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Burges withdraws early release bills after criticism from unlikely foe
Sen. Judy Burges, a Sun City West Republican, held two bills on February 16 designed to reduce recidivism that had the support of conservative and liberal justice reform groups.
Culling the herd: A majority of bills already have failed
Of the more than 1,000 bills, resolutions and memorials that have been introduced in the Arizona Legislature thus far in 2017, the majority are already being declared “dead."
Clemency Board appointee has history of fighting parole
Gov. Doug Ducey has picked a crime victims’ advocate tied to an organization that fights against parole for convicted murderers to be on a board that vets prisoners for release.
FCC v. ADOC: Battle over price cap on prison phone calls’ link to recidivism
The federal government wants to regulate in-state prisoner phone calls as a way to keep families in touch with their incarcerated loved ones. The Arizona Department of Corrections is fighting the Federal Communications Commission’s proposed regulation for the sake of maintaining schooling and other services for prisoners.
Activist pushes for inmates to have the right to marry each other, same sex or not
The Arizona Department of Corrections is changing its marriage policy to conform to state law allowing same-sex partners to tie the knot. The only catch: The policy will still ban inmates of any sexual orientation from getting married to each other in prison.
Lawyer says suit alleging sexual harassment at private prison reflects badly on Corrections Dept.
A trial is set for next month in a sexual harassment lawsuit pitting the state against one of its private prison contractors in a battle that promises to shine a harsh light on private prisons and the Arizona Department of Corrections.
Inmate sues state over deposit fees
Aided by a group advocating for prisoners’ rights, an inmate today challenged in Maricopa County Superior Court a provision of a new law that allows the Department of Corrections to deduct a fee on deposits made to prisoners’ bank accounts.
A Year of Capitol Quotes: 2010’s wildest statements
The year in memorable quotes from Arizona's political players.
Capitol Quotes 2/5/10
"We had problems from the beginning because we decided that we would not turn in somebody who is openly serving in the military that was a homosexual - that we knew to be a homosexual. We tried to be tolerant. It didn't work." - Sen. Jack Harper, objecting to President Obama's plan to allow gays to openly serve in the U.S. military.
UpClose with Donna Hamm
Donna Hamm has been lobbying on behalf of prisoners and their families for nearly three decades. She became a justice of the peace in 1981, shortly after moving to Arizona from Ohio. During a tour of one of the state's prisons, she realized the state wasn't doing a good job of preparing prisoners for re-integration into society.
