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$150 million for housing, half a billion for education in budget proposal
A new budget proposal emerged today that delivers a child tax rebate, major spending on housing and education, and a reshuffling of money destined for water projects.
5 inmates at metro Phoenix jail treated for drug overdoses
Five inmates at a Maricopa County jail have been treated and released from hospitals after overdosing, according to authorities.
Prison panel to focus on 4 key areas
Gov. Katie Hobbs’ prison oversight commission will split into four working groups to develop proposals by the end of the year, advisers said at the newly created commission’s first meeting last week.
Bill addresses release of terminally ill inmates
The Board of Executive Clemency would no longer have to seek out a governor’s signature to grant release to inmates with terminal illnesses and would generally expand the power of the board to grant medical release under a proposed bill.
Hobbs establishes prison oversight commission to recommend reforms
Gov. Katie Hobbs is calling for a top-to-bottom review of the Arizona prison system, where inmates and their families have complained about a wide range of issues and a federal judge recently found medical care to be “plainly grossly inadequate.” The governor issued an executive order on Wednesday establishing an “independent prison oversight commission” to review problems in the prison sy[...]
Maricopa County detention officer accused of smuggling drugs
A Maricopa County detention officer has been arrested for attempting to smuggle drugs into the jail system. Sheriff Paul Penzone announced the arrest of officer Andres Salazar at a news conference today.
Judge outlines fixes to poor health care in Arizona prisons
A federal judge who previously concluded Arizona was providing inadequate medical and mental health care to prisoners said she will give the state three months to ensure it has enough health care professionals to meet constitutional standards.
Clemency advocates push for more attention, resources, additional board member
When it comes to recommendations from the Board of Executive Clemency, advocates for clemency say former Gov. Doug Ducey fell short in responding to requests for pardons and commutations.
Ex-cop in Floyd killing moved to AZ pen
Derek Chauvin has been moved from a Minnesota state prison where he was often held in solitary confinement to a medium-security federal prison in Arizona, where the former police officer convicted in George Floyd's killing may be held under less restrictive conditions.
Judge: state’s care of inmates is inadequate
The care provided by the state at prison is "plainly grossly inadequate'' and state officials are acting "with deliberate indifference'' to the substantial risk of harm to inmates, a federal judge ruled Thursday.
Quaker group seeks revamp of state’s ‘truth-in-sentencing’ laws
A Quaker organization claims to have bipartisan support for a bill that would upend Arizona’s truth-in-sentencing laws, which requires Arizona inmates to serve at least 85 percent of their court-imposed sentences.
Corrections Dept. gets $12M to meet inmates’ class action settlement
The Arizona Department of Corrections will have an extra $12 million during the next fiscal year to meet requirements of a far-reaching agreement to settle a class-action suit brought by the state’s nearly 34,000 prisoners. The department began taking steps to comply a year ago.
