2026 Legislative Session:   No funding bill was passed in order to fund the existing law which establishes the Independent Corrections Oversight Office.  There was bi-partisan support for the funding bill in both chambers, but Sen. Warren Petersen, Senate President, refused to advance the bill though all required committees, so it failed to even reach the Governor's desk.  Very likely that ADCRR Director Ryan Thornell lobbied hard for this office not to be funded.  Behind the scenes, ADCRR is very opposed to opening its doors to unannounced visits by inspectors from an oversight office.

Meanwhile, the bill to establish a home confinement program, operated by ADCRR, and which did not apply to anyone with a violent or sex offense (some other restrictions applied) did not make it to the Governor's office.  Therefore, it failed to pass into law.  Some version of it will be re-introduced in the 2027 session.

KEEP IN MIND THAT EVEN IF A BILL COVERS THE SAME EXACT LANGUAGE OF A BILL INTRODUCED DURING A PREVIOUS LEGISLATIVE SESSION WHICH  DIDN'T PASS INTO LAW, IT WILL BE ASSIGNED A BRAND NEW BILL NUMBER WHEN IT IS RE-INTRODUCED IN THE NEXT SESSION.  NO BILL CARRIES THE SAME BILL NUMBER FROM SESSION TO SESSION, EVEN IF THE WORDING IS REPEATED.

2025 Legislative Session:  SB 1507:  Establishes an Independent Corrections Oversight Office with a Director who is appointed by the Governor and who must be confirmed by the Senate.  While this bill passed into law, it was not FUNDED.  Hence, until or unless private grant money or federal dollars are supplied to provide the projected $1.5 million dollars to start up and operate this office, it will have no immediate impact. (ADCRR is most likely exhaling a sigh of relief).  The bill was passed with strong support of both Republicans and Democrats, so it may have a chance during the 2026 legislative session of being funded with state tax dollars.

RUMORS ABOUND IN PRISON,  NO LAWS HAVE PASSED TO MAKE FLAT-TIME SENTENCES ANYTHING OTHER THAN FLAT-TIME.  NO LAWS HAVE ELIMINATED THE FELONY MURDER LAW IN ARIZONA.  NO LAWS HAVE PASSED WHICH AUTHORIZE CONSECUTIVE SENTENCES TO BE TREATED AS CONCURRENT.  NO LAWS HAVE PASSED WHICH REDUCE SENTENCES OF ANY TYPE FOR SEX OFFENDERS OR VIOLENT OFFENDERS.  NO LAWS HAVE PASSED GRANTING CONJUGAL VISITS TO PRISONERS WITH THEIR SPOUSES.   NO LAWS HAVE PASSED WHICH REDUCE SENTENCES FROM 85% TOS 65%.   NO LAWS HAVE PASSED WHICH ALLOW HOME CONFINEMENT/HOME ARREST FOR ANYONE WHOSE CRIME WAS COMMITTED AFTER JANUARY 1, 1994.   ALL OF THESE RUMORS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO US AND THEY ARE PURE RUMORS. 

DURING LAST YEARS' SESSION A LAW WAS PASSED AND SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR WHICH  REQUIRES A MANDATORY FLAT SENTENCE OF FROM 5 TO 15 YEARS FOR SOMEONE CONVICTED OF SELLING 200 GRAMS OR MORE OF FENTANYL.  THIS LAW WENT INTO EFFECT IN SEPTEMBER 2024.

DURING THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS IN 2024, A VOTER-APPROVED MEASURE PASSED INTO LAW REQUIRING ANYONE CONVICTED OF CHILD SEXUAL TRAFFICKING WILL BE SENTENCED TO NATURAL LIFE IN PRISON WITH NO POSSIBILITY OF RELEASE ON ANY BASIS -- EVER.

THESE HARSHER LAWS -- NOT MORE LENIENT OR LIBERAL ONES -- ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE GAINED TRACTION AT THE LEGISLATURE.

REMEMBER, CONGRESS MEMBERS ONLY VOTE ON FEDERAL PRISON ISSUES OR LAWS.  U.S. CONGRESS MEMBERS DO NOT HAVE ANY IMPACT ON STATE OF ARIZONA CRIMINAL LAWS OR SENTENCING.  WRITING TO CONGRESS MEMBERS OR THE U.S. PRESIDENT SHOULD ONLY BE UNDERTAKEN FOR THOSE SERVING FEDERAL PRISON TIME.  THE U.S. PRESIDENT CAN ONLY GRANT PARDONS OR COMMUTATION OF SENTENCE TO THOSE SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON.