Inmates now have masks, prison officials say

Months after advocacy organizations began pleading for COVID-19 protections and health officials began advising everyone cover their faces in public, Arizona inmates are now receiving masks.

The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry announced on Thursday that all inmates have received fabric face coverings.

As of Wednesday, the department reported 457 COVID-19 cases in the prisons among inmates and four confirmed deaths. There are 338 inmates currently awaiting test results.

The masks were made by inmates in the Douglas and Florence prison complexes who work for the Arizona Correctional Industries’ garment program. The program also created masks for staff earlier during the pandemic.

The department stated all inmates are encouraged to wear the masks at all times, except when eating, sleeping and when staff need to identify them.

David Shinn, director of the Department of Corrections, sent an internal memo to staff in June informing them that all employees must wear masks.

Advocacy organizations like the American Friends Service CommitteeArizona

have repeatedly asked the state to take multiple steps to protect inmates and staff, including providing masks.

In June, Arizona Department of Health Services announced that the state planned to test all inmates for the illness. Dr. Cara Christ, the department’s director, did not give a timeline for inmate testing, or clarify whether it would be antibody testing or swab testing.

A spokesperson for the Department of Corrections told The Republic that it is working with the health department to determine which testing method is most appropriate for inmates.