HOW THE INVESTIGATION WAS CONDUCTED

On March 6, Arizona Department of Corrections Director Charles Ryan appointed a team of correctional professionals to travel to the Arizona State Prison Complex-Yuma’s medium custody Cheyenne Unit near San Luis, Ariz., to comprehensively investigate the disturbance and issue a formal report.

The Assessment Team was onsite from March 12-15. The next several days were spent reviewing reports, interviewing staff and inmates, viewing relevant video and drafting the report. Overall, more than 200 interviews were conducted.

Onsite the team interviewed over 80 staff and interacted and spoke with many others. This gave the unit staff an extensive opportunity to describe their day-to-day interactions and thoughts about the culture, management and yard activities for the Cheyenne Unit.

Most interviews were conducted formally in a private office while others were informal on staff’s duty post. The team also interviewed hundreds of inmates across all races. These interviews were conducted in a similar manner.

While touring the Cheyenne Unit, the Assessment Team closely monitored the culture and interaction between the inmates and staff.

The Assessment Team consisted of Warden Robert Patton (ASPC-Phoenix), Deputy Bureau Administrator Ron Credio (Contract Beds Bureau), Deputy Inspector General Sean Malone (Inspector General’s Office), Deputy Warden of Operations Norm Twyford (ASPC-Perryville), Deputy Warden Ed Lao (ASPC-Eyman), Auditor 3 Kelly Pierce (Inspector General’s Office), Auditor 3 Staci Ibarra (Inspector General’s Office), Major Dwayne Morman (ASPC-Tucson) and Correctional Officer IV Adam Young (Contract Beds Bureau).