Sign In
Free Newsletter
Prison oversight reform is long overdue in Arizona
On December 21, 2018, President Trump signed the bipartisan First Step Act into law, marking a significant step forward in federal sentencing reform. Just weeks later, we took our first […]
Prison oversight office approved, but lacks funds to get started
Key Points: Governor OK’d creation of independent prison oversight office No appropriation in budget makes finding funding a crucial next step Lawmakers, proponents still hopeful for a robust oversight body […]
Another prison death reignites GOP push for oversight
Key Points: Deaths in Arizona prisons prompts lawmaker inquiry Two lawmakers demand information on department operations State GOP pushing for independent prison oversight agency Another alleged homicide in a state […]
John Fabricius: Ex-con, paralegal and prison oversight advocate
John Fabricius, executive director of the Praxis Initiative and formerly of Arizonans for Transparency and Accountability in Corrections, first recognized a void in independent prison oversight while he was an […]
Push for new prison oversight office stalls with governor
Key Points: A bipartisan proposal to create an independent prison oversight office stalls Despite broad legislative support, governor and corrections still have concerns Lawmakers continue to push proposal and attached […]
Arizona GOP pushes for independent oversight of prisons
Key Points: Lawmakers seek watchdog to monitor prison agency accountability House stalls bill despite rising prison system concerns Governor Hobbs silent on independent panel; critics demand urgent oversight  Two […]
Department of Corrections claims additional oversight not necessary after two years of improvements
Facing a potential court-ordered takeover of prison health care, the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry claims significant improvements to medical staffing and capacity and a continual increase in […]
The danger of sunset reviews – ineffective during unified government
Without robust oversight, agencies can fail the very people they are meant to serve. Ensuring meaningful accountability should be a bipartisan priority, safeguarding the public interest no matter who holds power.
Leaders like Hobbs and Mayes needed to steer state amid outlandish claims, election denialism
We need leaders like Gov. Katie Hobbs and Attorney General Kris Mayes who will proactively solve Arizona’s most pressing issues, rather than fixating on the outcome of the last election.
Republicans relapse into inflammatory conspiracies
At the beginning of the month, we saw our state’s GOP once again relapse into the inflammatory conspiracies of the 2022 campaign cycle. During a hearing of the new Ad Hoc Committee on Oversight, Accountability, and Big Tech, members of the Arizona GOP trotted out both old and new theories to rationalize their electoral failures. 
Senate nixes bill to give AG’s office more power over elections
State senators on Monday quashed a bid to give Attorney General Mark Brnovich more power to investigate elections. Sen. Paul Boyer, R-Glendale, voted with Democrats against Senate Bill 1475. That […]
Police, legislators seek new oversight for officer shootings
A bipartisan bill that would require an outside agency to review when a police officer fires their gun or uses deadly force is making its way through the House. “We […]
