Since the late 1970s, rising crime has led lawmakers to require prison time for many non-violent offenses.
But some say eliminating the options of fines, work release, substance-abuse treatment and house arrest in favor of prison time can turn non-violent offenders into career criminals.
Now, as states face large budget deficits, calls for reforming sentencing for non-violent offenders also are coming increasingly from conservatives who call prison costs unsustainable.
Prison hosts speaker series to educate, motivate female inmates
Olympic swimmer Misty Hyman gently coaxes volunteers from the audience to describe their accomplishments and goals.
Read More »Selling, making, possessing marijuana alternative spice now a felony in Arizona
Spice, a chemically treated blend of herbs marketed as incense but often smoked as an alternative to marijuana, is now illegal in Arizona.
Read More »Themes of proposed license plates include centennial, ‘Don’t Tread on Me’
In a rite of spring, state legislators are proposing at least 12 special license plates that would add to nearly 50 offered by the Arizona Department of Transportation.
Read More »Lawmaker: Protect employers with medical marijuana law on the way
Now that Arizona voters have approved the use of medical marijuana, employers need new ways to deal with employees who are impaired for any reason, a state lawmaker said Tuesday.
Read More »Commissioner proclaims border safe and secure
The commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection says the border is more safe and secure today because of a 1 1/2 -year-old border crackdown initiative.
Read More »Gallardo: Close ‘loophole’ in state law involving gun shows
A Democratic state lawmaker says it’s time to close what he calls a gap in state law that allows people to purchase firearms at gun shows without the same background check required at shops.
Read More »State legislators endorse ban on use, sale of synthetic marijuana ‘spice’
Spice, an herb often smoked as a legal alternative to marijuana, should be banned in Arizona because of its dangerous side effects, a state lawmaker said Thursday.
Read More »Trapped in violence: Undocumented domestic abuse victims face hurdles
Domestic violence affects women of every country, culture and income level, and victims are often reluctant to seek help for a variety of reasons.
When a woman is in the U.S. illegally, however, she will be even more reluctant to come forward, law enforcement officials and victims’ advocates say. Undocumented immigrants as a group fear dealing with police, and some abusers use that fear as a lever, threatening to turn in their victims and separate them from children through deportation.
Some communities moving to ban fireworks as state law looms
Payson is one of the first cities in the state to enact a local ordinance banning the use of fireworks that will become legal statewide on Dec. 1. Show Low and Queen Creek have also passed bans, and Flagstaff is considering regulation. Yuma is among cities taking a wait-and-see approach.
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