Health Horror Stories
"These stories of health abuse are not independently verified by the editors of this website. However, all of the women have agreed to a HIPPA release to any qualified attorney willing to take their case, or to an investigative reporter from the media."
Why aren’t inmates getting tested as promised by Governor?
NYT: This is the list of side-by-side comparison of countries and states of COVID positively rates-Bahrain, Oman, Qatar….and then Arizona. The Times pointed out that those countries have a large number of migrant workers who live in cramped quarters, with sub-par social services. But somehow Arizona has found itself on the SAME LIST! rate.
So with this high positively, what is taking DOC so darn long to test inmates? We have an email from a member of the Directors Task Force, “Our meeting today with the Director was frustrating because of endless delays in getting universal testing for all inmates. We have another meeting with DHS to get a handle as to why there are so many delays.”
A couple of small bright spots – the inmates have been issued masks (on 7/2) and can get soap without having to endure a search of their cells and possessions (7/10.)
San Carlos Conducts Inspection with Dirty Gloves
In the middle of a pandemic, officers refused to change gloves between inspecting and handling each inmate’s property and linens. After touching 54 other beds/cubbies in ‘A’ Bay an officer said “I’m not going to change gloves, it’s hot and sweaty.”.
He put his germ-laden paws all over my pillow…..where I put my face! Keep in mind that in the recent town hall meeting, the DW and COIVs reiterated that inmates had a RIGHT to request a change in gloves. I’m counting 14 days from today. 7-8-20.
Inmates may have a right to request a glove change, but apparently staff doesn’t have to comply.
The Story as We Heard It
On July 3 we posted that an inmate had died the previous night (read that here.) Since that article, this is what we have been told. Please keep in mind that we cannot verify the completeness or accuracy of the details, however, we promised to follow up with what we learned.
On July 2nd at 9:25pm, multiple witnesses said the victim lay awkwardly on her bed, when –#1– asked her what was wrong, the victim mumbled incoherently, but made out the word water. #1 then tried to give her some water, but the victim could not sit up or control her body movements. At this time #1 ran to the officer #1co, and he called an ICS (emergency) over the radio.
The victim was deteriorating rapidly as the left side of her face drooped down. #1co continued to radio in her symptoms to Main Control as they occurred, nausea, perfuse sweating, clammy to the touch, difficulty breathing, and speaking. Within 5 minutes after calling the ICS, officers #2co and #3 co came running in to assist. After unsuccessfully trying to move the victim to a wheelchair, they found a gurney and #1co lifted her on it. Witnesses all agreed her last words were “so scared”, “can’t breathe”.
A full 40 minutes passed from the initial radio call to the arrival of any medical assistance. The officers couldn’t wait any longer so they took her to Carlos medical to wait for nurses to arrive from Complex. There is no medical personnel on site after 10 pm! Witness #4 stated, “I saw medical staff walking in no hurry from the entrance of Carlos to the medical office.”
A friend of the victim said earlier in the day the victim went to medical complaining of shortness of breath but was turned away. Apparently, this was a two-month struggle for the victim to get help from medical for her symptoms. And now she is silenced forever.
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I was in prison for 17years and have seen so many people die in front of me It’s traumatic and I have PTSD from it. Medical never helped me for my heart problems, never took tests, just told me I have congested heart failure and didn’t do anything for me. I saw it every day. They never helped us, made us always feel like we were lying and would send us away. Making people work in the kitchen who have scoliosis, heart problems, people who have AIDS and Hep C as well as other STDs. There’s rat poop on our kitchen food, birds all over our trays that we eat off of making us all even sicker, black mold everywhere. We can’t breathe in our cells due to all the mold and crud in our walls, vents, and coolers. They are trying to kill us – they don’t care and the money they get for us does not go to us. There is so much more.
I’ve been sexually attacked by the CO police officers twice. I have my whole life to account for in there and I’m surprised I made it out after 17years. They have medium inmates on max yards getting assaulted and they don’t care. They say it is due to no room. They also send you to max yard as punishment without ever getting tickets. It’s all retaliation. They will ruin your life if you don’t do what they want. They make up lies, yep the sergeants, if you refuse to work because you don’t feel good. I heard a Sergeant say “Oh you’re going to hurt yourself” then cuff her up and put her in isolation when the girl never said it. I’ve seen it all, believe that.
Hi Cynthia! I’m not sure if you’ll see this but I am so sorry for what you went through. Thank you for sharing a glimpse of your story. I would love to ask you questions as I am exploring ideas for my doctoral capstone and am interested in issues in the AZ Women’s Prison. Is there any way we could talk further?
That was my friend 😭 she was cool ag and funny. I feel bad I had to leave San Carlos for Cruz. But fck their medical center, the whole prison is fucked up and corrupted. I’ve been out for 8 months now and I still remember everything like yesterday especially with health care. Like can the prison do an upgrade and fix their shit or will more ppl have to die like my friend here? It’s fucked up because I knew she was having a hard time in the beginning getting her shots. We both came from the same county. She wasn’t even a criminal like person. She was fun, bright and very smart, like she could’ve went to college. She had alot planned for herself…damn I love Jowell thank for the laughs and being a loyal friend. Rest in Paradise
Yeah, she was a very cool person to know. She would hug you when she saw you with a big smile. She was always cool to everyone, no hate or anger in her heart but she probably did towards ADOC health employees
I was incarcerated for 9 years and just released March 2024. In 2019, my stomach swelled up and I looked 9 months pregnant. They told me I had impacted stool and had me drink a laxative. The pain got worse, I couldn’t breath or walk and this went on for 2 months. My family contacted the ACLU and prison and finally in February 2020 I was sent to the hospital and diagnosed with Stage 3 Ovarian cancer. I was in the hospital for 10 days and started chemo. I went back to the prison and was expecting chemo every 3 weeks. It took over a 3 weeks for me to get scheduled for my next chemo. In May, I had just came back from chemo and was told I was packing up and being sent to San Carlos. I had to load and unload all of my belongings after a day of chemo and was being transferred to a yard with 1300 women. I then had surgery to remove the cancer in July and once released from the hospital was sent to Maria and put in a cell, by myself with no A/C. I had to move everything by myself and carry a chair out to take a shower. I had an incision from belly button to my pubic bone. Finally after 2 weeks, I was sent back to Carlos. I was told later that I had peritoneal cancer and not ovarian, after I had had a complete hysterectomy. I never had a follow up PET scan to make sure the cancer was gone. In March of 2023, I started seeing a new oncologist, Dr. Benjamin and he finally ordered a PET scan and saw that I had cancer again in the same area of my stomach. I had surgery again in May and started six rounds of chemo. Between the medical Dr’s John and Johnson my medical treatment at the prison was horrible. They didn’t give me anything but Tylenol and Excedrin for the pain and I had to fight to get an extra mattress and extra milk for protein shakes. If I didn’t have my family to support me and stand up for me I would have died. I applied for clemency 2 times and because I wasn’t dying in 3 months, I was refused. Something needs to change with the health system and prison.