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| Napolitano launches new phase of prison probe |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 03/15/2004 |
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Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano said last Tuesday she accepts her review panel's findings and recommendations to fix security lapses and long-standing problems that contributed to a 15-day prison hostage standoff. Napolitano also announced she had expanded her administration's review of the incident at the Arizona State Prison Complex-Lewis in Buckeye by having a retired state judge examine how authorities resolved the crisis. The 15-day hostage situation ended Feb. 1 with the negotiated surrender of the two inmates and the release of their last hostage, a female corrections officer. A male corrections officer had been released previously. A panel appointed by Napolitano released a report last week, focusing on circumstances that contributed to the hostage-taking. It recommended numerous security enhancements as well as improvements in staffing and pay. Napolitano said she was encouraged by the department's implementation of many fixes, but much more needs to be done. Additional steps, including development of a new system for assigning security-risk classifications, should be taken. Napolitano has already requested a pay boost for corrections officers and said she has asked Corrections Director Dora Schriro to prepare a new proposal. Money to pay for raises may be found in current funding, she said. Napolitano, a Democrat who took office 14 months ago, said she was not trying to "shirk responsibility" but said poor decisions or inaction over a period of years produce a "very lax and sloppy" prison system. Napolitano said former Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Zlaket will investigate how authorities, including Napolitano and her administration, responded to the hostage-taking incident. Napolitano also disclosed last Tuesday the punishments that have been handed out in response to lapses at the Lewis prison. She said a major formerly assigned to Lewis has been fired, the former warden demoted and a former deputy warden suspended for two weeks without pay. "And that is just the beginning of our cleanup at the Lewis complex." |
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