Private Prisons Profits

October 1, 2011

In Arizona, prison profiteers have embedded themselves within the capital and have been influencing our elected state officials. Influencing laws that go before lawmakers and whether they pass. Influence that contributes to the historic budget crisis significantly going on in Arizona.

Duly elected by Arizona voters to represent them, create & enact laws for them and govern, State legislators and the governor are in highly important and trusted public office positions. Additionally, the governor appoints/hires other to closely work in the official and political campaign offices.

Arizona Governor Janice Brewer's close ties to the private prison industry were revealed in an October 28, 2010 investigation by the National Public Radio (NPR), as well as Arizona State Senator, Senate President Russell Pearce and a number of other state lawmakers.

Gov. Brewer's staff of lobbyists and former lobbyists have been allowed to shape our laws and control decisions that affect the lives of countless Arizonians.

Brewer's staff of special interest lobbyists run the show, while Arizona and its citizens suffer the consequences. Schools, teachers, students, the sick, disturbed and dying. Everybody and everything most of us were taught to care for and protect has been suffering the most. Brewer's staff are just a few lobbying quietly behind the scenes with ties to private prisons:

Chuck Coughlin, Brewer's campaign manager: Registered Lobbyist, President of Highground Public Affairs Consultants (who has represented Corrections Corporation of America-CCA)

Doug Cole, Brewer's campaign spokesman: Registered Lobbyist for Highground

Paul Senseman, Brewer's communications director: Former Lobbyist for Private Prison

Eileen Klein, Brewer's chief of staff: Former Lobbyist

Mark Genrich, Brewer's deputy communications director: Registered Lobbyist

Richard Bark, Brewer's deputy chief of staff: Former Lobbyist

Kevin Kinsall, Brewer's policy advisor: Former Lobbyist

Revealed in the wake of 3 Arizona Dept. of Corrections prisoners' escape from a CCA facility in Kingman, AZ and brutal murder of an elderly couple, Arizona's use of private prisons was not cheaper, nor safer. Yet, the Governor, legislators and ADOC continue to pursue the use of private prisons in Arizona.

One of Arizona's most controversial pieces of legislation that ignited fiery protests felt around the world was quietly drafted and passed from behind the scenes with the help of an industry that stood to benefit from it: the private prison industry. Senate Bill 1070 was the legislation.

Requiring police to lock up anyone they stop who cannot show proof that they entered the country legally, private prisons potentially could receive hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants, meaning hundreds of millions of dollars in profits to private prison companies. It's no surprise that the private prison industry was involved in the drafting of and passing of SB 1070.

Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce, the self proclaimed creator of SB 1070, said that it's not about prisons, but what's best for the country. It's hard for most of us to believe Sen. Pearce on this, but even if his intentions weren't about money, appeasing his silent constituents (Big Business) or his racism, he has failed to show how this legislation is what's best for us as a country, rather than harmful. Strangely, Sen. Pearce took his "idea" first to a hotel conference room, instead of the Arizona statehouse floor.

In December, inside the Grand Hyatt in Washington, DC, there was a meeting of a secretive group called the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). A membership organization of State legislators and powerful corporations and associations, there are numerous political players from Arizona that are members. Arizona State Senator, and Senate President Russell Pearce is just one. One of many. Tobacco giant Reynolds American Inc., Exxonmobil and the National Rifle Association are a few other members. Another member is the billion-dollar company, CCA. The largest private prison company in the country. ALEC member companies and organizations seem to have influence in the halls of the Arizona capital and legislative chambers. Or is it coincidence that they have seen laws adverse to them defeated and favorable passed?

"I did a presentation...went through the facts. I went through the impacts and they said, 'Yeah'." Pearse said about this presentation at the ALEC meeting of his immigration "idea". Sen. Pearce and CCA had been going to these meetings for years and both have seats on one of several ALEC boards.

According to CCA reports reviewed by NPR, during their investigations, executives believe immigrant detention is CCA's next big market. Expecting it to bring in a significant portion of their revenues from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

During the meeting, the group decided to turn Pearce's "idea" into a "model" legislative bill. Discussing and debating the appropriate language, they then voted on it. "There were no 'no' votes...never had one person speak up in objection to this model legislation." Pearce said.

About 4 months later, the model legislation became, almost verbatim, Arizona's immigration law. They named it the "Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act."

According to Michael Hough, ALEC's Staff director of the December meeting, "ALEC is the conservative, free-market oriented, limited government group," Mr. Hough was also running for State delegate in Maryland and said if elected he plans to support similar law to Arizona's SB 1070. When asked if private companies usually get to write model bills for the legislators, Mr. Hough responded, "Yeah, that's the way it's set up...businesses and lawmakers should be at the same table, together."

Arizona Sen. Pearce claimed he wasn't concerned that it could appear private prison companies have an opportunity to lobby for legislation at the ALEC meetings, and claims to go to meet with other legislators and not private prison companies. That may be so, but there are 200 private companies paying tens of thousands of dollars to meet with legislators, like Sen. Pearce, at these meetings.

When Pearce's bill hit the statehouse floor in January back in Phoenix, ALEC's influence was apparent too. Thirty six co-sponsors signed on. A number nearly unheard of in the capital. Revealed in NPR's investigations, two-thirds of them were also ALEC members or also attended the December meeting. The same week, CCA hired a powerful new lobbyist to work the AZ capital. CCA denied it has ever lobbied, nor had any outside consultants lobby on immigration law. CCA denies its lobbying on various issues relating to AZ laws, despite evidence indicating otherwise.

AZ politicians have received campaign donations from prison lobbyists and prison companies. 30 of the 36 co-sponsors of SB 1070 received donations over 6 months preceding the co-sponsoring. CCA, Management and Training Corp. and The Geo Group. SB 1070 hit the Governor's desk by April.

Gov. Brewer's own connections to private prison companies were already there. Brewer signed Senate Bill 1070, with the name Pearce, CCA and the others at the Hyatt gave it.

Within 60 days of Gov. Brewer signing SB 1070 into law, CCA and the Geo Group donated a combined $87,500 to the Republican Governor's Association (RGA). RGA has put significant resources into AZ to help elect Brewer.

Althoug SB 1070 continues to be challenged in courts, private prison companies are still capitalizing in Arizona. AZ lawmakerts authorized the ADOC to pay for 5,000 more private prison beds. Private prison companies submitted their bids on the contract from all over. The top three finalists for this contract worth millions of dollars? CCA, The Geo Group and Management and Training Corp. Yes, and if you find that disturbing, you'll find it even more disturbing to learn that even though 3 inmates escaped from a CA facility in Kingman AZ and murdered an elderly couple, as a result of security lapses, poor supervision and other failures by CCA staff, CCA was still a top finalist in the bid to get the contract. No company has been awarded the contract yet, but it's expected to be announced soon.

Sources: NPR; azdem.org ; Arizona Republic.

Counting Anxiously

September 27, 2011

In less than seven months, I will be a free man. The day is getting near when I'll walk out of these gates and sigh a sigh of relief that its over and I'm on my way home. Home, where I'll walk around barefoot on my carpet. No more concrete floors beneath cheap flip flops. Home, where I watch what I want to watch on my tv. Home, where I can eat anything I choose at any time. Home, where I can pick up my phone and talk to my friends and family at any reasonable hour. Home, where I can feed birds in My yard, rather than sweat in the barren recreation yard waiting 2 hours to get off of it and into dorm. Yeah, I'm getting anxious to go home and live my life.

That is unless I make it home and there's somebody special waiting for me. Because let's face the fact guys...if you've got a woman you love in your life, she runs the show and simply lets you think you're in charge. LOL. I'm totally cool with that though. To be honest, I need some supervision when I get out, while I re acclimate myself with freedom. Until I'm back in the groove of society, I'll just act like I know where I'm going, what I'm doing and that I'm in charge. Hopefully my sweetheart will take pity on me and try to keep me near. However, my sister, niece and best bud Tony and his family will need to truly teach us and keep us both near. I'm certain they'll all be just a call away and ready to help. Everybody keep in mind that I'll have been in prison for nearly 10 years, so no laughing at me getting lost, being unable to work certain electronics/phones/pcs/etc, or things like that and don't be surprised if my woman, Ms. L, and I need your help often. Ms. L is a lot like me and you all know me...I'll try to do it, then ask how if I can't figure it out. No worries though...It's 100% legal for me, including driver's license, insurance and every other little rule and regulation. I won't take my shortcuts that'll jeopardize my freedom or loosing my wonderful woman. Although she's a fan of my blog, she's even more a fan of me, so I must leave her only as Ms. L, until she chooses to introduce herself. Unfortunately for you readers, she loves her privacy and I love her, so you'll have to wait and see. (Shhh...in time I'll have her joining in with our communicating. She'll come to the dark side of the blog! LOL)

I'm not entirely sure what the plans are for my first couple of days out. I know for sure that immediately upon walking out the gates I want to see my big sis, the lovely Ms L and my best friend Tony. Who picks me up is still uncertain. No matter what, these three people I want to see the day I am released. I'd add my friend Sue to that list but she isn't from Arizona, but she did promise me a visit after I'm out and I promised her that I'd show her the beauty of Sedona and elsewhere in Arizona. I'm hoping that within a month or so after my release I'll have all of my closest friends here to visit.

Aside from that fact that I want to get on with my life and be a happy, successful and free man, I want to show all of my friends and family that I made it and with their support. I want that normalcy and everyday joe kind of life in rural America. With a wee bit of funky stuff and good times mixed in. You know...lava lamps in my new house will be a start and all of that nature, nearby creek and lakes to fish in and take relaxing walks. Yeah, I bought a house where some people retire to, but I'll be just starting out there.

Well, I'm counting down the days, and preparing. BTW, I submitted my release information packet last week. That's when it really hit me that I'm really going home soon.

L&R,
Shannon

Prison Reform & Inmate Rights

September 19, 2011

The names Donna Leone Hamm and James J. Hamm have become synonymous with prison reform and prisoner rights advocacy in Arizona. As executive director of Middle Ground Prison Reform, Mrs. Hamm has been on the frontlines of the battle for reform in Arizona's criminal Justice System and inmates rights for nearly a quarter of a century.

Middle Ground Prison Reform has in the past handled all sorts of issues related to prison and prisoners. Recently, Middle Ground has taken a stand against two new policies lawmakers approved earlier this year that was intended to generate money for prison building maintenance and repair.

Since July 2011, the ADOC has been charging a $25 background check fee for most adults applying to be able to visit an inmate in ADOC. In addition, ADOC has been collecting 1 percent of any deposit made to an inmates' prison account. The money, earmarked for the building maintenance & repair fund, is not being used to pay for the background checks or costs of running the inmate banking system. The fees amount to an unconstitutional tax levied on prisoners and family & friends of prisoners only. Because taxpayers already pay for the general maintenance & repair of all ADOC buildings, the $25 seems to be a double taxation to me for those loved ones in ADOC. In addition to these two sources, the new building maintenance and repair fund also receives money from other ADOC account reserved for other purposes, such as the Arts and Recreation Fund. I suspect that some of these ADOC funds that feed the new building maintenance & repair fund is not able to be appropriated by lawmakers. However, this new fund created is.

Middle Ground Prison Reform is helping to right these wrongs. I ask everybody with a loved one in ADOC to visit Middle Ground's website and explore. You can also download and print a copy of the lawsuit. It's on the homepage partway down in pdf format (21 pages),
www.middlegroundprisonreform.org.

Middle Ground can also be contacted at:
James and Donna Hamm
Middle Ground Prison Reform
139 East Encanto Drive
Tempe, AZ 85281
(480) 966-8116
donnaleonehamm@yahoo.com
middlegroundprisonreform@msn.com

Squirrel!!!

August 26, 2011

On 8/18/11, I was transferred to Barchey Unit. A medium security yard at Lewis complex. The reason behind the move was not given to me, but I'm certain that it was caused by CO IV Goins.

Goins is an African American guy whose pompousness and ignorance outshine his professionalism. Rumored to have sued this way to his current position within ADOC, Goins walks the yard spinning lies, instigating drama and deepening the dislike for him that prisoners and staff have. In addition to petty annoyances that could be attributed to his personality, Mr. Goins also had a few quite serious quirks. Two of which were his outspoken prejudice and brash attitude towards drug addicts. My own shortness with people like Goins contributed to my demise as a minimum security inmate on Eagle Point Unit.

Despite the fact that the Deputy Warden, two COIII's, COIV and Central Office authorizing me to stay a minimum security inmate on Eagle Point Unit, it's apparent that Goins has used the "Morphine Incident" to harass me, make accusations against me of illegal activities, and get me moved off of the unit.

Some may ask why he would single me out. There are multiple reasons, but to be honest I don't know his true reasons.

Since his arrival on Eagle Point, Goins had complained to me numerous times about my blog writing and "warned" me more than once about the contents of what I write. I've also spent time and money starting and keeping alive a program he has been trying to put an end to. The arts and crafts program. There are many reasons I could guess why he targeted me, but I won't. I don't care what his reasons are. I go home in mere months to live my life, be happy and leave all of this behind me.

I'm doing well here and continue to ready myself for my new life.

Oh yeah, upon packing my things for the move, the CO's found my cellmate's two round tail ground squirrels. I'll miss them.

Shannon has moved...

September 4, 2011

Hello readers:

Shannon has been moved to another unit in the prison system and hasn't communicated with me until now. He sent a brief postcard communication requesting I post his new address for you all and assures me he will be sending a blog post soon providing a detailed explanation regarding the move which apparently relates to his last post.

The new mailing address:
Shannon Clark 113372
ASPC-Lewis
Barchey Unit
PO Box 3200
Buckeye, AZ 85326

Sincerely,
Sue O, Blog Administrator

Disciplinary

July 26, 2011

It's been a while since I've posted. I've gotten myself into trouble. I've been beating myself up a bit over it, but I'm moving forward again. Lesson learned.

For about a year now I've been fighting with ADOC's medical staff. I was diagnosed with systemic Lupus about a year ago. I have no idea what this is or what this means. I do know that my knees and fingers hurt. Sometimes the pain is bad. I've grieved my lack of medical care and repeatedly asked to receive pain relief. I've only received 6 days of some medication that did nothing for the pain.

Some time in May, I screwed up and chose to take a Morphine tablet, for my pain. I got UA'ed shortly after I took it. Dirty! I admitted I self-medicated. Days later I was asked to UA again. Having taken a 60 mg Morphine tablet I told the CO I'd still be dirty. I was again written up. Self admitting to possessing Morphine! Guilty, and disciplined again. I lost a month of good time and other disciplinary sanctions. I screwed up. I've passed a UA recently, am not taking other inmates meds any longer and am waiting for medical care. I'm still in pain, but I will continue to endure. I have exhausted my administrative remedies and will sue ADOC for their callous disregard fo my medical needs and my pain. Once again...I will win and the taxpayers money will be wasted on me. I only want medical care1 I'm willing and able to pay for my medical care but ADOC won't allow it.

Arizona Senator Russell Pearce

April 26, 2011

Born June 23, 1947, Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce represents District 18, which covers most of Western and Central Mesa, and a small portion of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. Previously, this Republican lawmaker also served in the Arizona House of Representatives, and is widely known for sponsoring legislation seeking to stop illegal immigration. Senator Pearce favors a strong border security policy. In January 2011, Sen. Pearce became the President of the Arizona State Senate.

Pearce grew up in a troubled and impoverished home. His father was an alcoholic. At times he would come home from school and find that the neighbors had left groceries for his family. However, his mother would always put the food aside, not accepting charity.

Initially, Pearce wanted to attend medical school, but his family wasn't able to afford it. Russell Pearce joined the Maricopa County Sheriff's Department. In time he became a highly decorated peace officer and even received the Medal of Valor for his 35 years of service. Pearce rose to the level of Second in Command, Chief Deputy Sheriff, under Joe Arpaio. Interestingly, Pearce claims credit for one of the most publicized and controversial actions of MCSO, under Arpaio's cruel reign, that of housing jail inmates in military-type tents. During his tenure with MCSO, Pearce investigated many violent crimes and was also the victim of a violent crime when he was shot in the chest while on duty. In 1994, Russell Pearce was appointed to the position of Director of the State Highway Safety Department.

In 1995, Pearce became the Director of the Arizona Motor Vehical Division. Two notable accomplishments he had as such were: 1) Bringing in IBM to create the first version of servicearizona.com, on online resource for Arizona citizens to update the MVD info and 2) Pearce enrolled Arizona in the then optional National Drivers Registry program, making collection of Social Security numbers for driver's licenses mandatory at the state level to comply with the federal program. According to Chris Moesor of the Arizona Republic, in his August 21, 1999 article, Russell Pearce was discharged from that position in 1999 after an investigation revealed he had been complicit in tampering with state driving records.

Russell Pearce is an advocate for the following positions:

1. Smaller and more efficient government
2. Using ID cards that link to Social Security numbers
3. Eliminating abuse of eminent domain
4. Tightening border security
5. Supporter of 2nd amendment in the context of US gun rights
6. Supporting private property rights
7. Improving education and discipline
8. Supporting Boy Scouts of America in their moral leadership goals
9. Supports traditional family values
10. Promoting pro-life views
11. Amending the Citizenship Clause of the 14th amendment to limit who can a citizen by birth on US soil
12. Supporting the Taxpayers Bill of Rights
13. Against judicial activism
14. Improving transportation

Additionally, Russell Pearce was a lead sponsor of Arizona's Senate Bill 1070 (SB-1070), which attracted nationwide attention after the Obama administration challenged the law, resulting in a federal court ruling that most of the law was unconstitutional. Pearce told gathering activists, "when you talk about jihad, that is exactly what Obama has against America, specifically the State of Arizona" (Los Angeles Times, January 17, 2011). It's also important to note that Russell Pearce has been criticized for drafting SB-1070 as a way to provide income for private prisons by incarcerating illegal immigrants. Pearce was linked to the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) through a December 2009 meeting with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, DC. It was at this meeting that Pearce and ALEC members, including CCA officials, wrote the document that would later, almost word for word, become SB-1070 in Arizona. This according to National Public Radio (NPR), October 28, 2010.

Russell Pearce now lives in Mesa, Arizona with his wife Luann. He is the father of five children, Dodi, Sean, Colten, Justin and Joshua. In February 2011, Mesa police arrested Joshua Pearce on two outstanding warrants connected to probation violations and failure to appear in court. Joshua Pearce had previous run-ins with the law and was granted probation for DUI. Recently he was taken into custody again.

With Senator Russell Pearce's extensive background in Arizona law enforcement, history of supporting Arizona's ineffective and arguably detrimental sentencing and corrections statues, and his oppositional stance on sentencing and corrections reform legislation in recent years, I'm curious to see whether his son receives the same treatment by the powers that be in his criminal justice travels or if Joshua will avoid the same "justice" the rest of us get and which his father supports, because of his father. I'm even more curious to know whether the recent changes in DUI laws in AZ got Senator Pearce's vote of approval.

*This entry was written by former Phoenix criminal defense attorney Jason Keller and myself. A similar version of this article was published in the unit's "by inmates-for inmates monthly paper", Eagle Point Post. Unfortunately, after distribution, Eagle Point Administration ordered all distributed copies to be collected and disposed of and the paper's content has been restricted. Not being a fan of censorship, I've decided to run this version of the article for a larger audience and add my own 2 cents to it.