To: The Arizona State House, The Arizona State Senate, and Governor Doug Ducey

IMMEDIATE Resignation of Arizona Department of Corrections Charles Ryan

Calling for the Immediate resignation of the Director of the Arizona Department of Corrections Director Charles Ryan.

Last July of 2013 Arizona House Minority Leader COURAGEOUSLY stepped forward asking for immediate resignation with very little support from fellow Arizona legislators, following a series of COMPELLING investigative reports from KPNX 12 News, Phoenix Arizona,
seasoned investigative reporter Ms. Wendy Halloran: "Watching Tony Die"

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/20130222tony-lester-doc-video.html

http://www.azcentral.com/video/2183395260001

http://www.azcentral.com/video/#/News/Rep.+Chad+Campbell+calls+for+resignation+of+Arizona+Department+of+Corrections+Director+Charles+Ryan/40280768001/35150280001/2562549084001

Why is this important?

I am Patti Jones the aunt to the Late Anthony Clayton Lester: TONY. Tony lost his life quite tragically on July 12, 2010 while in the custodial care of the Arizona Department.

Tony was clinically diagnosed a paranoid schizophrenic, so SEVERALLY mentally ill that he had gone through a lengthy rule 11 court proceedings to restore him to a minimal level of competency The Arizona Department of Corrections ruled his death a "Highly Preventable Suicide".

From the moment of Tony's tragic HORRIFIC death I have been on an incessant passion driven mission to expose the DEPLORABLE mental health care conditions within our Arizona Prisons.

My sister had filed a Wrongful death lawsuit, which has recently been settled out of court to the sum of 100,000.00 dollars. With this settlement the State of Arizona and Arizona Department of Corrections allowed judgement to be taken, upon all claims made against it in this action, in favor of Plaintiff Eleanor Lester (Tony's Mom).

If one would observe since Director Ryan has been appointed as Director the suicide rate within the Arizona Department of Corrections has doubled the national average.

Last July of 2013 Arizona House Minority Leader Rep. Chad Campbell COURAGEOUSLY stepped forward after he viewed a series of COMPELLING investigative reports done by KPNX 12 News, seasoned investigative journalist Ms. Wendy Halloran: " Watching Tony Die". It was Ms. Halloran's compelling reports that truly exposed the DEPLORABLE mental health care conditions that have been allowed to exist for decades. It was several of Ms. Halloran's reports that initiated the filing of the ACLU, National Prison Project's along with the Prison Law Offices Class Action Law Suit.

Rep. Campbell has asked for his fellow legislators to support his call for the Immediate Resignation of Arizona Department of Corrections Director Charles Ryan with very little support from Arizona Legislators.

With the signing of this petition the people can and will send a POWERFUL message that can and will speak volumes!

Here is support as to WHY Director Ryan MUST be removed from his appointed position:

Reasons to call for Director Ryan’s resignation

1. Security failures. A recent audit by the State Auditor General found disturbing security violations at state prisons, including broken perimeter alarm systems that staff ignored and a failure to keep an inventory of keys.

2. Personnel problems. News reports have indicated that there is low morale at state prisons and that employee turnover is very high. The Arizona Correctional Peace Officers Association submitted a letter of “no confidence” regarding Director Charles Ryan.

3. Criminal behavior. The Arizona Department of Corrections Inspector General has documented hundreds of acts of criminal conduct by DOC employees, including DUI and domestic violence.

4. Pattern of mismanagement and lack of leadership. One examples of mismanagement is the awarding of the medical care contract to Wexford, then rescinding that contract and re-awarding it to Corizon. Both companies have faced controversy and accusations of poor medical services.

5. Conflict of interest. The Department of Corrections has close ties to the private prison industry as well as private health care providers. One example is Chuck Coughlin’s relationship with Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), which has a contract with the state to provide private prisons. Coughlin has a well-known relationship with the governor, who appointed Director Ryan to his position. Another example is Director Ryan’s ties to Terry Stewart who works with Advanced Correctional Management, which lobbies for private prison expansion, as well as Stewart’s work with Corizon, which was eventually awarded the statewide contract to provide health care to inmates.

6. High suicide rates. Suicide rates at state prisons were 60 percent higher than the national average between 2010 and 2012.

7. Poor medical care. Inmate medical care has been severely neglected. Egregious examples of inmates being given grossly inadequate health care have been outlined in the class action lawsuit against DOC.

8. Abuse and neglect of inmates. There has been a pattern of abuse and neglect of inmates, including Marcia Powell who died after being left outside in the sun for many hours and Tony Lester who was allowed to bleed to death in prison while correctional officers watched and did nothing to help him.

9. Private prison problems. In addition to the conflict of interest noted above, Director Ryan has also failed to properly manage private prison contracts and supervise the private prisons. The inmates escaping from Kingman is one example of his failure to oversee the private prisons. Additionally, private prisons often cost more than state-run prisons, and DOC has failed to hold the private prison companies accountable for the terms of their contracts with the state.

With the signing of this petition MANY more LIVES can and will be saved!!

The PEOPLE will have their VOICES heard. This is AMERICA we MUST not and WILL not let another AMERICAN life be treated as such!!

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/20130222tony-lester-doc-video.html

http://www.azcentral.com/video/2183395260001

http://www.azcentral.com/video/#/News/Rep.+Chad+Campbell+calls+for+resignation+of+Arizona+Department+of+Corrections+Director+Charles+Ryan/40280768001/35150280001/2562549084001

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRf2AvUu0QA

Read the executive summary of “The Treatment of Persons with Mental Illness in Prisons and Jails: A State Survey" and the full report on the TACReports.org website.