Friday December 18th, 2009 sex workers, their allies and their organizations came together in front of the AZ Department of Corrections on December 18th, as part of International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, an annual event to call attention to violence committed against sex workers all over the globe. SWOP USA gathered with Arizona Prison Watch and Friends of Marcia Powell to remember Marcia Powell a prisoner of the State of Arizona who collapsed and died from heatstroke last May after being locked in an outdoor cage and ignored for four hours in 107 degree heat.

A letter presented to the Arizona Department of Corrections on this day recommended that:
• cages never be used to hold prisoners or to address overcrowding
• an analysis of violence against sex workers (both inside and outside the Arizona prison system) be conducted and a plan should be developed for reducing violence against sex workers in Arizona
• the Department explore models of restorative justice such as criminal code and sentencing reform, early release programs for low-risk prisoners, community support through harm reduction, and re-entry programs to stop the revolving door syndrome that traps so many people
• the Department be conscious of violence against sex workers (including male and transgendered workers) including victimization while in state custody, police brutality, and domestic and occupational violence
• May 20th should be observed each year in memory of Marcia Powell and other prisoners who died in state custody. On that day Department should prepare a report addressed to prisoners, families and community-based oversight groups on human rights violations that have occurred over the past year and actions the department has taken in response. The report should also include the Department's plan for the upcoming year to improve respect for human rights.

The full letter delivered to the Arizona Department of Corrections is available here as a PDF.