A federal Judge decided to sign an agreement on cultural claims between an inmate and Arizona prison on Monday. This agreement aspires to end a claim of racial segregation in the state's 10 prisons.
U.S. District Court Judge Cindy Jorgenson in Tucson signed off the agreement. She issued the order on what she previously called a "sweeping" scheme between attorneys for an inmate and for the state, per Big Story News.
It is remembered that this proposal started on 2013 when an inmate in Arizona Stephen Rudisill accused the Department of Corrections of violating the Constitution by using race-based housing and work assignments.
Rudisill, an African-American prisoner, was housed with another African-American who was forcing him to join a gang.
As noted by the site, Arizona is the only state in the United States that uses race as a factor in housing assignments.
As a result, the Arizona state will now implement a program concerning integrated housing and work duties then track its progress. The program will start this 2016 and should be done on or before 2021. However, there will be an exemption for prisoners who have a record of racially motivated incidents, according to ABC News.
The Department of Corrections spokesperson Andrew Wilder said in a statement via San Diego Union Tribune "The Department will work with diligence and good faith in a measured, methodical, and prudently cautious manner over the next 5½ years as set forth in the Court's Order. Our primary concern will remain the safety of uniformed and non-uniformed staff, the public, and the inmates, and the safe, secure, and orderly operation of the state prison system."
The state is expecting this move to be a productive one so to avoid racism-related complaints next time. Assistant Atty. General Paul Carter believes making these changes would promote peace and avoidance of lawsuits from inmates in the future.
Currently, there are about 35,000 inmates in 10 Arizona prisons. The plaintiff, who is serving jail time for aggravated assault, was placed in the Tucson prison when he filed the case.
