Legal Commentary

AZ Halts Prison Policy After Inmate Death

By Jeralyn

Marcia Powell, a mentally ill prostitute and drug addict, was in prison awaiting transfer to a psychiatric facility. Prison officials kept her outdoors in an unshaded cage for 4 hours in 107 degree heat. She died.

At least, it won't happen again.

Charles L. Ryan, the department's director, ordered the temporary suspension last week after the death of Marcia Powell at Arizona State Prison Complex-Perryville. Powell, 48, died of heat-related causes after spending four hours in temperatures that reached 107.5 degrees.

Powell's death has led to the suspension of three prison officials and a criminal investigation into their conduct.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on May 30, 2009 (boomark / email).