The records come from a running tally of critical incidents inside county jails dubbed Managing For Results, which correctional staff supervisors update after every shift. They were leaked to
Phoenix New Times by an MCSO staffer who was concerned about the increase in suicide attempts. The staffer declined to be named out of fear of retribution.
When reached for comment, MCSO spokesperson Norma Gutierrez-Deorta disputed the numbers in the records. In an email, she claimed that there were only two suicides and two attempted suicides in 2021. Similarly, she wrote that there were four suicide attempts and two suicides in 2020. After being presented with the leaked records, Gutierrez-Deorta wrote that she had to do some research on the issue. When contacted again for comment, she wrote, it’s going to take some time to go through our records.
Ducey signs legislation to impose new limits on forfeitures
May 6, 2021
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PHOENIX (AP) Gov. Doug Ducey has signed legislation to tighten Arizona laws on civil forfeitures of private property.
Under the legislation, forfeiture would generally occur only if a property owner has been convicted of an offense related to the forfeiture and if the state shows that the property is subject to forfeiture by clear and convincing evidence.
“Currently there is no requirement that the government prove that seized property is connected to a crime, which has resulted in property being taken from innocent people, Ducey s office said in a statement. “This legislation protects Arizonans’ rights while maintaining law enforcement’s ability to hold criminals accountable.
Committee bypasses roadblock to revive and pass sentencing reform bill azmirror.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from azmirror.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Prison oversight bill laudable, poorly executed
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By some accounts, 2021 is shaping up to be: “The year of criminal justice reform.”
Bills are advancing through initial committees with much bipartisan support, including those to improve diversion programs, drug treatment for addicts, re-entry preparation and transition, flexibility for judges to depart from mandatory minimums, reinstating home arrest, expungement of criminal records, and sentencing reforms that would allow some drug offenders to be released at 50% of an imposed sentence, while allowing other non-dangerous offenders to be released after serving 2/3 of their sentence. This bill requires that an offender take only one self-improvement program which doesn’t even have to be targeted at the committing offense behavior.
Report lists economic benefits of early prison release
A report detailing economic benefits of proposed expanded earned release credits gives a look into a possible new middle ground in the debate on revamping Arizona’s prison system.
The report by Rounds Consulting Group analyzed the earned release credits proposal in the 2020 Second Chances, Rehabilitation and Public Safety Act ballot initiative, which didn’t make the ballot in November after it failed to get enough valid petition signatures.
The report found Arizona could save $1.4 billion in the first 10 years after enacting policy that expands earned release credits. The increase in state tax revenues due to the workforce growth resulting from fewer incarcerated people would contribute an additional $107 million, the report said.