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Arizona Legislators should seize an opportunity to transform state’s prisons
The Legislature is on the cusp of putting another feather in its cap of bipartisan criminal justice reform achievements. We should laud their progress and keep up the momentum of transformational change.
Blackman prisoner release bill fails – again
There were plenty of issues taken up during the 171-day legislative session that ended June 30 that everyone knew would be contentious, even in January.
Blackman takes Fann to task over comments on criminal justice bill
The House sponsor of a now-dead bill to expand Arizona’s system of earned release credits said Friday that Senate President Karen Fann has mischaracterized what the bill would have done.
Conservative criminal justice bill could boost safety, save tax dollars
As session closes in on the finish line, legislators have a great opportunity to deliver another win for Arizonans by passing Senate Bill 1064 to improve safety through earned second chances.
Lawmakers winnow down sentencing bills
As the Legislature enters what are likely the waning weeks of the 2021 session, a few bills meant to make Arizona's system of criminal sentencing more lenient have already been signed into law, while more ambitious measures have stalled.
We spend $1B on prisons – why aren’t we safer?
It’s time for Arizona to get smart on crime and join other conservative states by adopting the reforms in SB1064.
Arizona takes step toward turning criminal justice data into actionable information
As Arizona looks ahead to the future, we should recognize that while this is a critical step in the right direction, this is only the first step in creating better criminal justice reform practices.
‘Strikers’ propose abortion ban, money for lawmakers
Vaccine passports, abortion bans and an oft-thwarted plan to get more money in lawmakers’ pockets were among the bills that made a late introduction as strike-everything amendments this week.
How we can improve the probation system
The evidence is clear — incentives can jumpstart Arizona’s stagnant probation system and drive better outcomes for decades to come. By passing HB2707, the Arizona House of Representatives took a decisive step toward reviving a great policy that never should have been abandoned. Now, it’s the Senate’s turn to pass this bill and finally tell probation departments, “promises made, promises [...]
House panel OKs criminal sentencing changes
State lawmakers took the first steps February 3 to reversing decades of tough-on-crime policies.
Stringer’s comeback bid looks dim
Yavapai County Attorney Sheila Polk is on track to defeat embattled former lawmaker David Stringer, fending off her first challenger since 2000 and remaining as the top prosecutor in that... […]
Proposed changes to criminal punishments may be headed to ballot
A measure that may be headed for the ballot asks Arizona voters if they're ready to overturn some mandatory sentencing laws adopted decades ago.
