-date medication has increased

 

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• medical priorities have decreased
• medical education/prevention on infectious diseases has decreased
• medical education of drugs or substance abuse have decreased
• medical staffing has decreased
• medical treatment has decreased
• medical prescription drugs have decreased
• medical referrals have decreased
• medical appointments have decreased

 

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• dental priorities have decreased
• dental services have decreased
• dental appointments have decreased

 

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• mental illness population has increased
• mental illness housing in solitary confinement has increased
• mental illness related suicides have increased
• mental illness housing in general population has increased

 

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• mental illness services have decreased
• mental illness treatment has decreased
• mental illness prescriptions have decreased
• mental illness cultural sensitivity has decreased
• mental illness segregation has decreased