Will Sentencing and Corrections Reform Skip Arizona?
All across the country, lawmakers are crossing the aisle, coming together to reform the criminal justice system and simultaneously save money. With budgets stretched thin and corrections soaking up a lot of what is there, lawmakers are looking to cut prison populations while keeping the public safe and some who would’ve opted for more “tough on crime” legislation years ago are moving in the other direction in order to reduce spending.
But an editorial in the Arizona Republic points out that Arizona may lag behind once again in the area of meaningful criminal justice reform.
The Arizona department of Corrections released a report stating that if we stay on the same track, the state will need 8,500 additional new prison beds by 2017, with $974 million in construction costs and $150 million more in annual upkeep of the new beds.
In response, the Arizona Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys has stated the state needs to make serious changes to the order of things or face “fiscal insolvency”. They have said our state is addicted to incarceration, and by all accounts it is.
And although conservatives across the country are pushing for reform in these very areas, Governor Jan Brewer has recommended the state increase the corrections budget by $8.4 million, simultaneously cutting spending on higher education by $234 million. Nothing like paying for prisons with the futures of our children.
She has also suggested an application fee for visitors to state prisons. This means family and friends who wished to visit loved ones would have to pay. There’s been no talk from the Governor on how this would work considering many of the people behind bars (and their friends and family) live below the poverty line and unlikely to be able to afford such a fee. She believes the fee could generate $2.3 million.
Half of the prison population in Arizona is non-violent offenders. States across this nation are seeing that it is actually in the interest of public safety to keep some of these lowest level offenders, who have been convicted of non-violent, misdemeanor criminal charges out of prison, using alternatives like probation and treatment instead.
According to the editorial at AZCentral.com, Mississippi restored parole services and “rolled back” truth in sentencing laws to the tune of $200 million. Texas is working on similar changes, using money to expand treatment centers at a fraction of the cost they would’ve spent on building new prisons.
It could be that some conservatives who would have likely voted for “tough on crime” measures twenty years ago are only seeking this major reform because it’s fiscally responsible. Or it could be that they also beyond the monetary value of treatment in lieu of incarceration.
Though Arizona has not taken a big turn towards prison alternatives, there are programs and alternatives available around the state. Depending on the charge you face and things like your criminal history, a criminal defense attorney could work with you to keep you out of prison. If you’re facing charges, contact me today to discuss your options.
No related posts.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.