Urgent Action Alerts

AJA Action Alert: SAVE SB1390! Ask leaders for a 3rd Read!

SB1390 would release more people into the Transition Program, which provides 90 days of behavioral health programming and reentry assistance to non-violent offenders. The program has existed since 2003 and has a proven track record of success in reducing recidivism.

Eligible individuals are released from prison 90 days prior to their earliest release date (which is 85% of their sentence).

If passed, this bill would potentially release 3,500 individuals this year and 5,000 annually thereafter, greatly reducing the need for the proposed 3,000 new private prison beds and allowing critical state funding to be preserved for other important areas.

The bill will die if it is not given a 3rd read immediately.

Take Action!

CONTACT THESE MEMBERS

Tell them to GIVE SB1390 a THIRD READ!

Senate President Andy Biggs: (602) 926-4371; abiggs@azleg.gov

Sen. Steve Yarbrough, Majority Leader: (602) 926-5863, syarbrough@azleg.gov

Sen. Katie Hobbs, Minority Leader: (602) 926-5325, khobbs@azleg.gov

Suggested Talking Points:

  1. SB1390 has widespread bipartisan support, with unanimous votes in both Judiciary and Appropriations
  2. The recently passed budget includes funding and authorization to expand the Transition Program by 300 participants
  3. The Transition Program has proved to increase pub safety:
    • Year 1 post release…..39% reduction in recidivism.
    • Year 2 post release…..41% reduction in recidivism.
  4. This is NOT a “get out of jail free card.” Individuals are placed into housing and programming, not on the streets.

**If you can blind copy or cc us, we will have a better idea how effective this initiative is.  If you receive responses, even boiler-plate ones, please forward those to us, if possible.

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