HISTORICAL INFORMATION
In the beginning, the Arizona State
Prison at Florence consisted of two (2) housing wings ("Pocket" and
"Weed Row"), a TB Wing and the "Snakes". The "Snakes" was an
underground cell area for solitary confinement. It was called "Snakes"
due to the fact that snakes would find their way into it. Inmates were
transferred from Yuma Territorial prison to Florence in the early
1900s. The new prison was a distinct improvement over Yuma, however,
the prison at Florence had a death chamber. In the beginning, the death
chamber was located one floor above the cells on death row. The chamber
itself was a scaffold and, in the floor, a trap door was constructed
through which the bodies of the hanged fell into a room below. As you
can see, the Florence Prison has changed since that time. The oldest
buildings on-site include the Administration Building (built in 1928)
and Cellblock Two (CB-2). Construction began on CB-2 in 1928 and it was
completed in 1930. The gates leading into the Central Unit, of which
CB-2 is part, were brought to Florence from the Yuma Territorial Prison.
In 1973, there was a riot/hostage
situation in ASPC-F Central Unit. Two (2) staff were killed by inmates
in Cellblock Three (CB-3). Before and since this time, there have been
no incidents of staff fatalities within the secure perimeter of the
Florence institutions. The Department continually reviews and enhances
security to ensure the safety and security of the staff and inmates of
the State of Arizona.
Within Central Unit, there is a
tunnel which runs from CB-2 to the Administration Building. This tunnel
was sealed in 1985 when it was discovered that inmates had found a way
to access the tunnels. In addition, around this same time, the CB-2
tower was replaced. The existing tower was deteriorating and plans were
made to utilize it as a control room. However, in 1985, the estimated
cost for renovation and a locking system was approximately
$4,000,000.00. Needless to say, this project was not initiated.
Usually of great interest to
individuals visiting the Florence Prison is the Death House. Death
sentences have been carried out in Florence since 1910. The first
individual executed by hanging at Florence was Jose Lopez on January 5,
1910. From that time until July 7, 1916, eight (8) more individuals
were executed. Effective December 8, 1916, an initiative measure passed
which deleted the provision for the death penalty in Arizona. The death
penalty was restored in December 5, 1918. Nineteen (19) executions by
hanging occurred between April 16, 1920 and June 20, 1931.
The first execution by lethal gas was
carried out when two (2) brothers, Manuel and Fred Hernandez, were
executed at 5:00 a.m. on July 6, 1934. On March 4, 1962, Manuel E.
Silvas was executed by lethal gas at 5:08 a.m. In 1972, the Arizona
Supreme Court adopted a policy of reducing death sentences to life. In
August 1973, the death penalty again was effective, however, in 1978, a
ruling was made that the Arizona Statute regarding executions was
unconstitutional and all executions were stayed. In 1979, the Arizona
Legislature revised the Arizona Death Penalty Statute and Death
Sentences again became effective May 1, 1979. On April 5, 1992 at 12:18
a.m., twenty-nine (29) years after the execution of Manuel Silvas,
Donald E. Harding was put to death by lethal gas.
In November 1992, Arizona voters
approved execution by lethal injection. By law, any person sentenced to
death prior to November 23, 1992 is afforded a choice of execution by
either lethal gas or lethal injection. Inmates receiving a death
sentence after November 23, 1992 are executed by lethal injection.
Walter B. LaGrand was the last prisoner to be executed by lethal gas on
March 3, 1999. Since the implementation of lethal injection, fourteen
(14) inmates have been executed utilizing this method. Because we still
have inmates who received a death sentence prior to January 1993, the
gas chamber is maintained in working order in the event an individual
chooses this method of execution.
