Following its visit, Amnesty International wrote to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors (the County governing body) and the Maricopa County Sheriff urging the following:
that they make it clear to all jail employees that the use of excessive force or other ill-treatment of those in custody will not be tolerated and that officers found guilty of misconduct, including the failure to report the improper use of force, will be adequately disciplined;
that the County and Sheriff’s Office review the policies and guidelines on the use of force in the Maricopa jail system to ensure that they conform to international standards on the use of force by law enforcement officials;
that they review their policies on stun guns and cease issuing them to all detention officers;
that stringent investigations are undertaken of any allegation of misuse of stun guns, whether or not these are reported in the Use of Force reports;
that an urgent review of the use of restraint chairs in the county jails be conducted with a view to restricting their use to the most urgent and exceptional cases;
that policies be revised to ensure that use of restraints are applied in a manner at least consistent with US and international standards;
that use of the restraint chair be recorded in all cases and monitored and reviewed by the Use of Force Review Board;
that all juveniles in the jail system be given the opportunity to engage in educational programs, training and other rehabilitative treatment;
that arrangements be made for the pre-trial female juvenile detainees currently in First Avenue Jail to be housed in a more appropriate and humane environment, consistent with the special needs of children for rehabilitative treatment and other programs;
that international standards regarding male guard access to female prisoners’ quarters be strictly applied in the Maricopa County jail system, especially given the special protections required in the case of vulnerable young inmates, and the general lack of privacy afforded to these particular detainees;
that steps are taken to ensure that jail inmates, including those in the First Avenue Jail, receive adequate exercise in the open air, in accordance with international standards (these provide that every prisoner who is not employed in out-door work shall have at least one hour of suitable exercise in the open air daily if weather permits, and that young prisoners, and others of suitable age and physique, should receive physical and recreational training during the period of exercise and that suitable space and equipment should be provided;
that they cease to authorize use of the In-Tents area as a regular detention facility because of its unsuitability as a humane alternative to housing inmates in suitable, purpose built, jail facilities;
that they cease using chain gangs in the Maricopa Jail system which Amnesty International considers cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, in violation of international standards on the treatment of prisoners.