The Arizona Department of Corrections has moved 50 female inmates to a reopened unit at a men’s prison to deal with overcrowding at the Perryville women’s prison.
A spokesman for Department of Corrections said the inmates were relocated to the recently reopened minimum custody Papago Unit at the Douglas prison this week.
A Department of Corrections official described the unit has an open yard concept.
While the Douglas prison has struggled with water pressure and contamination issues, the department said the women’s unit receives water from a separate source: the city of Douglas.
Department of Corrections Director David Shinn told the Legislature in December he would be forced to reopen the unit due the rising female inmate population.
