In his State of the State speech, Governor Doug Ducey said:

“And, if we’re serious about reducing recidivism – and reversing the growth of our prison population, let’s begin by building on the model already working in Pima County: a community corrections center, providing tough love and on-site drug treatment and counseling.”

Gov. Ducey is making positive steps to reduce the Arizona prison population by supporting incarcerated individuals prior to their release by hiring a Reentry Coordinator, and endorsing funding for a Maricopa Community Corrections Center.

Yet his budget recommendation proposed $17.6 million for 2,000 new private prison beds.  That is more than 10 times the amount he wants to spend on the long-term, sustainable solutions to reducing our prison population. Gov. Ducey’s support for reentry and community corrections is a step in the right direction, and if done well, can reduce our prison population dramatically.

His recommendations, combined with proposed legislation for increased releases into the Transition Program means we do not need more prison beds.

Contact Gov. Ducey and key legislators on Monday, February 1^st!

The Dept. of Corrections budget request will be presented in Appropriations Committees on Feb 2^nd and 3^rd. This is our best opportunity to make our voices heard in the budgeting process.

So we are organizing a statewide call-in day for Monday, February 1^st to flood the Governor and Appropriations Committees with calls and emails.

Please contact Gov. Ducey and the Chairs of the Appropriations Committees in the House and Senate.

Governor Doug Ducey, 602.542.4331, engage@az.gov

House Appropriations Chair, Rep. Justin Olson (602) 926-5288. jolson@azleg.gov

House Appropriations Vice-Chair, Rep. Vince Leach (602) 926-3106; vleach@azleg.gov

Senate Appropriations Chair, Sen. Don Shooter, (602) 926-4139; dshooter@azleg.gov

Senate Appropriations Vice-Chair, Sen. John Kavanagh, (602) 926-5170; jkavanagh@azleg.gov

Suggested Talking Points:

• I wholeheartedly support Gov. Ducey’s call to reduce the prison population and thank him for his leadership on this issue
• Legislation proposed this session in addition to the Governor’s recommendations would make new prison beds unnecessary
• Arizona can’t afford another 20-year contract obligation with a private prison company that requires 90% occupancy in its prisons
• I urge you to REJECT the request for funding for new prison beds and instead work with the Governor and reform advocates to pursue alternatives to incarceration to reduce the prison population.

Join the AFSC at our February 1^st Call In Lunch!

Need a little hand holding or just a fun Monday lunch activity? Come into the AFSC office on Monday, February 1^st, from 11am to 3pm, and make a call to your legislator.  Tell them you DO NOT WANT TO BUILD MORE BEDS!  Keep investing in our future by providing real alternatives to prevent recidivism!

Brown bag lunch. We will provide talking points, snacks, and moral support. Bring your cell phone or use one of ours!

AFSC office is located at 103 N. Park Ave., Suite 111, Tucson AZ 85719

We are on the North-West corner of Park Ave. and 10^th St., one block north of Broadway. The entrance to our suite is in the BACK (west side) of the building, off of 10^th St., NOT facing Park.

• Write a letter!

Writing a hand written letter can be one of the most impactful ways to share your voice. The Governor and all state legislators have the same mailing address:

<<NAME, Title>>
1700 West Washington
Phoenix, AZ 85007-2890

• Make a phone call!

Call and leave a message or discuss the exact reasons you don’t support the bed RFP. In the past, we have heard that legislators’ secretaries often tally up the number of calls they get for and against a given proposal, so this can be very effective.

• Make your voice heard on social media! Tweet or Facebook your legislator or the Governor directly

Doug Ducey:   https://www.facebook.com/dougducey

http://instagram.com/dougducey

https://twitter.com/dougducey