Middle Ground Prison Reform

I try to post a fresh link and reminder about Middle Ground every so often. It's good to consider other perspectives and strategies, and though we have some similar concerns about the prisons and jails, I'm an abolitionist, not a reformer. Anyone interested in what happened with Marcia Powell, some of the history of the ADC, and the position of other prison activists here should visit the website for Middle Ground Prison Reform. They've been around AZ a long time fielding complaints from prisoners and their loved ones, have some good resources on their site, and have been addressing the ADC, the Governor's office, legislators, and the media on the issue of the prisoner abuse in a thoughtful, articulate, professional manner. They're the folks who filed a formal complaint about the cages two years ago, and - as I've referenced elsewhere - Dora Schriro took no action. We agree that she bears a good deal of responsibility for what happened.


As does Janet.



I do hope New York is paying attention, since that's where Schriro's headed to next.

Here's the link to the letter Donna Hamm at Middle Ground wrote Governor Brewer after the abuse report came out last week. It's worth a read. She also gives a synopsis of issues with the prisons arising from Marcia's death that still need to be addressed - these might be helpful. She's more willing to give Director Ryan a chance than I am, but I suspect they know each other better. We don't all sit at the same table. All I want to do at this point is upend it.


That's why we need people like Donna. I count on people in the middle to be there when I push hard from the left, because the process can burn bridges. We do still need a few diplomats. Fortunately, I don't have to be one of them. I even try to keep my distance so as not to reflect badly on them. They are not my co-conspirators; I suspect that I'm seen as something of a loose cannon that blew into town.


Middle Ground has done a lot of important work, and can be a useful resource. If you want a more rounded picture of what's happening here or want to support prison reform in a less radical way, look at what other advocacy strategies are being employed. Not all prison activists are as far left as I am. Check out Middle Ground.

Committal Service for Marcia Powell

(This originates from Donna Leone Hamm at Middle Ground Prison Reform)

Many of you have asked to be notified of the committal service for the cremains of Marcia Powell. The service will take place on Sunday evening, June 28, 2009 at the Shadow Rock United Church of Christ, 12861 North 8th Avenue, Phoenix. (Off Thunderbird Road, South to 8th Avenue), at 6:15 p.m. Sunset is scheduled for 6:50 that day, and we hope to have Marcia in her final resting place at that time. The church phone is: 602 993-0050. Look for parking lot signs directing you to the Festival Garden area.

This special church is recognized for its attention honoring diversity, and to recognition of the uniqueness and greatness of everyone, no matter what their station in life. The FESTIVAL GARDEN is where the columbarium is located. Marcia will be placed at eternal rest in a niche that is located in a setting at the facility that embraces the beauty of the Arizona desert, and the grandeur of the distant mountains.

A brief ceremony will take place, and anyone who wishes to make comments may do so. After final benedictions by Rev. Liana Rowe, Marcia's remains will be placed in a niche for eternal rest. Everyone is welcome to attend.

To preserve the dignity and serenity of the niche wall area, no media cameras will be permitted. Instead, if television media wish to attend, a location off the parking will be designated which provides water and shade, and media may ask attendees as they leave the services if they wish to comment on camera.

Finally, thanks cannot be over-stated with regard to many generous groups and individuals who have made it possible for Marcia to be treated in death with the dignity and respect she was not shown in life. I will probably forget many people, but special thanks go to Encanto Community Church; Shadow Rock United Church of Christ, Hansen's Mortuary, the office of the Maricopa County Public Fudiciary, and all the individuals in the community who have come together to grieve over the tragic, avoidable death of one of our most frail members.

If you have any questions prior to June 28th, please feel free to contact Middle Ground Prison Reform at this e-mail address: middlegroundprisonreform@msn.com

Finding Governor Brewer.

FYI: I'll be out of town myself, but here is the link to the Governor's schedule for the week of June 8. Presumably she'll be in budget negotiations otherwise.

Also, the official Senate Appropriations Committee Meeting is tomorrow (Tuesday, June 9) at 1:30pm in SHR109.

Check Middle Ground Prison Reform's website for budget updates the next couple of weeks; they seem very involved in the process.

Please post a correction if you have any news or information I missed.

Memorial Service and donations info.

I just came across this post in the Phoenix New Times by the Feathered Bastard(?), Stephen Lemons. A number of activists and community members are organizing a memorial service for Marcia, to be held this Saturday, May 30, at noon at Encanto Community Church, 2710 North 7th Avenue. People wanting to help defray the cost of Marcia's cremation or support some awesome advocacy work can send donations to Middle Ground Prison Reform. Please mark any donations with a note indicating "for Marcia Powell".

Phoenix New Times would be worth checking out for their other articles about Marcia as well. Yeah, no kidding. Check them out here. They dug up some interesting stuff about ADC Director (interim director?) Ryan's Abu Ghraib connections, and are none too subtle implying he crossed a line by pulling Marcia's plug when he did. I always wonder if we would be so quick to do that to someone who's life had some kind of redeeming value, in the eyes of the market. Once on life support she could have vegetated for years. Or she could have recovered...

The Scoop from Montini

Shortly after my last post I found Ed Montini's column today in the AZ Republic, a paper I otherwise seldom read. It's useful insofar as he filled in some blanks about Marcia's history, pointed to some of the failures in our system, and articulated outrage that our community expressed more distress and anger about the death of a police dog at Perryville (scroll halfway down the linked page for Rik's story) under similar environmental conditions than about Marcia Powell's life or death.

I have other thoughts on the language of the article, but am for the most part relieved to see it, and to see how many writers responded with empathy and outrage, rather than the usual absurd flippant remarks (don't even bother looking at the Fox News reader comments...I just needed to see who was out there). I'd echo Montini's call for citizens to contact the Governor and demand an independent investigation. Contact your legislators too - especially if they're Republicans.

A final note on Montini's comments: According to Donna Leone Hamm of Middle Ground Prison Reform, she tried to talk to the press and ADC in 2007 about the practice of caging prisoners outside - no one was interested because no one had yet died (though such deaths have occurred in other prisons). Let's make sure that Marcia counts as someone whose life was at least as important as Rik the dog's.