After reading this article I noticed that yes, the conditions at the Arizona prison was not at all in regulation and it was highly unsanitary. Though this is true about the prison I would like to point out that nothing was done to change the prison until the lawsuit was filed in 2012 saying that they didn't meet the basic requirements. Therefore, yes it was wrong that the prison was able to do this to the prisoners for this long but shouldn't we be asking how the government didn't have a handle on this sooner if they supposedly control our justice system? Also while I was reading the article I noticed that during the case settled part of the article it said that “state officials agreed to get more money from the Legislature to increase health care staffing” now I think that this whole Arizona prison issue could have been settled had the prison had the correct funding and staffing from the start but again the government hadn’t given the prison enough money to properly function, so if the prison didn’t have enough money to operate properly why were we putting all these prisoners in a prison that should have been shut down until it was properly managed? Lastly the final point I would like to make from this article comes from the other prison controversies section when Ryan had left the inmate outside in the triple digit heat I want to make it known that these occurrences could have been prevented had our prisons or government had a better handle on who they were hiring into our prisons. So, in the end who is to truly blame the people who just wanted the job or the people who allowed that person to have the job. It’s unfair to the people who truly want to work hard at their job and make a difference in the community when people like Ryan are out in the world ruining the name for prison guards all over not every guard or cop or person of law enforcement is going to be that way therefore who’s to truly blame the people or the ones who hired the people. CarlBaconWho456
I agree with you that this whole problem could have been fixed if the government had given the Arizona prisons the correct funding they needed to run a proper jail. I also think that they could have handled who they hired into those positions better and could have used more qualified applicants. I stand by the question that you ask as well why was the state continuing to incarcerate individuals when they can’t take care of the ones they already have in custody. Lastly I agree that the people like Ryan are ruining the reputation of the guards and cops because like you said not every one is going to act like him. NightTrain456
After I read this article I agree with the prisoners that they are indeed receiving cruel and unusual punishment within the Arizona prisons and think the state should have to pay the millions of dollars in fines. Although they are in prisons I think that they deserve to receive their medicine just like they should if they weren’t incarcerated. The fact a lawsuit proved that the medical staff failed to diagnose a patient, as well as make a patient wait two years for a biopsy. I would like to know who is on the staff where they ignore the inmate's request when they know he suffers from depression. After the lawsuit was settled why did the medical staff or guards not face any consequences for not reporting or helping the inmates in need? The fact that this situation is over funding and the prison’s lack of shocks me. These inmates may be release from prison worse off than when they came in. Even after testifying in court these prisoners weren’t treated much better, but just forced to move cells. They were made into an example by making them cellmates with ex gang members with history of violence. With the 2009 incident I don't understand how no charges were filed against him when he placed the prisoner in triple digit heat resulting in the death of the inmate. After that incident how was he allowed to keep his job long enough until 2014 when he left the teacher alone to get raped by a convicted sex offender. If the state would have used the 3 million dollars to properly train the staff and fund the prisons instead of settle the case many of the issues in the article might not have occurred. What I have taken from this article is that how these prisons could allow this to go on for years without taking any actions themselves. NightTrain456
I agree with you on the these facts. There should have been some type of action taken against not only the prison itself but the guards as well. Knowing people that have been in prison and seeing some things just as a visitor I find it very difficult to believe that the states have no clue as to what really happens in these prisons. Although, these prison should be held accountable for the actions of their staff I also believe that in some aspects the states or in some cases the private owners of these prisons should be held accountable as well.
I agree fully with what you are saying that the state of Arizona should pay millions in fines for the damages they caused to the inmates. I also would like to know your question of who is on the staff where they ignore the inmates request when they know he suffers from depression its cruel and unreasonable to sit there and allow these guards and people in the prisons to let this kind of behavior slide and truthfully the prison should have been shut down because of this behavior. I lastly agree that the state should have spent more money to train their staff and make them better people for this job.
I agree with that the prisoners are receiving cruel and unusual punishments and just because they are in prison does not mean that they should not be treated for diseases or depression. Since the prison decided to not help these people out then I think they need to pay fines or pay a retribution to the families of the ones who have died in the prisons care. If we do not stop the problem now then it will continue to grow. Illini456
First, knowing someone that was in the prison system for several years and seeing and hearing some of the things that happen first hand I can say that there are flaws in our prison systems. As for the Arizona prison reading this article shows that not only are the prison in wrong doing but the actions to make them change policies toward inmates is a slow and time consuming process. I feel that even though inmates have created a crime and are serving a punishment they are still human beings and still have basic rights. I do feel that some of the things inmates have and receive are inadequate and could use serious attention, medical and housing being the leading two. I also do understand that each state provides for its own prison system and some states such as Illinois as an example are pressed on a budget and don't always have all the resources they need but they can still provide the essentials needs to inmates. As for Arizona I do believe that they were in the wron and that there was multiple infractions made against the inmates. I also feel that they did drag there feet in the process of making the changes that they agreed to make in the settlement. For that I agree that the prison should have to pay the fines and be forced to make the changes that need to be made or legal action should be taken against the ones that run the prison. As for the the officers themselves and the treatment of the inmates there are times the brute force in a necessary although with that there are right ways to go about it and protocols that should be followed. Over all I feel that the inmates of the Arizona prison are in the right for trying to and in taking legal actions against the prison.
I agree with you on the points you made. Inmates are still people and deserve basic human rights, respect, and availability to treatment no matter their crimes. I also agree that the Arizona prison was in the wrong and needs to be held accountable for what happened to the prisoners in their hands. You pointed out how there are right ways to go about punishing inmates and protocols that need to be taken and I agree, and this article is a great example of how not every employee is following the right protocol.
Reading this article has made me think a little. It makes me think about how many other prisons that are out there that could possibly be just like this one but we don't know about them. Arizona definitely should be held accountable and responsible for anything that is going on inside the prison and its system that they think they have put together. Starting with the Arizona Corrections director Charles Ryan, I believe he should be let go, if he can't do his director job that he gets paid for, then he has no business staying in his position and making things worse for the prison. In 2012 with a lawsuit alleged that the prison didn't meet the basic requirement when it came to medical and mental health care, that it something I still question. I only question it because how does a facility get away with not giving treatment to people that need it. In one case in the article when it says "Another inmate who had a history of prostate cancer had to wait more than two years for a biopsy", I understand things come with a wait time, but waiting two years for medical attention still confuses me on how it can be held out for so long. I don't believe anyone even if they did a crime should have to beg for treatment that they may need. During the case settled, Arizona acknowledged no wrongdoing when they should have just taken blame for their actions and agreed to at least trying to fix problems. Instead they had their personal promises in their eyes and left them over time to be broken promises with the same guy in his position. When Arizona's prison and its inmates that were represented were going back and fourth to court several times to get the court to make the state follow through on its promises, that is something they shouldn't have even had to do. Making the state follow through is like convincing someone but not making them actually do it so in the end its just wasting everyone's time. In 2009 when Ryan was criticized for an inmate who was left out for nearly four hours in a unshaded outdoor holding cell, to his prison officials that were accused of botching a execution, to even having one of Ryan's prison teachers being raped by an inmate should have already lead him out of his position that he holds. He has clearly made poor decisions and to me it just seemed like the more I read the article the more Arizona's prison was going down hill with no chance of being fixed. I understand a prison is not made to be a vacation but a prison is also not made for people to be given cruel and unusual punishment for example being told to pray after begging for help.
Yes, I believe Arizona Corrections Director Charles Ryan should be out of the office if he cannot do his job properly. He made poor decisions for the prison, officials, and inmates and it makes Arizona prison way bad. About the 2012 lawsuit, I wonder how the prison system function when they did not meet the basic requirements for medical and mental health. They acknowledged of no wrongdoing instead of telling what’s wrong and try to fix it. I believe that the Arizona prison should pay the fines for them to learn their lesson, to care about its inmates, and to make proper changes. -M.Scott456
Reading this article has definitely opened my eyes to the unfairness that can hide behind prison walls. Seeing these incidents exposed really makes you wonder what kind of things happen in other prisons that no one ever hears about. In this article it talks about a couple of inmate deaths that could have easily been prevented if the employees of the Arizona prison were more professional and saw their inmates as humans. It's a common trend for prison employees to dehumanize prisoners which can lead to them dismissing important, real issues that the inmates face. In the article it says that there was an inmate who went to staff members because he was suicidal and depressed which later resulted in his death. I think that the facility should be held accountable to some degree for that inmates death along with the death of an inmate who was left outside in scorching heat which resulted in another fatality. That incident proves the lack of care in the Arizona prison, there was no guard watching the prisoners, no one keeping track of how long he was left outside, no employee cared that it was over a hundred degrees and an inmate was left out in the heat. Luckily the article said that staff members were punished to some degree, maybe not punished enough, for that prisoners death. It also concerns me how a prisoner with a history of prostate cancer was told to wait, and waited for an extremely long time, for a biopsy that should have occurred two years sooner than it did. It is relieving to hear that the prison is making changes for the benefit of their inmates, even if it isn't moving as fast as some would hope. Of course, prison isn't meant to be luxurious, it is a place people go for punishment but those people are still human and deserve respect and the option to receive help when it's needed.
I agree with everything you have said in your response to the article. They are being dehumanized and that is wrong. The state should have paid more attention to the prison after multiple law suits were filed against the prison. Cruel and unusual punishment is happening all over the world, not just inside the prisons. This article just comes to show us how little the guards and staff members think of the prisoners. I do think that the prison should have been punished more than what they were for leaving that inmate in triple degree heat, which caused a fatality. -Bears
While reading this article, the first thought that came to my mind was; can prisons not provide health care to the prisoners who need it? I feel like to you cannot deny someone medical and mental care. Why the prisoners are in there should not affect how they are treated when it comes to getting medical and mental care. Health care should always be provided, not just to the older inmates. Prisoners do have rights to a certain extent. The part I do not understand is the lawsuit provided evidence that they ignored an inmate trying to reach out for help once they realized they were suicidal and depressed. You just cannot ignore someone finally reaching out for help. It is not a social norm. And, the fact the prison made a prisoner wait TWO years to receive a biopsy knowing they had history of cancer. How can you leave someone out in triple digit heat and not get in trouble for them passing away? Why wouldn’t the state check up on the prison after the prison promised in court that they would make those changes. I do think the state should have paid the fines and forced the changes to be made sooner rather than later. The guards could play a major part in this situation, but the prison is still at default. If you want to look at it a different way; you could blame it all on the state for not funding the prison enough money to provide the prisoners the things they would need. Due to many lawsuits against the prison and them going to court; I would think they would start to look more in depth of who they hire. I certainly believe that there are other prisons out there like this, but I could be wrong. -Bears456
I enjoyed reading your summary on this article. I had the same thought process while reading this on if they are allowed to deny help that is espically begged for. I still don't know the right answer but I would only hope that someone would possibly denied only due to the poor programs that are placed inside for further assistance. I also agree with how it just doesn't seem right for the Arizona prison to not be held accountable. I question their system because to me it seems like the state is being very lient even though those two work hand in hand together. Arizon's prison should have never made it this far with just the few incidents its had like the deny in medical attention, leaving someone outside in heat that is too high, the prison teacher being raped, or in general ingoring the fact an inmate wanted help after getting to his lowest point being in there. All those examples should fall back on the prison and state itself.
my first thought that came to mind when reading this was also can prisons deny health care to prisoners. apparently they can if it is not enforced. do i think this is right, no i do not in fact i think it is cruel to do such things to people no matter what they have done. they are still people. Thunder456
You are correct, you cannot deny them medical care. It is in the Eighth Amendment that they are obligated to provide it for them. Although, it isn't just because the state didn't provide them with enough money for their needs. It is simply because they didn't do their jobs. Leaving a inmate to die outside results from money? It's because they have a poor mindset on who they work for. Rugby_4
After reading this article, it makes me think what really happens behind the prison walls. I do agree to the prisoners that they are receiving cruel punishment. Yes, the inmates have created a crime and as a punishment, they are behind bars, they are still human and still have the rights. But not giving them the proper medical care they needed was inhumane. I noticed according to the lawsuit that the Arizona prison was not in regulations and I do agree that the state must pay the fines. The fact that the 2012 lawsuit state that the prison didn’t meet the basic requirement to provide medical and mental health proved that the medical staff failed to provide treatment. And does it really required for a patient to begged for treatment? And to wait two years for a biopsy? I wonder does inmate must kill himself for Correction officials to give them attention. After the lawsuit was settled, why did any of the Correction officials and medical staffs who failed to report inmates in needs receive any consequences? I wonder where those funding really goes. I do understand that different state has different laws and how they run their prison system. Going back to court several times for having a slow change after receiving more funding and making promises for the state to follow through its promises is something shouldn’t happen. The court asking the state for its promises, I believe will not happen if the prison has the same person in the position as Arizona Corrections Director. In 2009, Director Ryan was criticized for heat-related death of an inmate who was left in the unshaded outdoor cell during the triple-digit heat. His prison officials were accused of botching an execution and one of his prison teacher who was raped by an inmate should have to get him out of his position. This thing that happened made him be an irresponsible superior and not fit for the position. I understand that inmates are in prison for punishment, and they are still human who need respect and help. -M.Scott456
I do agree that they have commit a crime and is locked up, But as you stated to deny them health care is just cruel and inhumane. I also agree with why weren't any of these medical staff or correction officer didn't receive any consequences. Yes many states have different rules and regulations for the prison to follow. But when it comes to health care that should all be the same. Prisoners should be able to receive health care no matter what they did to get in prison. -latte456
I wonder if Ryan was put into the prisoners shoes, what would he thing of the care that he is receiving. Unfair, un-justice ? everyone should get to die peacefully. Also, whats the policy if you live through the electric chair back in the day? 15 shots is way to much. ThE LEGISLATOR KNEW THAT HE TAMPERED WITH THE INJECTIONS.! All they had to say was opps sorry you keep your job, just Don't handle the euthanization. Something needs to be done more about this prison. everyone needs to be investigated yearly. ~myherseisnotafuneralcar456~
Reading this article really do disturb me. Although I do get the prisoners do deserve to be in prison for being in prison. I do not agree that they should be treated the way they were. They may not be able to get the same health care as someone that is not incarcerated they do deserve enough to keep them healthy. Many people were not only denied health care but they were also denied mental health care. Many people in prison do have mental disabilities that they need professional help with. If they are denied the opportunity to get better how do they expect these prisoners to get better, or to be able to deal with the illness. Mental illness such as depression needs to be treated. I seen in the article that a guy reached out to get help for his depression but he was blatantly ignored and he end up committing suicide. Its situation like these that makes you think about what it is like in prison and makes you ask questions such as. Why did he commit suicide? Why was he denied the help? Could this have been prevented? It makes me think, they pay so much to build a prison and to incarcerated these people. So why in the world are they not able to get the treatment that they need. Many people have died in the Arizona prison which has resulted in many fines and many people losing their jobs.I do not feel bad for the people who are losing their jobs because they allowed this punishment to go on and even at times contributed to it. Anyone that can let someone die and deny them treatment that can possible help them or even save them do not deserve to lose their job. Overall we have many flaws in put prison system that needs to be fixed. Although these inmates did horrible things that you may not want to think they do still deserve basic human rights.- latte456
The actions of Charles Ryan are undeniably heinous, however, we also need to understand what is causing his actions. Ryan has over 35 years of experience in corrections, according to his biography on the Arizona Corrections website. He's well decorated, holding some of the most prestigious awards a civilian can obtain, including the Medal of Valor. I don't think he set out on his career with the goal of torturing convicted criminals. I think that his exposure to the corrections system altered him into what he is. I don't agree with what Charles Ryan has done and is doing, quite the opposite, in fact. However, simply removing Ryan and replacing him with another prestigious corrections officer on the rise isn't going to solve this problem. A reformation of the corrections system within Arizona, and even the United States as a whole is required if we want to prevent the injustices that Ryan is responsible for. Currently, under the Eighth Amendment, prisoners are protected from "cruel and unusual" punishment. The amendment, however, does not define what constitutes "cruel and unusual" punishment. Due to this, much of what defines "cruel and unusual" punishment is left up to case law. Inhumane punishments, in general, may be considered "cruel and unusual" within the discretion of the court. That, in itself, is a problem. Without defined limits on what constitutes "cruel and unusual" punishment and what doesn't, corrections officers are able to treat prisoners how they like, so long as the court sympathizes with the officers. While this may not be the case in this instance, it leaves a loophole open for future Charles Ryans to exploit. All in all, I don't think this is the result of one cruel man, I think this is a societal failure. American society places little interest in the rights of prisoners. Understandably, who wants to give a murderer rights? However, this isn't about what we want, it's about what is just and fair. Convicted criminals are still human beings and deserve better treatment than what is currently occurring.
First off I think a lot of places such as prisons, hospitals , nursing homes and yes even Walmart or very understaffed. Just because the prison is understaffed does not mean that they can treat their prisoners like gum on the bottom of their shoe. Not allowing medical care is a huge no no we all have rights to the emergency room regardless of how much money we have in our pocket. yes, we will bite that bill later on and yes that should be a government funding issue. If we can afford to have people on public welfare (we can't but we make it work.) we can afford some type of insurance for the inmates to be able to receive the proper medical care that they need. Also what bothers me the most is that a rape was allowed against one of their own staff members, they should have been protecting there own just like they should protect the prisoners from rape. If the government can fork out 3 million to settle one rape incident they can fund the proper staffing that is needed. Also the man dying in a cage out side makes me feel sorry for any pets that the guards might have, you wouldn't leave a dog outside or let alone yourself outside, why leave someone outside for that amount of time period? If anything criminal charges should be brought up against the Arizona prison and Ryan. ~Myhearseisnotafuneralcar456~
I really agree with everything you had to say about this article especially about places being understaffed and them not being treated well just because there isnt very many people to take care of one another. And that being held outside is very wrong for that long of time it does remind me of outside animals that have heat strokes because people refuse to get their houses or anything dirty. There should be some sort of punishment for leaving that man outside for that long. -Shark456
After reading this article, the main point is that prisoners deserve the same treatment as the rest of society. It does not matter what they could have done they should still be able to receive health care and mental health care. I think if inmates are willing to try and seek help especially if they are suicidal or battling depression, then they should have the right to get medical attention or help. When inmates start acting differently or their bodies change because of mental problems or they may have a tumor then they deserve the right to go to a medical profession to find out what might be wrong. If an inmate has a family history of some sort of cancer or disease then they should have the right to get a checkup before something serious would happen that could result in their death. When these prisoners came forward this took a lot of guts because they could face an even worse punishment if the court did not agree with them. By saying that this violates their eighth amendment rights is correct because if they were to die in prison from either having depression and killing themselves or if they did not get treatment for a disease that the officers knew about is not right. I feel if this case would have been to court and settled by a judge then maybe prisoners would get more than what they were wanting. Since the prison decided to drag out the changes they say they are going to make then I feel like they need to get someone who knows what they are doing in there to be in charge. If they do not take care of the problem now then they probably never will take care of it and we will see more prisons doing this type of stuff. Illini456
I don't fully agree with your statement that prisoners deserve the same treatment as the rest of our society. I agree that those serving sentences for lesser charges should have many of the freedoms we have here on the outside. By giving these prisoners access to education and rehabilitation, it's possible to prevent them from committing further crimes once they're released. However, those serving time for serious crimes (Murder, Sexual Assault, etc) shouldn't have those same freedoms. I'm not saying that we should just throw them in a cage and forget about them. What I am saying is that they deserve the same basic rights that we do out here (Health Care, Mental Health Care, etc), but maybe not as many of the privileges that we have.
This is more directed to -TheTurk456. My biological father is a sex offender, That being said it as much bitterness i have towards him i wouldn't treat him any less than how I would want to be treated. It's a trust issue that i have with him the most. All prisoners should be treated with respect that they don't get.some prisoners are their who are or could actually be innocent. If a prison staff is going to mistreat, look the other way when things go down they are no better than the said prisoners. ~myhearseisnotafuneralcar456~
After I red this article I concluded that the main point was for prisoners to have good health care. In my opinion I believe that they should be lucky with the little heath care they are receiving now. Yes, they dont receive very many types of medicine but doesn't everyone fight over putting these people away in the first place now they are fighting over giving them better healthcare which i agree in the terms are illnesses that could kill them but in little cold illnesses or simple treatments but most people dont even receive in hospitals outside of the prisons. I understand for families for the prisoners to fight for this right. Which I understand where the settlement is coming from but now because they granted this settlement it could possibly change every prison in the United States that is running the same way for its healthcare. I think that if we keep granting things to prison they might take it as an advantage and possibly ask for more things like better food because the food is making them sick or the cells make them feel claustrophobic. but another reason is that understaffed prisons are also not helping with the medical aspects because if a prison is under staffed then they will focus on more serious crimes happening in the prisons like drugs and objects used for weapons. Yes everyone is going to have their own opinions about them being human and they deserve rights and to be treated the same and not everyone is going to agree with what im saying but yes they deserve rights but I also believe that they are in there for a reason and in the world there are far worse prisons to compare treatment to.
The entire time I read this article I was dumbfounded. Not just because everything in this article is so cruel and it kept happening, but also I thought the state had everything under control and hopefully realized that all inmates are individuals as well. I understand that working in a prison involves working in a harsh environment that have messed up people; and those messed up people committed crimes that made them deserve to be in prison. However, that gives none of the staff to mistreat and take care of their inmates. No matter what inmates have committed, whether it from murder all they down to drugs, they still have rights by law. Prison staff are obligated under the Eighth amendment to provide inmates with adequate medical care. Which means it has to be sufficient enough to keep them healthy; regardless if the health care comes from government employees, or by private medical staff under contractr of the government. Therefore if staff fails to absolute this amendment, plus more then they deserve to be punished themselves. I see many people up in the comments above me saying that the prisons are understaffed, or that they can't focus on their every need, or even that they deserve it. Which isn't right whatsoever. The under staff thing, the state can clearly afford if they are paying millions of dollars for their mistakes. And even if they may deserve it, it still isn't right. Whether there are prisons far worse than this one, or not it does not matter. They have a job to complete and do it correct. It puts a bad reputation on all law enforcement. And my last point is, most of these inmates are going to get out of prison at some point and be put back with our communities. The healthier they are, the healthier we are.
I completely agree with your post, as a system that is built on protecting and serving the United States of America they do not have the right to dehumanize someone and make them feel less of a person just because they messed up. As I stated in my post you never know if someone has a mental problem and maybe that is why they committed the crime they did but making them feel less of a person does not help a person change for the better regardless. swaggyy456
After reading the article it kind of rubbed me a certain kind of way. I agree that any person that breaks the law does not deserve to be on the streets with civilians for safety purposes but at the same time we are all equal humans and no one deserves to be dehumanized which is why we have jails and prisons in the first place in order to stop people from dehumanizing one another. This kind of cruelty does not only happen in Phoenix it happens all over the world which is sad. I am not saying that inmates should get the best healthcare in the world because their are others in the world who do not receive the best healthcare due to financial problems but at the same time they should not have to completely be ignored just because they did not want to act right. My problem with the article is the simple fact that for 5 years the Phoenix prison ignored this right of inmates. I agree that if I had a family member or close friend in prison I would fight for this right because you never truly know someone's story or why they even ended up in jail or prison therefore they could be in there for a petty crime or even because of a mental illness they have so just because some do worse crimes than others that does not mean an entire prison should be ignored fair medical treatment. Another reason why I feel this way is because you go into the criminal justice and law enforcement career to help and protect people so when someone does something wrong why as a system would we want them to suffer medically, in my eyes that is not the systems overall goal and it makes me feel like we fail the people. I agree that not everyone will have the same views as me but I do not agree with dehumanizing anyone and that is why I truly chose to get into the criminal justice field. swaggyy456
I definitely agree with your post, yes a person who obey the laws doesn’t deserve to be around the community but they have equal rights and shouldn’t be dehumanized. Of course everyone makes mistake but no other human shouldn’t make them feel like they're not even a human. Another thing is that the prison overuse their power and I see why you stated that the inmates were dehumanized. Another great point you made in your statement is the financial problem. I totally agree with that as you said you never know what a person go through so in my opinion you have to look at the bigger picture not just based off what crime they did. Overall you state good points in your statement I definitely agree with the dehumanizing part.savage456
I also agree with your post, how Ryan got away with the things he allowed for 5 years is ridiculous and like you said dehumanizing, not only to the prisoners but like the teacher that was left alone with the sex offender and was raped. I understand they are prisoners but like you said they are humans. I also like how you pointed out about how there are prisoners who had done worse crimes then others but that it doesn't mean the whole prison should be ignored for their fair medical treatment.FoxRacing456
While reading this article it made me realize that people will treat anyone any type of way. Not only is it just happening in this state it’s happening all over the United States. When people get a little authority or say so they abuse it. Yes, I agree with you having to do your job but you’re not doing it the way it suppose to be if you abusing the power you have. During this article it was disturbing to me how they treated the prisoners. They need to realize that they’re still humans like them so they should be treated like they are one and just not like they don’t exist nor have rights. I agree that working in prisons can be hard and a lot to deal with but it’s not fair not to give inmates the treatments that they need. Also, I didn’t like the fact that one inmate with the history of prostate cancer had to wait more than two years for a biopsy which if they have history of it they should be checked on regularly instead of waiting. Another thing is, they shouldn’t have to begged to be cured that should be taking care of right away. If, i was in this position stating if a relative or someone I know in this position I’ll be handling this conflict as well and getting what I deserve as a human. Lastly, that got to me in this article is the “changes” that was suppose to happen but didn’t meet the requirements. I believe that they need a better director who know what they doing and getting these problems handle instead of a slow change that’s going to cause more problems. To conclude , I totally disagree with the way the inmates is being treated. Yet, the prison have to realize that they’re still humans as well so they have rights With this being said I hope that they get the medical treatment that they deserve and to be treated like a human being.savage456
By reading this article the Arizona prison is almost to the point of dehumanizing the prisoners that are seeking medical attention. It is unfair that they are not getting the medical attention that Is needed. To me this is very disturbing because some of the things that the prisoners are seeking medical attention for can easily be fixed with the proper medical care and time. It is unfair to the prisoners to be denied the medical support that is needed. For instance, if a prisoner was diabetic is the facility of the prison just going to let that prisoner die? It would take very little time to give someone the small amount of care that they would need for their diabetic problem. Instead these are what I would consider selfish people that are letting people sit and die because they are not getting the proper medical attention that is needed for even the smallest things. To think that these people are asking for help is a big step in the right direction. To think that the Arizona prison is blowing these people off is disgusting. These people are not only reaching out to receive the help that they need, but it is one big accomplishment for someone to even ask for mental help with a mental illness such as depression. There are many prisons out there that I am sure are not treating there inmates how they are supposed to be treated and unfortunately there is not a lot we can do about that but for prisons to not help the people who are asking for help I feel is very wrong and extremely unfair. I understand these people are in there for making bad decisions or doing something very wrong, but no one should be denied medical services or support. -Thunder456
In our judicial system and prison system there are people that have high positions that are responsible for human lives. In this article put out by The Associated Press in August 2017 in Phoenix Arizona, a federal lawsuit follow up on how inmates are cared for or neglected by the prison medical system. The Corrections Director for Arizona, Charles Ryan has several allegations against him because it is his responsibility to ensure proper care for inmates and staff. There are cases such as follows: long delays before getting medical treatment, improper diagnosis, failure to give counseling to an inmate who because of this committed suicide, an inmate being left in a outside cell with no shade who died, a teacher who was left alone with a sex offender and was ended up being raped. These are just a few of the allegations against Ryan, after reading this I can not understand why someone who has failed to fulfill his job task duties is still in the critical position he is in. In my opinion he is giving prisons, the guards, correctional officers, and all other employees a bad reputation and a bad name. The state had settled the case costing a lot of tax payers money for him to be able to keep his job, in my opinion he should have been taken out of his position years ago, and charged in some way.FoxRacing456
I agree with you in every way. I can't believe that Ryan still has the job he has without reprecussions and end termination. It's like he does as he pleases, and he needs to be punished. I would be furious if I was an Arizona tax member who funds such an awful director. How can you support your state when it's known as the state that kills inmates and denies treatment? LowAndSlow456
I totally agree Ryan should not be holding his position when he shows no signs of wanting to change. He has abused his position and needs to be taken down. TJGirl456
I agree with you he should not be in power. They had gave him multiple chances to get his act together, and he continued to do whatever he wants. I think the judges are partly responsible for the issue as well because they had multiple chances to punish him and chose not to. The thing that bothered me the most was the fact that a judge said he supported this man. McBrightyalife456
After reading this article, I was left in disbelief that Arizona's prison system was so poor. Also I feel as if Ryan was neglecting his duties in making sure that the health care met standards. Another point I would like to point out is that instead of actually making changes to improve the health care, it seems like money was thrown at the problem. No matter what any prisoner has done they still have the right to proper medical care. TJGirl456
I agree that even though they are prisoners, they deserve to have proper medical and mental health treatments as anyone else would. It's really sad to know that this is going on in our country. -PizzaLover456
As someone who plans on starting their career in a Federal Prison, I am appalled by the treatment of the prisoners in Arizona. It puts me in disbelief that the US has prisons that are pretty cushy with internet and television access, yet this prison in Arizona cannot even provide proper medical attention and treatment. What blows my mind more than that is that Director Charles Ryan still holds the position he does. Between botching an execution to killing an inmate by leaving him outside to die of a heat stroke, it's as if he has nothing to worry about. If a high ranking official at ICC or any big corporation were to fail as bad as Ryan has, they would be fired. It seems the bigger issue is that Ryan is still the director, and keeps talking his way out of the real trouble he should face, which is job termination. Until he is fired, I cannot forsee anything getting back on track as it should be. LowAndSlow456
I think that the ultimate root of the prison problem in Arizona stems from something of a state wide “get tough on crime” sentiment. Arizona is, after all, the state that produced the rather infamous Joe Arpaio, a man who seems to be entirely devoid of the milk of human kindness as it regards the prisoners of Maricopa County. Not even convicts, but people who are simply jailed and untried, have been shifted to his open air tent city, where temperatures can (and do) easily go above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The man brought back chain gangs, something that I find positively barbaric, though my whole impression of chain gangs stems from Cool Hand Luke, and may not represent the actuality of the situation.
In any case, the whole state’s prison system sounds like it needs a good smack in the back of the head, or it would, if one could smack a wide variety of buildings spread across a large geographic area in the head. These kinds of abuses not only disrespect the inherent dignity of the prisoners, but they also serve to make the United States more vulnerable to criticism from foreign countries, even hypocritical criticism, which will be believed because it seems plausible. That prisoners are denied health care, mental help, and are subjected to botched executions is something more out of an 18th Century gaol than something that ought to be present in the United States now that technology has advanced so far. I rarely use a calendar as an argument: what is true is true, no matter the day, month, or year. However, I hold that prisoners ought to be provided with basic necessities, no matter what century it is, and while they are in the state’s care, they should be cared for by the state. That they fail to do so is a black stain on the government’s reputation.
Before reading your post I hadn't thought about how this would effect how other countries see us and you make a good point there. I think it is important that other countries view us as a country that does punish those who break laws but still treats them with dignity.
I'm amazed that this Charles Ryan has been the director at this prison for so long. It's not like he had a perfect record and then all this stuff happened this year. These are things that happened over time and nothing has been done about it. I understand these people in the prisons are not the best and they do deserve punishment, but obviously there is a line that should not be crossed. That is the whole point of there being a law against cruel and unusual punishment and so I believe this prison and the actions of this director should make an example that we need to keep a closer eye on our prisons to make sure they are being operated properly.
I do not agree with the title or even issue the author said this prison is experiencing. The issue I believe to be at hand with Phoenix Arizona's prison is leadership. I think the system has so many problems and lawsuits because something isn't right with the leadership. The quality of healthcare in that prison is the one of many issues it has. I think the article showed a wide variety of issues ,healthcare being the main one but I think if Ryan is replaced that would do some good. It's a surprise that the state is even allowing this prison to still operate. The comment made by Judge Duecy also showed this state doesn't really care for the safety of their inmates or even employees. If the attorneys were showing this judge hardcore evidence when they stated Ryan was not providing adequate healthcare . The fact that he said it was not accurate, and that he supported Ryan almost indicates me to think he was showing favoritism, and may even know the man that runs the prison on a personal basis. I think there is hands down too many issues in this prison for it to be running. It is an even bigger problem if the enforcer of the law is supporting someone who may be breaking the law.I think this whole article reflects poor leadership in that specific prison, rather than a means for adequate healthcare in Phoenix Arizona. The fact that a teacher got rapped because she was left alone with an inmate, due to the fact that this was normal and guards were being outnumbered by inmates. It almost seems as if something should have been done to see what is going on within those walls. I think the whole prison should be investigated, as well as the past suits, and Judges involved with them as well as their jurisdiction, and relationship with the defendant. My conclusion after reading this article is that this prison is corrupt, and the state isn't doing anything to stop it. I think the only thing that will save this place is a lot of intervention and job replacements. McBrightyalife456
After reading this article, it’s quite sad to see how bad some of these prisoners were and probably still are being mistreated in some way or another. No one should ever be denied medical treatment, that is cruel punishment to make someone suffer for the things that they cannot control. That honestly blows my mind that one of the men in the article had some kind of liver cancer and looked as if he was a pregnant woman and was still denied medical treatment and was not diagnosed properly. Another prisoner had told a prisoner staffer that he was suffering from severe depression and no one took him seriously and he later killed himself. Even prisoners should not be denied medical and mental health treatments. That is extremely unacceptable, those men would not have had to of suffered through that if they had the proper care that they needed. Situations like these particular ones that are stated in the article can and should always be avoided but sadly it seems like it’s a common thing within the prison walls. These are some serious issues that need to be improved because they deserve the necessities of life just as anyone else on this earth does. -PizzaLover456
I've always had strong thoughts on the Federal Bureau of Prisons budget being too high, but after reading this article, it really makes me think twice about how the criminals locked up in prison might be bad people, but even the bad people deserve not to suffer. For one it violates the 8th Amendment in its entirety, and it also adds insult to injury of someone who has, or is going to be serving a long time in prison. Why make someone suffer when they're already suffering being in prison? Maybe population control to decrease prison spending? Either way it goes its non constitutional to give someone a cruel or unusual punishment under any circumstance. As far as state executions go, I believe is just as, or more cruel than not providing healthcare. I am a firm believer in the death penalty under certain circumstances, but making a victim suffer from lethal injection? I'm not on that train. If the injection is done correctly, there is nothing that violates the eighth amendment, but when there's people that tamper with the drugs used in the process it becomes a major violation to the eighth amendment. Outside of the healthcare issue, prison guards in the Arizona facility let power get the best of them. Your job as a prison guard should not be to constantly harass with prisoners, but rather keep order in a passively discipline manor. For example, instead of leaving somebody out in a hundred degree weather for misbehavior, try making the inmate do harder labor inside the prison, or make him miss a meal, but letting him cook alive in the Arizona sun makes you as a guard just as bad, or even worse than any of the inmates that are in prison. With that being said, I believe there is much more justice to be handed out to victims of such sinister acts behind prison walls, and also believe medical attention should be given to anyone in need of it. Arthur123
After reading this article I noticed that yes, the conditions at the Arizona prison was not at all in regulation and it was highly unsanitary. Though this is true about the prison I would like to point out that nothing was done to change the prison until the lawsuit was filed in 2012 saying that they didn't meet the basic requirements. Therefore, yes it was wrong that the prison was able to do this to the prisoners for this long but shouldn't we be asking how the government didn't have a handle on this sooner if they supposedly control our justice system? Also while I was reading the article I noticed that during the case settled part of the article it said that “state officials agreed to get more money from the Legislature to increase health care staffing” now I think that this whole Arizona prison issue could have been settled had the prison had the correct funding and staffing from the start but again the government hadn’t given the prison enough money to properly function, so if the prison didn’t have enough money to operate properly why were we putting all these prisoners in a prison that should have been shut down until it was properly managed? Lastly the final point I would like to make from this article comes from the other prison controversies section when Ryan had left the inmate outside in the triple digit heat I want to make it known that these occurrences could have been prevented had our prisons or government had a better handle on who they were hiring into our prisons. So, in the end who is to truly blame the people who just wanted the job or the people who allowed that person to have the job. It’s unfair to the people who truly want to work hard at their job and make a difference in the community when people like Ryan are out in the world ruining the name for prison guards all over not every guard or cop or person of law enforcement is going to be that way therefore who’s to truly blame the people or the ones who hired the people.
ReplyDeleteCarlBaconWho456
I agree with you that this whole problem could have been fixed if the government had given the Arizona prisons the correct funding they needed to run a proper jail. I also think that they could have handled who they hired into those positions better and could have used more qualified applicants. I stand by the question that you ask as well why was the state continuing to incarcerate individuals when they can’t take care of the ones they already have in custody. Lastly I agree that the people like Ryan are ruining the reputation of the guards and cops because like you said not every one is going to act like him.
DeleteNightTrain456
After I read this article I agree with the prisoners that they are indeed receiving cruel and unusual punishment within the Arizona prisons and think the state should have to pay the millions of dollars in fines. Although they are in prisons I think that they deserve to receive their medicine just like they should if they weren’t incarcerated. The fact a lawsuit proved that the medical staff failed to diagnose a patient, as well as make a patient wait two years for a biopsy. I would like to know who is on the staff where they ignore the inmate's request when they know he suffers from depression. After the lawsuit was settled why did the medical staff or guards not face any consequences for not reporting or helping the inmates in need? The fact that this situation is over funding and the prison’s lack of shocks me. These inmates may be release from prison worse off than when they came in. Even after testifying in court these prisoners weren’t treated much better, but just forced to move cells. They were made into an example by making them cellmates with ex gang members with history of violence. With the 2009 incident I don't understand how no charges were filed against him when he placed the prisoner in triple digit heat resulting in the death of the inmate. After that incident how was he allowed to keep his job long enough until 2014 when he left the teacher alone to get raped by a convicted sex offender. If the state would have used the 3 million dollars to properly train the staff and fund the prisons instead of settle the case many of the issues in the article might not have occurred. What I have taken from this article is that how these prisons could allow this to go on for years without taking any actions themselves.
ReplyDeleteNightTrain456
I agree with you on the these facts. There should have been some type of action taken against not only the prison itself but the guards as well. Knowing people that have been in prison and seeing some things just as a visitor I find it very difficult to believe that the states have no clue as to what really happens in these prisons. Although, these prison should be held accountable for the actions of their staff I also believe that in some aspects the states or in some cases the private owners of these prisons should be held accountable as well.
DeleteCountry456
I agree fully with what you are saying that the state of Arizona should pay millions in fines for the damages they caused to the inmates. I also would like to know your question of who is on the staff where they ignore the inmates request when they know he suffers from depression its cruel and unreasonable to sit there and allow these guards and people in the prisons to let this kind of behavior slide and truthfully the prison should have been shut down because of this behavior. I lastly agree that the state should have spent more money to train their staff and make them better people for this job.
DeleteCarlBaconWho456
I agree with that the prisoners are receiving cruel and unusual punishments and just because they are in prison does not mean that they should not be treated for diseases or depression. Since the prison decided to not help these people out then I think they need to pay fines or pay a retribution to the families of the ones who have died in the prisons care. If we do not stop the problem now then it will continue to grow. Illini456
DeleteFirst, knowing someone that was in the prison system for several years and seeing and hearing some of the things that happen first hand I can say that there are flaws in our prison systems. As for the Arizona prison reading this article shows that not only are the prison in wrong doing but the actions to make them change policies toward inmates is a slow and time consuming process. I feel that even though inmates have created a crime and are serving a punishment they are still human beings and still have basic rights. I do feel that some of the things inmates have and receive are inadequate and could use serious attention, medical and housing being the leading two. I also do understand that each state provides for its own prison system and some states such as Illinois as an example are pressed on a budget and don't always have all the resources they need but they can still provide the essentials needs to inmates. As for Arizona I do believe that they were in the wron and that there was multiple infractions made against the inmates. I also feel that they did drag there feet in the process of making the changes that they agreed to make in the settlement. For that I agree that the prison should have to pay the fines and be forced to make the changes that need to be made or legal action should be taken against the ones that run the prison. As for the the officers themselves and the treatment of the inmates there are times the brute force in a necessary although with that there are right ways to go about it and protocols that should be followed. Over all I feel that the inmates of the Arizona prison are in the right for trying to and in taking legal actions against the prison.
ReplyDeleteCountry456
I agree with you on the points you made. Inmates are still people and deserve basic human rights, respect, and availability to treatment no matter their crimes. I also agree that the Arizona prison was in the wrong and needs to be held accountable for what happened to the prisoners in their hands. You pointed out how there are right ways to go about punishing inmates and protocols that need to be taken and I agree, and this article is a great example of how not every employee is following the right protocol.
DeleteXielxs456
Reading this article has made me think a little. It makes me think about how many other prisons that are out there that could possibly be just like this one but we don't know about them. Arizona definitely should be held accountable and responsible for anything that is going on inside the prison and its system that they think they have put together. Starting with the Arizona Corrections director Charles Ryan, I believe he should be let go, if he can't do his director job that he gets paid for, then he has no business staying in his position and making things worse for the prison. In 2012 with a lawsuit alleged that the prison didn't meet the basic requirement when it came to medical and mental health care, that it something I still question. I only question it because how does a facility get away with not giving treatment to people that need it. In one case in the article when it says "Another inmate who had a history of prostate cancer had to wait more than two years for a biopsy", I understand things come with a wait time, but waiting two years for medical attention still confuses me on how it can be held out for so long. I don't believe anyone even if they did a crime should have to beg for treatment that they may need. During the case settled, Arizona acknowledged no wrongdoing when they should have just taken blame for their actions and agreed to at least trying to fix problems. Instead they had their personal promises in their eyes and left them over time to be broken promises with the same guy in his position. When Arizona's prison and its inmates that were represented were going back and fourth to court several times to get the court to make the state follow through on its promises, that is something they shouldn't have even had to do. Making the state follow through is like convincing someone but not making them actually do it so in the end its just wasting everyone's time. In 2009 when Ryan was criticized for an inmate who was left out for nearly four hours in a unshaded outdoor holding cell, to his prison officials that were accused of botching a execution, to even having one of Ryan's prison teachers being raped by an inmate should have already lead him out of his position that he holds. He has clearly made poor decisions and to me it just seemed like the more I read the article the more Arizona's prison was going down hill with no chance of being fixed.
ReplyDeleteI understand a prison is not made to be a vacation but a prison is also not made for people to be given cruel and unusual punishment for example being told to pray after begging for help.
unknownzeeha456
Yes, I believe Arizona Corrections Director Charles Ryan should be out of the office if he cannot do his job properly. He made poor decisions for the prison, officials, and inmates and it makes Arizona prison way bad. About the 2012 lawsuit, I wonder how the prison system function when they did not meet the basic requirements for medical and mental health. They acknowledged of no wrongdoing instead of telling what’s wrong and try to fix it. I believe that the Arizona prison should pay the fines for them to learn their lesson, to care about its inmates, and to make proper changes. -M.Scott456
DeleteReading this article has definitely opened my eyes to the unfairness that can hide behind prison walls. Seeing these incidents exposed really makes you wonder what kind of things happen in other prisons that no one ever hears about. In this article it talks about a couple of inmate deaths that could have easily been prevented if the employees of the Arizona prison were more professional and saw their inmates as humans. It's a common trend for prison employees to dehumanize prisoners which can lead to them dismissing important, real issues that the inmates face. In the article it says that there was an inmate who went to staff members because he was suicidal and depressed which later resulted in his death. I think that the facility should be held accountable to some degree for that inmates death along with the death of an inmate who was left outside in scorching heat which resulted in another fatality. That incident proves the lack of care in the Arizona prison, there was no guard watching the prisoners, no one keeping track of how long he was left outside, no employee cared that it was over a hundred degrees and an inmate was left out in the heat. Luckily the article said that staff members were punished to some degree, maybe not punished enough, for that prisoners death. It also concerns me how a prisoner with a history of prostate cancer was told to wait, and waited for an extremely long time, for a biopsy that should have occurred two years sooner than it did. It is relieving to hear that the prison is making changes for the benefit of their inmates, even if it isn't moving as fast as some would hope. Of course, prison isn't meant to be luxurious, it is a place people go for punishment but those people are still human and deserve respect and the option to receive help when it's needed.
ReplyDeletexielxs456
I agree with everything you have said in your response to the article. They are being dehumanized and that is wrong. The state should have paid more attention to the prison after multiple law suits were filed against the prison. Cruel and unusual punishment is happening all over the world, not just inside the prisons. This article just comes to show us how little the guards and staff members think of the prisoners. I do think that the prison should have been punished more than what they were for leaving that inmate in triple degree heat, which caused a fatality. -Bears
Delete^^ -Bears456
DeleteWhile reading this article, the first thought that came to my mind was; can prisons not provide health care to the prisoners who need it? I feel like to you cannot deny someone medical and mental care. Why the prisoners are in there should not affect how they are treated when it comes to getting medical and mental care. Health care should always be provided, not just to the older inmates. Prisoners do have rights to a certain extent. The part I do not understand is the lawsuit provided evidence that they ignored an inmate trying to reach out for help once they realized they were suicidal and depressed. You just cannot ignore someone finally reaching out for help. It is not a social norm. And, the fact the prison made a prisoner wait TWO years to receive a biopsy knowing they had history of cancer. How can you leave someone out in triple digit heat and not get in trouble for them passing away? Why wouldn’t the state check up on the prison after the prison promised in court that they would make those changes. I do think the state should have paid the fines and forced the changes to be made sooner rather than later. The guards could play a major part in this situation, but the prison is still at default. If you want to look at it a different way; you could blame it all on the state for not funding the prison enough money to provide the prisoners the things they would need. Due to many lawsuits against the prison and them going to court; I would think they would start to look more in depth of who they hire. I certainly believe that there are other prisons out there like this, but I could be wrong. -Bears456
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your summary on this article. I had the same thought process while reading this on if they are allowed to deny help that is espically begged for. I still don't know the right answer but I would only hope that someone would possibly denied only due to the poor programs that are placed inside for further assistance. I also agree with how it just doesn't seem right for the Arizona prison to not be held accountable. I question their system because to me it seems like the state is being very lient even though those two work hand in hand together. Arizon's prison should have never made it this far with just the few incidents its had like the deny in medical attention, leaving someone outside in heat that is too high, the prison teacher being raped, or in general ingoring the fact an inmate wanted help after getting to his lowest point being in there. All those examples should fall back on the prison and state itself.
Deleteunknownzeeha456
my first thought that came to mind when reading this was also can prisons deny health care to prisoners. apparently they can if it is not enforced. do i think this is right, no i do not in fact i think it is cruel to do such things to people no matter what they have done. they are still people. Thunder456
DeleteYou are correct, you cannot deny them medical care. It is in the Eighth Amendment that they are obligated to provide it for them. Although, it isn't just because the state didn't provide them with enough money for their needs. It is simply because they didn't do their jobs. Leaving a inmate to die outside results from money? It's because they have a poor mindset on who they work for. Rugby_4
DeleteAfter reading this article, it makes me think what really happens behind the prison walls. I do agree to the prisoners that they are receiving cruel punishment. Yes, the inmates have created a crime and as a punishment, they are behind bars, they are still human and still have the rights. But not giving them the proper medical care they needed was inhumane. I noticed according to the lawsuit that the Arizona prison was not in regulations and I do agree that the state must pay the fines. The fact that the 2012 lawsuit state that the prison didn’t meet the basic requirement to provide medical and mental health proved that the medical staff failed to provide treatment. And does it really required for a patient to begged for treatment? And to wait two years for a biopsy? I wonder does inmate must kill himself for Correction officials to give them attention. After the lawsuit was settled, why did any of the Correction officials and medical staffs who failed to report inmates in needs receive any consequences? I wonder where those funding really goes. I do understand that different state has different laws and how they run their prison system. Going back to court several times for having a slow change after receiving more funding and making promises for the state to follow through its promises is something shouldn’t happen. The court asking the state for its promises, I believe will not happen if the prison has the same person in the position as Arizona Corrections Director. In 2009, Director Ryan was criticized for heat-related death of an inmate who was left in the unshaded outdoor cell during the triple-digit heat. His prison officials were accused of botching an execution and one of his prison teacher who was raped by an inmate should have to get him out of his position. This thing that happened made him be an irresponsible superior and not fit for the position. I understand that inmates are in prison for punishment, and they are still human who need respect and help. -M.Scott456
ReplyDeleteI do agree that they have commit a crime and is locked up, But as you stated to deny them health care is just cruel and inhumane. I also agree with why weren't any of these medical staff or correction officer didn't receive any consequences. Yes many states have different rules and regulations for the prison to follow. But when it comes to health care that should all be the same. Prisoners should be able to receive health care no matter what they did to get in prison. -latte456
DeleteI wonder if Ryan was put into the prisoners shoes, what would he thing of the care that he is receiving. Unfair, un-justice ? everyone should get to die peacefully. Also, whats the policy if you live through the electric chair back in the day? 15 shots is way to much. ThE LEGISLATOR KNEW THAT HE TAMPERED WITH THE INJECTIONS.! All they had to say was opps sorry you keep your job, just Don't handle the euthanization. Something needs to be done more about this prison. everyone needs to be investigated yearly. ~myherseisnotafuneralcar456~
DeleteReading this article really do disturb me. Although I do get the prisoners do deserve to be in prison for being in prison. I do not agree that they should be treated the way they were. They may not be able to get the same health care as someone that is not incarcerated they do deserve enough to keep them healthy. Many people were not only denied health care but they were also denied mental health care. Many people in prison do have mental disabilities that they need professional help with. If they are denied the opportunity to get better how do they expect these prisoners to get better, or to be able to deal with the illness. Mental illness such as depression needs to be treated. I seen in the article that a guy reached out to get help for his depression but he was blatantly ignored and he end up committing suicide. Its situation like these that makes you think about what it is like in prison and makes you ask questions such as. Why did he commit suicide? Why was he denied the help? Could this have been prevented? It makes me think, they pay so much to build a prison and to incarcerated these people. So why in the world are they not able to get the treatment that they need. Many people have died in the Arizona prison which has resulted in many fines and many people losing their jobs.I do not feel bad for the people who are losing their jobs because they allowed this punishment to go on and even at times contributed to it. Anyone that can let someone die and deny them treatment that can possible help them or even save them do not deserve to lose their job. Overall we have many flaws in put prison system that needs to be fixed. Although these inmates did horrible things that you may not want to think they do still deserve basic human rights.- latte456
ReplyDeleteThe actions of Charles Ryan are undeniably heinous, however, we also need to understand what is causing his actions. Ryan has over 35 years of experience in corrections, according to his biography on the Arizona Corrections website. He's well decorated, holding some of the most prestigious awards a civilian can obtain, including the Medal of Valor. I don't think he set out on his career with the goal of torturing convicted criminals. I think that his exposure to the corrections system altered him into what he is. I don't agree with what Charles Ryan has done and is doing, quite the opposite, in fact. However, simply removing Ryan and replacing him with another prestigious corrections officer on the rise isn't going to solve this problem. A reformation of the corrections system within Arizona, and even the United States as a whole is required if we want to prevent the injustices that Ryan is responsible for. Currently, under the Eighth Amendment, prisoners are protected from "cruel and unusual" punishment. The amendment, however, does not define what constitutes "cruel and unusual" punishment. Due to this, much of what defines "cruel and unusual" punishment is left up to case law. Inhumane punishments, in general, may be considered "cruel and unusual" within the discretion of the court. That, in itself, is a problem. Without defined limits on what constitutes "cruel and unusual" punishment and what doesn't, corrections officers are able to treat prisoners how they like, so long as the court sympathizes with the officers. While this may not be the case in this instance, it leaves a loophole open for future Charles Ryans to exploit. All in all, I don't think this is the result of one cruel man, I think this is a societal failure. American society places little interest in the rights of prisoners. Understandably, who wants to give a murderer rights? However, this isn't about what we want, it's about what is just and fair. Convicted criminals are still human beings and deserve better treatment than what is currently occurring.
ReplyDelete-TheTurk456
First off I think a lot of places such as prisons, hospitals , nursing homes and yes even Walmart or very understaffed. Just because the prison is understaffed does not mean that they can treat their prisoners like gum on the bottom of their shoe. Not allowing medical care is a huge no no we all have rights to the emergency room regardless of how much money we have in our pocket. yes, we will bite that bill later on and yes that should be a government funding issue. If we can afford to have people on public welfare (we can't but we make it work.) we can afford some type of insurance for the inmates to be able to receive the proper medical care that they need. Also what bothers me the most is that a rape was allowed against one of their own staff members, they should have been protecting there own just like they should protect the prisoners from rape. If the government can fork out 3 million to settle one rape incident they can fund the proper staffing that is needed. Also the man dying in a cage out side makes me feel sorry for any pets that the guards might have, you wouldn't leave a dog outside or let alone yourself outside, why leave someone outside for that amount of time period? If anything criminal charges should be brought up against the Arizona prison and Ryan. ~Myhearseisnotafuneralcar456~
ReplyDeleteI really agree with everything you had to say about this article especially about places being understaffed and them not being treated well just because there isnt very many people to take care of one another. And that being held outside is very wrong for that long of time it does remind me of outside animals that have heat strokes because people refuse to get their houses or anything dirty. There should be some sort of punishment for leaving that man outside for that long.
Delete-Shark456
After reading this article, the main point is that prisoners deserve the same treatment as the rest of society. It does not matter what they could have done they should still be able to receive health care and mental health care. I think if inmates are willing to try and seek help especially if they are suicidal or battling depression, then they should have the right to get medical attention or help. When inmates start acting differently or their bodies change because of mental problems or they may have a tumor then they deserve the right to go to a medical profession to find out what might be wrong. If an inmate has a family history of some sort of cancer or disease then they should have the right to get a checkup before something serious would happen that could result in their death. When these prisoners came forward this took a lot of guts because they could face an even worse punishment if the court did not agree with them. By saying that this violates their eighth amendment rights is correct because if they were to die in prison from either having depression and killing themselves or if they did not get treatment for a disease that the officers knew about is not right. I feel if this case would have been to court and settled by a judge then maybe prisoners would get more than what they were wanting. Since the prison decided to drag out the changes they say they are going to make then I feel like they need to get someone who knows what they are doing in there to be in charge. If they do not take care of the problem now then they probably never will take care of it and we will see more prisons doing this type of stuff. Illini456
ReplyDeleteI don't fully agree with your statement that prisoners deserve the same treatment as the rest of our society. I agree that those serving sentences for lesser charges should have many of the freedoms we have here on the outside. By giving these prisoners access to education and rehabilitation, it's possible to prevent them from committing further crimes once they're released. However, those serving time for serious crimes (Murder, Sexual Assault, etc) shouldn't have those same freedoms. I'm not saying that we should just throw them in a cage and forget about them. What I am saying is that they deserve the same basic rights that we do out here (Health Care, Mental Health Care, etc), but maybe not as many of the privileges that we have.
Delete-TheTurk456
This is more directed to -TheTurk456. My biological father is a sex offender, That being said it as much bitterness i have towards him i wouldn't treat him any less than how I would want to be treated. It's a trust issue that i have with him the most. All prisoners should be treated with respect that they don't get.some prisoners are their who are or could actually be innocent. If a prison staff is going to mistreat, look the other way when things go down they are no better than the said prisoners. ~myhearseisnotafuneralcar456~
DeleteAfter I red this article I concluded that the main point was for prisoners to have good health care. In my opinion I believe that they should be lucky with the little heath care they are receiving now. Yes, they dont receive very many types of medicine but doesn't everyone fight over putting these people away in the first place now they are fighting over giving them better healthcare which i agree in the terms are illnesses that could kill them but in little cold illnesses or simple treatments but most people dont even receive in hospitals outside of the prisons. I understand for families for the prisoners to fight for this right. Which I understand where the settlement is coming from but now because they granted this settlement it could possibly change every prison in the United States that is running the same way for its healthcare. I think that if we keep granting things to prison they might take it as an advantage and possibly ask for more things like better food because the food is making them sick or the cells make them feel claustrophobic. but another reason is that understaffed prisons are also not helping with the medical aspects because if a prison is under staffed then they will focus on more serious crimes happening in the prisons like drugs and objects used for weapons. Yes everyone is going to have their own opinions about them being human and they deserve rights and to be treated the same and not everyone is going to agree with what im saying but yes they deserve rights but I also believe that they are in there for a reason and in the world there are far worse prisons to compare treatment to.
ReplyDelete-Shark456
The entire time I read this article I was dumbfounded. Not just because everything in this article is so cruel and it kept happening, but also I thought the state had everything under control and hopefully realized that all inmates are individuals as well. I understand that working in a prison involves working in a harsh environment that have messed up people; and those messed up people committed crimes that made them deserve to be in prison. However, that gives none of the staff to mistreat and take care of their inmates. No matter what inmates have committed, whether it from murder all they down to drugs, they still have rights by law. Prison staff are obligated under the Eighth amendment to provide inmates with adequate medical care. Which means it has to be sufficient enough to keep them healthy; regardless if the health care comes from government employees, or by private medical staff under contractr of the government. Therefore if staff fails to absolute this amendment, plus more then they deserve to be punished themselves. I see many people up in the comments above me saying that the prisons are understaffed, or that they can't focus on their every need, or even that they deserve it. Which isn't right whatsoever. The under staff thing, the state can clearly afford if they are paying millions of dollars for their mistakes. And even if they may deserve it, it still isn't right. Whether there are prisons far worse than this one, or not it does not matter. They have a job to complete and do it correct. It puts a bad reputation on all law enforcement. And my last point is, most of these inmates are going to get out of prison at some point and be put back with our communities. The healthier they are, the healthier we are.
ReplyDeleteRugby_4
I completely agree with your post, as a system that is built on protecting and serving the United States of America they do not have the right to dehumanize someone and make them feel less of a person just because they messed up. As I stated in my post you never know if someone has a mental problem and maybe that is why they committed the crime they did but making them feel less of a person does not help a person change for the better regardless.
Deleteswaggyy456
After reading the article it kind of rubbed me a certain kind of way. I agree that any person that breaks the law does not deserve to be on the streets with civilians for safety purposes but at the same time we are all equal humans and no one deserves to be dehumanized which is why we have jails and prisons in the first place in order to stop people from dehumanizing one another. This kind of cruelty does not only happen in Phoenix it happens all over the world which is sad. I am not saying that inmates should get the best healthcare in the world because their are others in the world who do not receive the best healthcare due to financial problems but at the same time they should not have to completely be ignored just because they did not want to act right. My problem with the article is the simple fact that for 5 years the Phoenix prison ignored this right of inmates. I agree that if I had a family member or close friend in prison I would fight for this right because you never truly know someone's story or why they even ended up in jail or prison therefore they could be in there for a petty crime or even because of a mental illness they have so just because some do worse crimes than others that does not mean an entire prison should be ignored fair medical treatment. Another reason why I feel this way is because you go into the criminal justice and law enforcement career to help and protect people so when someone does something wrong why as a system would we want them to suffer medically, in my eyes that is not the systems overall goal and it makes me feel like we fail the people. I agree that not everyone will have the same views as me but I do not agree with dehumanizing anyone and that is why I truly chose to get into the criminal justice field. swaggyy456
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with your post, yes a person who obey the laws doesn’t deserve to be around the community but they have equal rights and shouldn’t be dehumanized. Of course everyone makes mistake but no other human shouldn’t make them feel like they're not even a human. Another thing is that the prison overuse their power and I see why you stated that the inmates were dehumanized. Another great point you made in your statement is the financial problem. I totally agree with that as you said you never know what a person go through so in my opinion you have to look at the bigger picture not just based off what crime they did. Overall you state good points in your statement I definitely agree with the dehumanizing part.savage456
DeleteI also agree with your post, how Ryan got away with the things he allowed for 5 years is ridiculous and like you said dehumanizing, not only to the prisoners but like the teacher that was left alone with the sex offender and was raped. I understand they are prisoners but like you said they are humans. I also like how you pointed out about how there are prisoners who had done worse crimes then others but that it doesn't mean the whole prison should be ignored for their fair medical treatment.FoxRacing456
DeleteWhile reading this article it made me realize that people will treat anyone any type of way. Not only is it just happening in this state it’s happening all over the United States. When people get a little authority or say so they abuse it. Yes, I agree with you having to do your job but you’re not doing it the way it suppose to be if you abusing the power you have. During this article it was disturbing to me how they treated the prisoners. They need to realize that they’re still humans like them so they should be treated like they are one and just not like they don’t exist nor have rights. I agree that working in prisons can be hard and a lot to deal with but it’s not fair not to give inmates the treatments that they need. Also, I didn’t like the fact that one inmate with the history of prostate cancer had to wait more than two years for a biopsy which if they have history of it they should be checked on regularly instead of waiting. Another thing is, they shouldn’t have to begged to be cured that should be taking care of right away. If, i was in this position stating if a relative or someone I know in this position I’ll be handling this conflict as well and getting what I deserve as a human. Lastly, that got to me in this article is the “changes” that was suppose to happen but didn’t meet the requirements. I believe that they need a better director who know what they doing and getting these problems handle instead of a slow change that’s going to cause more problems. To conclude , I totally disagree with the way the inmates is being treated. Yet, the prison have to realize that they’re still humans as well so they have rights With this being said I hope that they get the medical treatment that they deserve and to be treated like a human being.savage456
ReplyDeleteBy reading this article the Arizona prison is almost to the point of dehumanizing the prisoners that are seeking medical attention. It is unfair that they are not getting the medical attention that Is needed. To me this is very disturbing because some of the things that the prisoners are seeking medical attention for can easily be fixed with the proper medical care and time. It is unfair to the prisoners to be denied the medical support that is needed. For instance, if a prisoner was diabetic is the facility of the prison just going to let that prisoner die? It would take very little time to give someone the small amount of care that they would need for their diabetic problem. Instead these are what I would consider selfish people that are letting people sit and die because they are not getting the proper medical attention that is needed for even the smallest things. To think that these people are asking for help is a big step in the right direction. To think that the Arizona prison is blowing these people off is disgusting. These people are not only reaching out to receive the help that they need, but it is one big accomplishment for someone to even ask for mental help with a mental illness such as depression. There are many prisons out there that I am sure are not treating there inmates how they are supposed to be treated and unfortunately there is not a lot we can do about that but for prisons to not help the people who are asking for help I feel is very wrong and extremely unfair. I understand these people are in there for making bad decisions or doing something very wrong, but no one should be denied medical services or support. -Thunder456
ReplyDeleteIn our judicial system and prison system there are people that have high positions that are responsible for human lives. In this article put out by The Associated Press in August 2017 in Phoenix Arizona, a federal lawsuit follow up on how inmates are cared for or neglected by the prison medical system. The Corrections Director for Arizona, Charles Ryan has several allegations against him because it is his responsibility to ensure proper care for inmates and staff. There are cases such as follows: long delays before getting medical treatment, improper diagnosis, failure to give counseling to an inmate who because of this committed suicide, an inmate being left in a outside cell with no shade who died, a teacher who was left alone with a sex offender and was ended up being raped. These are just a few of the allegations against Ryan, after reading this I can not understand why someone who has failed to fulfill his job task duties is still in the critical position he is in. In my opinion he is giving prisons, the guards, correctional officers, and all other employees a bad reputation and a bad name. The state had settled the case costing a lot of tax payers money for him to be able to keep his job, in my opinion he should have been taken out of his position years ago, and charged in some way.FoxRacing456
ReplyDeleteI agree with you in every way. I can't believe that Ryan still has the job he has without reprecussions and end termination. It's like he does as he pleases, and he needs to be punished. I would be furious if I was an Arizona tax member who funds such an awful director. How can you support your state when it's known as the state that kills inmates and denies treatment?
DeleteLowAndSlow456
I totally agree Ryan should not be holding his position when he shows no signs of wanting to change. He has abused his position and needs to be taken down.
DeleteTJGirl456
I agree with you he should not be in power. They had gave him multiple chances to get his act together, and he continued to do whatever he wants. I think the judges are partly responsible for the issue as well because they had multiple chances to punish him and chose not to. The thing that bothered me the most was the fact that a judge said he supported this man. McBrightyalife456
DeleteAfter reading this article, I was left in disbelief that Arizona's prison system was so poor. Also I feel as if Ryan was neglecting his duties in making sure that the health care met standards. Another point I would like to point out is that instead of actually making changes to improve the health care, it seems like money was thrown at the problem. No matter what any prisoner has done they still have the right to proper medical care.
ReplyDeleteTJGirl456
I agree that even though they are prisoners, they deserve to have proper medical and mental health treatments as anyone else would. It's really sad to know that this is going on in our country.
Delete-PizzaLover456
As someone who plans on starting their career in a Federal Prison, I am appalled by the treatment of the prisoners in Arizona. It puts me in disbelief that the US has prisons that are pretty cushy with internet and television access, yet this prison in Arizona cannot even provide proper medical attention and treatment. What blows my mind more than that is that Director Charles Ryan still holds the position he does. Between botching an execution to killing an inmate by leaving him outside to die of a heat stroke, it's as if he has nothing to worry about. If a high ranking official at ICC or any big corporation were to fail as bad as Ryan has, they would be fired. It seems the bigger issue is that Ryan is still the director, and keeps talking his way out of the real trouble he should face, which is job termination. Until he is fired, I cannot forsee anything getting back on track as it should be.
ReplyDeleteLowAndSlow456
I think that the ultimate root of the prison problem in Arizona stems from something of a state wide “get tough on crime” sentiment. Arizona is, after all, the state that produced the rather infamous Joe Arpaio, a man who seems to be entirely devoid of the milk of human kindness as it regards the prisoners of Maricopa County. Not even convicts, but people who are simply jailed and untried, have been shifted to his open air tent city, where temperatures can (and do) easily go above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The man brought back chain gangs, something that I find positively barbaric, though my whole impression of chain gangs stems from Cool Hand Luke, and may not represent the actuality of the situation.
ReplyDeleteIn any case, the whole state’s prison system sounds like it needs a good smack in the back of the head, or it would, if one could smack a wide variety of buildings spread across a large geographic area in the head. These kinds of abuses not only disrespect the inherent dignity of the prisoners, but they also serve to make the United States more vulnerable to criticism from foreign countries, even hypocritical criticism, which will be believed because it seems plausible. That prisoners are denied health care, mental help, and are subjected to botched executions is something more out of an 18th Century gaol than something that ought to be present in the United States now that technology has advanced so far. I rarely use a calendar as an argument: what is true is true, no matter the day, month, or year. However, I hold that prisoners ought to be provided with basic necessities, no matter what century it is, and while they are in the state’s care, they should be cared for by the state. That they fail to do so is a black stain on the government’s reputation.
-Arsenal456
Before reading your post I hadn't thought about how this would effect how other countries see us and you make a good point there. I think it is important that other countries view us as a country that does punish those who break laws but still treats them with dignity.
DeleteCoffeeAddict456
I'm amazed that this Charles Ryan has been the director at this prison for so long. It's not like he had a perfect record and then all this stuff happened this year. These are things that happened over time and nothing has been done about it. I understand these people in the prisons are not the best and they do deserve punishment, but obviously there is a line that should not be crossed. That is the whole point of there being a law against cruel and unusual punishment and so I believe this prison and the actions of this director should make an example that we need to keep a closer eye on our prisons to make sure they are being operated properly.
ReplyDeleteCoffeeAddict456
I do not agree with the title or even issue the author said this prison is experiencing. The issue I believe to be at hand with Phoenix Arizona's prison is leadership. I think the system has so many problems and lawsuits because something isn't right with the leadership. The quality of healthcare in that prison is the one of many issues it has. I think the article showed a wide variety of issues ,healthcare being the main one but I think if Ryan is replaced that would do some good. It's a surprise that the state is even allowing this prison to still operate. The comment made by Judge Duecy also showed this state doesn't really care for the safety of their inmates or even employees. If the attorneys were showing this judge hardcore evidence when they stated Ryan was not providing adequate healthcare . The fact that he said it was not accurate, and that he supported Ryan almost indicates me to think he was showing favoritism, and may even know the man that runs the prison on a personal basis. I think there is hands down too many issues in this prison for it to be running. It is an even bigger problem if the enforcer of the law is supporting someone who may be breaking the law.I think this whole article reflects poor leadership in that specific prison, rather than a means for adequate healthcare in Phoenix Arizona. The fact that a teacher got rapped because she was left alone with an inmate, due to the fact that this was normal and guards were being outnumbered by inmates. It almost seems as if something should have been done to see what is going on within those walls. I think the whole prison should be investigated, as well as the past suits, and Judges involved with them as well as their jurisdiction, and relationship with the defendant. My conclusion after reading this article is that this prison is corrupt, and the state isn't doing anything to stop it. I think the only thing that will save this place is a lot of intervention and job replacements. McBrightyalife456
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this article, it’s quite sad to see how bad some of these prisoners were and probably still are being mistreated in some way or another. No one should ever be denied medical treatment, that is cruel punishment to make someone suffer for the things that they cannot control. That honestly blows my mind that one of the men in the article had some kind of liver cancer and looked as if he was a pregnant woman and was still denied medical treatment and was not diagnosed properly. Another prisoner had told a prisoner staffer that he was suffering from severe depression and no one took him seriously and he later killed himself. Even prisoners should not be denied medical and mental health treatments. That is extremely unacceptable, those men would not have had to of suffered through that if they had the proper care that they needed. Situations like these particular ones that are stated in the article can and should always be avoided but sadly it seems like it’s a common thing within the prison walls. These are some serious issues that need to be improved because they deserve the necessities of life just as anyone else on this earth does.
ReplyDelete-PizzaLover456
I've always had strong thoughts on the Federal Bureau of Prisons budget being too high, but after reading this article, it really makes me think twice about how the criminals locked up in prison might be bad people, but even the bad people deserve not to suffer. For one it violates the 8th Amendment in its entirety, and it also adds insult to injury of someone who has, or is going to be serving a long time in prison. Why make someone suffer when they're already suffering being in prison? Maybe population control to decrease prison spending? Either way it goes its non constitutional to give someone a cruel or unusual punishment under any circumstance. As far as state executions go, I believe is just as, or more cruel than not providing healthcare. I am a firm believer in the death penalty under certain circumstances, but making a victim suffer from lethal injection? I'm not on that train. If the injection is done correctly, there is nothing that violates the eighth amendment, but when there's people that tamper with the drugs used in the process it becomes a major violation to the eighth amendment. Outside of the healthcare issue, prison guards in the Arizona facility let power get the best of them. Your job as a prison guard should not be to constantly harass with prisoners, but rather keep order in a passively discipline manor. For example, instead of leaving somebody out in a hundred degree weather for misbehavior, try making the inmate do harder labor inside the prison, or make him miss a meal, but letting him cook alive in the Arizona sun makes you as a guard just as bad, or even worse than any of the inmates that are in prison. With that being said, I believe there is much more justice to be handed out to victims of such sinister acts behind prison walls, and also believe medical attention should be given to anyone in need of it. Arthur123
ReplyDelete