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Judge refuses to immediately halt private prison bidding process
A Maricopa County Superior Court judge refused today to immediately put a stop to the bidding process for private prisons to house 5,000 inmates.
Suit seeks to block more private prison beds
A lawsuit filed in an Arizona court cites security concerns as it seeks to prevent the state from issuing contracts for 5,000 additional private prison beds.
Visitors to Arizona prisons hit with $25 fee
Under a new state law, some adults who want to visit incarcerated inmates must pay the fee, with the money raised going toward maintaining 10 state-run prisons.
Quakers threaten lawsuit over private prisons
A Quaker organization and a West Valley advocacy group are making last-minute efforts to stop the state from building private prisons.
Cost-benefit study of prisons late, but state going ahead with 5,000 more private beds
The Department of Corrections has long been out of compliance with a law requiring the director to complete a cost-benefit analysis comparing private and state-run prisons every two years.
DOC Director Charles Ryan, who took over the job in January 2009, said he started working on his analysis a few months ago.
But House Minority Leader Chad Campbell insists that’s not [...]
Under Arpaio, Phoenix ‘Tent City’ marks 18 years
For all the worksite raids, immigration sweeps and animal-cruelty cases that have made Sheriff Joe Arpaio one of the most notorious and popular figures in Arizona history, it likely will be a compound of military-style tents housing more than 1,000 inmates that is his lasting legacy.
Prison chief says privatizing inmate medical care would lead to massive layoffs
A major change in how the state delivers health care to its prisoners is well underway, and with it comes the question of what will happen to the current staff of doctors, nurses, lab technicians and other professionals.
Prisoner advocate sues over background-check fee
A group that advocates for prisoners’ rights went to court Monday to challenge a law that allows the Arizona Department of Corrections to set a one-time fee for conducting background checks on inmates’ visitors.
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.
Arizona eyes more private prison contracts
A company that operates an Arizona prison where three violent offenders escaped last year is among four firms that the Arizona Department of Corrections is proposing be awarded new prison bed contracts.
Setting the record straight on sentencing
I am writing to correct a number of inaccuracies in the May 20 “special report” printed in your newspaper (“A push from the right: More conservatives joining fight to change sentencing guidelines”). I am sure the reporter’s intention was to present a thorough examination of this important topic, but her final product was extremely one-sided and lacking in several important facts. As [...]
ACLU: Pinal County jails inhumane for immigrants
A report by American Civil Liberties Union criticizes living conditions and policies for immigrants at detention centers in Pinal County.
