Janssen: Why Prison Oversight is Crucial for Arizona Residents

Kara Janssen currently leads the Arizona Empathy Network for Dream.Org, drawing from her experiences as an incarcerated woman in the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry. Reflecting on her time behind bars, Janssen describes it as a harsh lesson in survival. After five years of enduring inhumane conditions, she emerged but with lingering physical and emotional scars.

During her incarceration, Janssen faced severe medical neglect. Basic necessities, including healthcare and hygiene products, were frequently unavailable. Her struggles escalated when multiple kidney stones led to prolonged suffering, compounded by a bureaucratic medical system that delayed her treatment. The surgery she ultimately received was tainted by humiliation; shackled and treated like an animal, she felt dehumanized.

Despite her surgery, the inadequate medical oversight continued. Janssen remained handcuffed to her hospital bed, unable to walk or receive proper care, leading to pneumonia—a condition that, fortunately, resolved itself. By the time of her release in November, her health had deteriorated, necessitating emergency intervention.

Janssen knows firsthand the stakes involved in inadequate healthcare. Many women have lost their lives due to similar negligence, prompting litigation by the ACLU of Arizona over a decade ago. However, the Arizona Department of Corrections has consistently failed to comply with court-mandated requirements, leading to calls for reform and greater accountability.

Dedicated to effecting change, Janssen has since joined the ACLU of Arizona’s Smart Justice Campaign. Utilizing her connections to women still incarcerated, she has challenged department narratives and influenced legislative efforts. In 2020, she played a pivotal role in passing the Dignity for Incarcerated Women bill, ensuring that free feminine hygiene products became available to women in prison. This basic necessity should not impose a financial burden, particularly when wages often hover just above exploitation.

Despite these advances, she recalls encountering dismissive attitudes from male legislators, who expressed discomfort discussing menstruation. This lack of awareness resulted in brief improvements, with supply shortages for hygiene products resurfacing within a year. Janssen’s ongoing communication with incarcerated women highlights the continued struggle for basic rights in prisons.

She emphasizes the need for transparency and accountability in the prison system, where corruption and mistreatment persist. The budget priorities in Arizona reveal a troubling trend, as over a billion dollars is spent on incarceration—ranking Arizona fourth highest in the nation—while education remains underfunded. The question of where this money is going becomes increasingly urgent.

Janssen urges citizens to advocate for prison oversight, stressing that it is essential for protecting Arizonans. Whether personally affected by the criminal justice system or advocating for others, every voice has the power to foster change. Engaging lawmakers about these critical issues can lead to a shift in the culture of the prison system and ultimately promote a more just society.