Arizona Prisons

Republic, KJZZ investigation examines how prison labor works
After 15 months of gathering and analyzing more than 11,000 documents and building a computer program that downloaded tens of thousands of public profiles about prisoners that the Arizona Department of Corrections refused to provide, reporters at the Arizona Republic and KJZZ News found that prison labor has become ubiquitous across the state.
More Arizona prison news
browning unit prison
A new analysis of data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics shows "unnatural" deaths in state prisons nationwide are increasing while the total state prison population has remained relatively steady. The nonpartisan advocacy group Prison Policy Initiative reviewed state prison mortality data from 2001 to 2018.
Jun. 8, 2021
After the state was forced to reevaluate how its prison health care contractor conducts mental health encounters, newly submitted reports show plummeting rates of compliance with court-ordered benchmarks.
May. 27, 2021
Arizona Department of Corrections headquarters
The Arizona Department of Corrections announced it will be resuming in-person visitations in state prisons in a limited capacity.
May. 27, 2021
KJZZ logo generic card
A federal judge has denied compassionate release from prison for a Phoenix man convicted of making false statements to FBI agents and witness tampering during the investigation of a terror attack six years ago in suburban Dallas.
May. 27, 2021
The court granted requests from Attorney General Mark Brnovich to set briefing schedules for pursuing warrants of execution for Arizona prisoners Frank Atwood and Clarence Dixon.
More Arizona Prison News
May. 25, 2021
Arizona Department of Corrections headquarters
A coalition of advocacy groups has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice seeking an investigation into allegations that the Arizona Department of Corrections is violating the religious rights of incarcerated people.
May. 24, 2021
Arizona Department of Corrections record
Inspection reports from Arizona Department of Corrections monitors, Arizona Department of Health Services employees and private contractors reveal many of the kitchens and storage warehouses in Arizona prisons are infested with pests. Twelve months of inspection reports detail filthy conditions, broken equipment and frequent use of expired food.
More Arizona Prison News
May. 16, 2021
Arizona Department of Corrections headquarters
Attorneys for death row prisoner Frank Atwood asked the Arizona Supreme Court to send his case to a lower court due their concerns regarding the window of usability for the state’s proposed lethal injection drugs.
May. 3, 2021
Arizona Department of Corrections headquarters
Attorneys for two Arizona death row prisoners are pushing back on a recent request from the state’s Attorney General to schedule dates for their executions.
Apr. 23, 2021
Arizona Department of Corrections headquarters
The Arizona Department of Corrections is potentially facing additional fines and oversight for failures to provide adequate health care in state prisons.
More Arizona Prison News
Apr. 16, 2021
Arizona Department of Corrections headquarters
Reporting from the Guardian has revealed the cost of Arizona’s renewed pursuit of the death penalty.
Apr. 9, 2021
Frank Atwood (left) and Clarence Dixon
Prosecutors have told the Arizona Supreme Court that they intend on soon seeking execution warrants for two death-row inmates in what would be the state’s first executions in almost seven years.
Apr. 7, 2021
Arizona State Capitol building
Recent legislative sessions have begun with hopes for passing bipartisan bills related to criminal justice reform. Some progress has been made, but the bills signed by Gov. Ducey are considered to be rather modest. The Show spoke with Kurt Altman, the state director in Arizona and New Mexico for the group Right on Crime.
Mar. 31, 2021
PACER record
The Arizona Department of Corrections says it will appeal the latest contempt fine for failing to provide constitutional health care in state prisons.
Mar. 26, 2021
Tonto National Forest
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey recently signed legislation that allows 700 more inmates over the next two years to help reduce the risk of wildfires by thinning out an area. Tiffany Davila, a spokesperson for the Department of Forestry and Fire Management, says the move should help reduce the risk of Arizona wildfires.
Mar. 24, 2021
prison cells at Arizona State Prison Complex
Arizona inmates in a maximum security unit at the Eyman state prison in Florence say they are holding a hunger strike in protest of unsanitary conditions. Contacted via email, multiple incarcerated people say they are refusing meals in protest of inedible food, bug infestations and a lack of clean clothing.
Mar. 22, 2021
Lower Buckeye Jail
Maricopa County jails have begun vaccinating inmates. Correctional Health Services, the health care provider for Maricopa County jails, began vaccinating inmates age 55 and older Thursday morning.
Mar. 18, 2021
barbed wire at an arizona prison
A recent report by a consultant says Arizona could save more than $1 billion by reforming its criminal justice system. Current state law mandates Arizona inmates must serve 85% of their prison sentence, no matter what type of crime they committed.
Mar. 14, 2021
prison cells at Arizona State Prison Complex
Arizona Department of Health Services Director Dr. Cara Christ said Friday that the Department of Corrections confirmed it had begun vaccinating inmates in prison infirmaries and it was planning to roll out vaccines to the rest of the population by age.
Mar. 12, 2021
Gavel
A federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit that claimed private prisons used by the state violate constitutional protections including a prohibition against slavery.
Mar. 11, 2021

Pages

Subscribe to Arizona Prisons