Amnesty slams "inhuman" Ariz. prisons

A November 2009 file photo of the maximum security facility at the Arizona State Prison in Florence, Ariz. / AP Photo/Matt York

(CBS News) The human rights group Amnesty International is accusing Arizona of housing some prison inmates at the state's maximum-security facilities under conditions constituting "cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, in violation of international law."

The group says in a new report that about two-thirds of the more than 2,900 prisoners at the state's highest security facility - Arizona State Prison Complex (ASPC)-Eyman in Florence, Ariz. - are held in isolation units, also known as Special Management Units (SMU). Prisoners there are confined alone in windowless cells from 22 to 24 hours a day, with little access to natural light, while artificial lighting - controlled by guards - is kept on 24 hours a day. Inmates are granted no work, educational or rehabilitation programs, and even exercise alone in small, enclosed yards, having no association with other prisoners.

Amnesty writes that "In the absence of programs or opportunities for prisoners to engage with others, even in small groups, [we are] concerned that custody officials have few effective or objective means of measuring behavior to assess whether an inmate can be transferred out of SMU."

Many prisoners spend years in such conditions, the group says.

Amnesty says that while the state considers maximum security inmates being those who pose a high institutional security risk, the organization says its research suggests some prisoners confined under solitary conditions do not fit the criteria for such treatment, and that inmates suffering from mental illness or disability may have their conditions worsened by the conditions of their confinement.

The group notes that of the 37 suicides that took place in Arizona's adult prisons between October 2005 and April 2011 (on which information was available), 22 took place in high security isolation units, with the SMU unit accounting for a third.

The effects of isolation conditions can also make it more difficult for individuals to reintegrate into society upon their release.

The report examines isolation units at ASPC-Eyman, as well as similar units at the women's prison at Perryville, and the maximum custody unit at Rincon Minors, which houses male youths ages 14-17 who were tried and convicted as adults.

The report is based on information provided by prisoners and prisoner advocates, current and former prison employees, and the ADOC's own written policies and procedures.

The organization said that Arizona denied requests by the group to tour SMU units at ASPC-Eyman, and refused to meet Amnesty delegates. "As a human rights organization which has visited prisons around the world, Amnesty International is concerned that the department was unwilling to allow it to view the facilities first-hand or to discuss its policies and practice."

Last October the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Torture, Juan Mendez, said solitary confinement is harsh measure which is "contrary to rehabilitation ... and subject to widespread abuse."

Amnesty International says that while it recognizes the segregation of prisoners may be necessary at times to maintain security or enforce discipline, the group says detention conditions must conform to international standards of humane treatment such as Article 10 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Amnesty International is asking the department to make changes to its policies, including:

• reduce the number of prisoners kept in isolation;
• improve living conditions in the SMU and other isolation units;
• remove prisoners with serious mental illness from isolation;
• take measures to reduce suicides in Arizona's prisons; and
• Ban minors (under 18) from being held in solitary confinement.

Bill Lamoreaux, a spokesman for the Corrections Department, told the Associated Press that neither he nor ADOC Director Charles Ryan could comment on the Amnesty report because it references ongoing litigation.

Last month human rights groups asked the United Nations Committee Against Torture to intervene and stop California state prisons' practice of holding inmates in solitary confinement.

Inmates ask U.N. to monitor Calif. prisons

[Emrem128]

A big part of this story is that severely mentally ill people are being inhumanely treated. A few months ago, the news reported the story of a schizophrenic man who was on suicide watch. He asked the guards for a razor and they gave it to him, and watched as he cut himself to death. You have no idea how often things like this go on.
If you believe people must have done something really bad to get in prison, know that this is a blanket statement and often not true. Sheriff Joe is famous for arresting people he doesn't like. And many are young men battling drug addictions who robbed someplace to get money for drugs. Instead of putting these people in a residential treatment facility, they are locked away with hard-core criminals.
As a friend of a reporter who investigated this prison, I was told the torture is so much worse than anyone has any idea, because the prisons monitor themselves and let no one in to investigate. Is this the America we want? No accountability from a huge facility like this? And remember-they do nothing to offer skills or rehabilitate the men. Eventually, they will likely be released. Take away every sense of humanity from them, then we get self-righteous when they come out worse when they came in. Many of the staff in prisons are sadistic and power hungry. A dangerous combination.

[tobysatan3]

Maximum Security Prison - so if you are there, you did something really, really bad!! Excuse me, but these people are CRIMINALS ... why should they have any rights at all? They gave up their rights when they committed their heinous crimes!!! Bad enough I have to pay for them to have a roof over their heads and food in their mouths ..... enough said!!

[liberalmike]

Whether a prisoner of war or of a crime people should not be treated like dogs (and dogs are mistreated all over the world how sad)

I am for animal rights and better treatment also btw!

[vsmit]

We should let the amnesty folks spend time in the prisons, first hand, so they will know what they are talking about.

[phwtb100]

First and foremost, AI needs to understand the term PUNISHMENT. Secondly, it's none of their business.
Third, they are in a HIGH SECURITY prison for a reason.
Forth, at what point in time is AI going to start paying the VICTIMS FAMILIES for the atrocities these animals have committed to land them there in the first place?

If AI doesn't like the way we treat these less than human animals, who have committed the worst crimes imaginable to INNOCENT people, let them open their own prisons OFF U.S. soil. I will be more than happy to buy some one way tickets to move the garbage out of our prisons and into theirs.

[CHL_9mm]

Get US out of UN.

[AOCGUY]

What the heck does the UN have to do with this Article? AI is not a UN agency.

[audemus]

The "Land of the Free," have more of its citizens locked up than any other country on earth. The U.S. has less than 5 % of the world's population, yet it has almost a quarter of the world's prisoners.

[fredrickh]

So there must be virtually no prisons in China, Cuba, North Korea, Russia, and Mexico for this stat to be true.

[audemus]

These statistics are from an article printed in the New York Times by Adam Liptak, published Wednesday, April 23, 2008. Take your "fuzzy math" complaints to him.

[Raptorsmasher]

What would one expect from one of the less intelligent states.

[Havoc70]

Aww Poor babies, PHAQ em, they are there for a reason. Tell the U.N. to get the HE---LL out of the US!

[enlightenu]

Are you saying all AZ convictions are 100% error free? That's amazing! How do they do it?

[CarlT47]

This is exactly the reason why Arizona prisons are run the way they are... wild wild west hang em high condoning abuse, neglect and borderline torture until it is one of their relative or friend and they they cry foul. Human rights must be respected and laws require that to be done regardless of our own personal opinion on incarceration policies. Think about it.. I always think of the victims and their families first and I always think what a tragedy it is to lose someone but once they are sent to prison then accept that as society's punishment and not compound punitive conditions by mistreatment and abusive manners we condemned other countries for in both public and private.

[Mike_in_USA]

AWWWWW They're being treated like prisoners! What a shame. No tv, no cell phone and no 'conjugal' visits. It is tough when you can't get your drugs or whatever.
I don't blame them for denying access to amnesty international.
And wants the U.N. to intervene?
California in this? sounds like A.I. is trolling for funds.

[enlightenu]

None of the items you listed were mentioned in this article.