More than just a number: Watching Tony Die, Part 3.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

More than just a number: Watching Tony Die, Part 3.

Most folks who have been reading here any amount of time know about the highly preventable suicide of young Tony Lester, whose tragic story has been revealed in several parts since he died in July 2010 at ASPC-Tucson of self-inflicted wounds to his neck. For those needing to catch up, I've compiled links below to the previous posts I've made about Tony.

Deaths in Custody: Anthony Clayton Lester (9/15/10).

The Highly Preventable Suicide of Tony Lester (1/8/11).

Waiting in the Silence: Remembering Tony Lester (6/16/11).

Watching Tony die: The Halloran Investigation and feedback (11/11/11).

(the above post has the links to both of Wendy's first two pieces on Tony)

The conviction of Tony Lester: A juror's regrets (1/2/12).

Below is the third part of the CH12 / KPNX investigative series: "Watching Tony Die". Wendy Halloran has done an outstanding job challenging the Department of Corrections' treatment of prisoners with serious mental illness, and even dug deeper to look at the sentencing reforms needed to spare people like him inappropriate terms of incarceration...unfortunately, our legislature has pretty much obliterated chances for that again this year, however.

Those folks with loved ones in prison need to watch this clip and please email connect@ad.gannett.com to register your feedback. Especially with the current conditions in the state prisons, it's important for the media to know that these lives matter.