Madonna Watson was a cherished friend and a resilient woman whose life was tragically cut short while incarcerated at the California Institution for women (CIW) in Chino, California. At CIW, Madonna faced systemic challenges that many incarcerated women endure, including delayed medical attention and inadequate healthcare services. Her passing is a stark reminder of the ongoing issues within the California Department if Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) regarding the treatment of incarcerated individuals’ health needs. Madonna was a close personal friend and her memory lives on through the stories of those of us blessed to have known her. For me, what stood out about Madonna is that she was always there to remind me of what I had to lose. Even though I had no clue at the time, her calm demeanor and kindness always gave me the strength to think twice about whatever I had done, was doing, or was thinking about doing. Her untimely death underscores the urgent need for widespread health care access and reforms within the CDCR healthcare system to ensure that no other individual suffers the same fate of withering away from a disease that could have been treated were she not constantly waiting on a referral or told time and again to take a Motrin and see if it goes away. As we remember Madonna, let us honor her life by fiercely advocating for justice and improved healthcare for all incarcerated individuals. Madonna’s legacy serves as a call to action for systemic change and a reminder that every incarcerated life matters. (Madonna Watson died while incarcerated at CIW on June 9, 2020 from complications due to Covid-19 and untreated metastasized cancer.)

Alissa Moore
Legal Services for Prisoners with Children