Today, the Pima County (Tucson), Arizona Board of Supervisors passed a historic resolution to prohibit contracting with private, for-profit prison companies like GEO Group or Core Civic (formerly CCA) for jail operations. The American Friends Service Committee – Arizona (AFSC-AZ) welcomes this positive step forward. As states increasingly […]
As you may know, the federal government, including the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, has recently taken steps to end its use of private prisons. It is critical that we take advantage of this moment to build momentum here in Arizona to follow suit. So AFSC-AZ […]
Tucson, AZ— Today, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a memo that acknowledges the need to “reduce our use of private prisons.” For nearly four decades, the criminal justice system has relied on the use of private, for-profit companies to run the federal government’s prisons and […]
While I was incarcerated at Marana State Prison, another inmate gave me a poem she wrote called “What No One Wants to Hear”. *It’s a pretty heavy poem- it captures a lot of the emotion of being incarcerated- anger, sadness, isolation, and inhumanity. I had been in and […]
AFSC Arizona is seeking four people who are familiar with legal documents and research practices for a paid summer internship position, based in Tucson and/or Phoenix, AZ. Researchers will aid in collecting data from court records in either Pima or Maricopa county to be used in statewide criminal […]
Think Arizona spends too much on prisons? Now is your chance to be heard!! After banning public testimony during departmental budget hearings, the House Appropriations Committee has decided to hold a “Budget Conversation Tour,” to solicit public input on the state budget. Gov. Ducey has stated that he wants […]
Last week, the Arizona House Appropriations Committee announced it will not allow any public commentary during budget hearings. On Jan 28, the House banned protesting students from being physically present during the Committee meeting on education funding. At one point, the Sergeant At Arms closed the doors to the […]