Today, Arizona Department of Corrections Director Charles Ryan announced his retirement. Alessandra Soler, Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona, made the following statement.

"In May, the ACLU of Arizona's Campaign for Smart Justice called for Gov. Ducey to fire Chuck Ryan. As Director of the Arizona Department of Corrections, Chuck Ryan failed to abide by court orders in the class-action lawsuit, Parsons v. Ryan. As a result of his continued noncompliance, hundreds of people have needlessley suffered, and other have died in Arizona prisons.

"The culture of dehumanization and cruelty in the Department of Corrections cannot be solved simply with Ryan's overdue resignation. We demand Gov. Ducey conduct a public search for a new director that incorporates the feedback and participation from key stakeholders, including those directly impacted by the prison system."

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Court Case
Jul 18, 2016
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  • Prisoners' Rights

Parsons v. Ryan

Filed in 2012, this federal lawsuit challenges years of inattention to the health needs of state prisoners and improper and excessive use of solitary confinement, resulting in serious harm and unnecessary deaths.