Inside Arizona’s Most Brutal Jail | Why Inmates Fear Towers Jail

In the heart of Maricopa County, Arizona, stands Towers Jail—a facility that was never meant to last but became a permanent fixture in the U.S. incarceration system. Originally built in 1982 as a temporary solution to overcrowding, the 720-bed detention center soon became part of a larger crisis in mass incarceration. Towers Jail was designed for pretrial detainees, but over the years, it has been plagued by outdated infrastructure, extreme heat, and overcrowding. Critics argue it represents the failures of Arizona’s justice system, while supporters claim it still serves a vital purpose. With poor living conditions, increasing maintenance costs, and growing legal challenges, the future of Towers Jail is now in question. Will it be shut down, modernized, or replaced? And what does its story say about the larger issue of mass incarceration in America? Join us as we explore the rise, controversy, and uncertain future of Towers Jail in this episode of It’s History.