Arizona's state prisons
The Arizona Department of Corrections operates 10 facilities throughout the state that hold more than 31,000 inmates. Nearly all the facilities have problems with fire-suppression systems or fire alarms. The issues have been brought to the attention of Department of Corrections administrators and, in turn, to state legislators for more than 20 years. The Legislature has consistently chosen to fund other state projects.
Arizona State Prison Complex- Winslow (Winslow/St. Johns)
Years units constructed: 1987-1990.
Inmates: 1,775.
• 137 of 915 smoke detectors do not work.
• All fire alarms work, and all units have fire alarms.
ASPC-Perryville (Goodyear)
Years units constructed: 1981-2004.
Inmates: 3,454.
Fire : • Nine of 272 smoke detectors do not work.
• All the fire alarms work; the facility is lacking 11 fire alarms.
• $45,000 request in fiscal 2010 for replacing a fire-alarm system in one unit was not funded.
ASPC-Yuma
Years units constructed: 1987-1998.
Inmates: 2,240.
Fire : • 593 of 731 smoke detectors do not work.
• 34 of 35 fire alarms do not work; the facility is lacking 22 alarms.
• $965,034 request in fiscal 2010 to repair and replace fire systems throughout complex was not funded.
ASPC-Lewis (Buckeye)
Years units constructed: 1998-2000.
Inmates: 5,205.
Fire : • 1,824 of 3,269 smoke detectors do not work.
• 52 of 62 fire alarms do not work; the facility is lacking 21 fire alarms.
• $3,125,000 request in fiscal 2009 for sprinkler heads/fire alarms was not funded.
ASPC-Phoenix
Years units constructed: 1987-1995.
Inmates: 462.
Fire :• All smoke detectors and fire alarms work; the facility is lacking one fire alarm.
ASPC-Florence
Years units constructed: 1960-1998.
Inmates: 4,377.
Fire :• Eight of 986 smoke detectors do not work.
• 77 of 158 fire alarms do not work; the facility is lacking 107 fire alarms.
• $4,069,000 request in fiscal 2009 for fire-system improvements was not funded.
ASPC-Eyman (Florence)
Years units constructed: 1987-1995.
Inmates: 5,225.
Fire :
• 4,363 of 4,391 smoke detectors do not work.
• Six of 46 fire alarms do not work; the facility is lacking 13 fire alarms.
• $1,801,300 request in fiscal 2009 to replace fire-alarm system was not funded.
ASPC-Safford (Safford/Ft. Grant)
Years units constructed: 1965-1992.
Inmates: 1,855.
Fire :• 827 of 888 smoke detectors do not work.
• 94 of 174 fire alarms do not work; the facility is lacking 101 alarms.
• $952,000 request in fiscal 2007 to repair fire-alarm system was not funded.
ASPC-Tucson
Years units constructed: 1977-2004.
Inmates: 4,401.
Fire :
• 310 of 346 smoke detectors do not work.
• 93 of 94 fire alarms do not work; the facility is lacking 53 fire alarms.
• $1,182,356 request in fiscal 2009 for a complex-wide fire system replacement was not funded.
ASPC-Douglas
Years units constructed: 1976-2004.
Inmates: 2,470.
Fire :
• 774 of 1,116 smoke detectors do not work.
• Twenty of 73 fire alarms do not work; the facility is lacking three fire alarms.
• $587,941 request in fiscal year 2009 to repair fire-panel hardware was not funded.
Sources: Department of Corrections, Arizona Department of Administration inspection report
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