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Players in movement to remake Arizona’s criminal justice system
Since conservatives got on board with revamping Arizona’s sentencing laws, bills to do that no longer lay unheard, not considered. And as the movement has taken hold over the past few years, a host of groups and people have made their presence known at the Legislature. Following are some of them.
Broken locks whistleblower claims retaliation
When Arizona Correctional Sergeant Gabriela Contreras first downloaded videos of inmates leaving their cells due to broken locks, the whistleblower lost a weeks worth of pay and a potential promotion.
Prison guards and inmates unite in plea for better security
The union representing Arizona prison guards joined an inmate rights group Tuesday to demand that the state immediately fix security problems that they say led to an inmate's death and the severe beating of two guards.
Changes to criminal code must be intelligent, informed and incremental
Sentencing reform is complex and multi-layered. It must include all stakeholders in the process. Not everyone will get what they want. Not all wrongs will be righted.
Court: Tucson man wrongly jailed cannot collect for years behind bars
A Tucson man who spent 42 years in prison on 28 arson-related murder counts that were later vacated cannot now collect damages for the years he spent behind bars, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday.
Ducey record on pardons, commutations not forgiving
Nearing the end of his first term, Ducey has granted only one pardon, to a man who stole a motorcycle in 1972. Other pardon recommendations sit dormant, leaving people awaiting a signature that could change their lives in fundamental ways.
Arizona woman alleges sexual misconduct by former detention officer
An ex-prisoner has come forward with allegations that a former Arizona Department of Corrections detention officer, Kenneth Couture, made inappropriate sexual advances while she was incarcerated and had sex with her while she was still under the agency’s supervision after her release from prison.
Democrats oppose locating recidivism center in south Phoenix
Democratic lawmakers from south Phoenix are siding with their voters in a fight against two proposed programs aimed at helping prisoners re-enter society, a long held constituency of theirs that doesn’t vote.
Corrections asks for more money to help prisoners re-enter society
The Arizona Department of Corrections wants 102 new positions and more than $13 million to fuel re-entry and recidivism reduction programs, but prisoner rights advocates aren’t convinced the request signals a turn in the department’s philosophy.
Clemency board at risk of lawsuit for unfulfilled obligation, seeks additional funding
The Arizona Board of Executive Clemency is requesting about $34,000 to fund a part-time position needed to conduct probable cause hearings – an obligation the board has not fulfilled since funding was cut in 2010.
Justice reform in Arizona requires understanding of the system
There is no doubt that criminal justice and sentencing reform is needed in Arizona. But it is also important that the people or groups making proposals for change understand exactly what they are proposing, what the full impact of those changes would be on all stakeholders, and that in the rush to achieve results and re-apply for grant monies to support their work, that they do no harm. Do-gooder[...]
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.
