Phoenix – Valley families gather for strict reasons. They all lost their loved ones who died while in prison.
One of those families is to plan a candlelight vigil at Phoenix’s Estrella prison on Saturday nights.
Outside the Estrella prison there is the Kituza Sassar monument.
“It’s very difficult to be here right now,” her mother said.
Her mom and sister have been photographing, flowers and holiday decorations since Sasser passed away in prison on August 14th.
“The day before I spoke to her, my sister was fine, she was happy, she was laughing,” said Sasser’s sister Jessica Johnson. “But something happened to my sister behind these walls.”
Sassar was 29 years old.
“She was an aspiring chef. She loved cooking,” Sasser said. “She had a huge future indeed before her and ahead of many lives to live. She was engaged, she had a fiancé. And it was a tragic loss.”
The family is still waiting to obtain the county autopsy report.
Now they’re starting a nonprofit organization they call SASS Foundation The honor of Sassar. Their first event was Saturday’s candlelight vigil.
“You should be safe here,” Johnson said. “And in my sister’s situation, she wasn’t.”
According to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, between 6,500 and 6,700 people detained in five Maricopa County prisons.
MCSO release Data on recent deaths in prison.
In 2023, 41 prisoners died while in prison, and in 2024 there were 27 deaths. So far, six prisoners have died, with numbers only available in January.
“We feel our families. These are victims. These are tragedy,” Sgt. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and Joaquin Enriquez said.
Sergeant. Enriquez says most of these deaths occur due to medical conditions, suicide, or drug overdose.
ABC15 reported 12 overdoses in a week at Estrella Prison in February, leading to one death.
In response, the MCSO states that the problem during ingestion is primarily promoted by women who smuggle substances within the body cavity during ingestion.
“They feel they’ll really change the amount of fentanyl that we’re in our prisons, and I’m going to call it fentanyl, says Enriquez.
Inmates pass through new x-ray devices, but with each new policy for MCSO Sheriff Jerry Sheridan, detention officers will not be scanned when they enter prison.
The MCSO says several other safeguards are in place to prevent prison deaths. These include suicide prevention and mental health training for police officers, POD search, and K-9 smell.
The Sheriff’s Office is planning to deploy medical wristbands for inmates, which could cause staff to warn about the medical crisis early.
All detention officers are also trained in the Narcan regime.
“To say we are not paying attention or that we are not caring for prisoners is definitely misleading and distorted,” Sgt. Enriquez said. “Our detention officers, they carry this Narcan and they see the symptoms and we’re trying to save lives so we’ll do it right away.”
Inmates can also access tablet rehabilitation programs and in-person access.
“I’m also a recovery addict,” anonymous program volunteer Christine Day told ABC15.
Day leads the program in several locations, including Estrella Prison. Previously jailed herself, she believes that rehabilitation programs are important to prevent tragedy.
“I can give them hope and let them know that you’re not alone in this situation and that there are resources available,” Day said.
Going forward with the SASS Foundation, Johnson wants to unite the grief families of prisoners who have died in detention in counseling, legal advice, prison reform groups, and other services.
On Saturday’s all night, the family hopes to stand in strength and solidarity with others like them.
“I know there are more people like us,” Johnson said. “Your loved ones are behind those gates and they have died, so they can stand up and not be embarrassed. You know, they are still human and important.”
Sass Foundation’s Candlelight Migil is held on Saturdays from 7 to 9pm at Estrella Prison
