Arizona Inmate Dies After Being Left in Outdoor Cell with Temperatures as High as 103

Marcia Powell, an inmate at the Goodyear prison in Arizona, died after being left outside during the day in an uncovered chain-link cell in the desert heat. With temperature reaching 103, Powell collapsed and was later pronounced dead.

Powell was serving 27 months for prostitution. The sentence alone seems a bit shocking in length. She collapsed at 2:30 pm after four hours in the heat. Four hours seems shorter than what would usually caused heat-related death, but 103 temperatures combined with prior health issues would make such injury as distinct possibility. Inmates often have diminished health status due to prior chemical or alcohol abuse. Powell’s picture suggests an obviously hard (and sad) life. There is a reasonable question why a prison in such a hot area would use such uncovered cells.

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