Budget negotiations have begun at the state capitol, and the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry (ADCRR) is requesting $1.3 billion for 2022. This is in spite of the fact that the prison population is currently at the lowest level in over a decade.
ADCRR already has the third largest state agency budget, absorbing 11% of the state general fund—more than higher education, child safety, and the Department of Economic Security.
A slew of recent scandals reveal that ADCRR is mismanaging the huge state investment it already has been given. There is virtually no transparency or oversight to monitor how money that’s been allocated to fix broken locks or improve healthcare has been spent, or if there has been any positive impact. Read our complete budget analysis.
Meanwhile, sentencing reform bills that could have safely reduced the prison population and saved millions have been routinely undermined by powerful interests at the state legislature.
Enough is enough.
ACTION ALERT
Tell the Chairs of Appropriations: Stop giving ADCRR more money!
We are calling for an immediate cap on ADCRR spending (no increase over 2021).
Click the links below to send an email to the House and Senate Chairs of the Appropriations Committees, asking Representative Cobb and Senator Gowan to cap the ADCRR budget for FY2022!
Rep. Regina Cobb (R-5)
Sen. David Gowan
Clicking the links above, automatically generates the following email message in your email app:
Dear Rep. Cobb/Senator Gowan,
I am writing to express my concern about the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry budget. The prison population is at the lowest level since 2006 & then the budget was only $707 million compared to $1.3 billion today. Additionally, ADCRR is mismanaging money. There is no update on the $71.7 million appropriated in 2019 to fix locks & issues in healthcare have cost over $8 million in fines to taxpayers.
Instead of paying into this broken system Arizona needs to pass comprehensive sentencing reform. I hope you will stop giving ADCRR more money & cap the budget for FY2022.
Thank you.
ADCRR budget analysis
Read more about our analysis of, and position on, the ADCRR budget.
Categories: Blog