Solitary Confinement for Mentally Ill Prisoners in Maricopa County Comes Under Fire
The holding of prisoners with mental illnesses in solitary confinement in Arizona has been controversial for many years. Solitary confinement in Maricopa County, in particular, has come under fire. Articles in the media have highlighted horrendous conditions in Maricopa jails including inmates held in filthy conditions and kept alone for long periods. Last year, Eric […]
ACLU Warns Solitary Confinement Fuels Mental Health Problems in Prison
Solitary confinement is used widely and often indiscriminately in the America prison system. Although placing a prisoner for hours on their own may make life easier for prison staff, this method is often detrimental to inmates. The ACLU has warned solitary confinement fuels mental health problems in prisons. The American Civil Liberties Union highlighted the […]
How ‘Tough-on-Crime’ Initiatives in Arizona Ignore Mental Health
In 2017, the American Civil Liberties Union brought a lawsuit against the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and its former leader, Joe Arpaio, who modeled himself as “America’s toughest sheriff.” The lawsuit claimed tough on crime initiatives followed by the likes of by Arpaio ignored the mental health issues of inmates and even exacerbated them. The […]