Arizona is attempting to reform its sentencing guidelines to curb the amount of those incarcerated and attempt to return those who are safe , back to society to reform their own lives. With many opposing the reform it is facing a uphill battle. For those not familiar with Arizona sentencing , it has been long tradition of
" lock em up and throw away the key ". Arizona prison system has roughly 42,000 inmates and is currently at 95% capacity ( 2018 ). Of these recent stats 70% of these new arrivals are non - violent offenders. Arizona DOC inmates serve 25 - 100% more time incarcerated than the national average. Arizona is fourth in the nation for the most incarcerated. The modern day view now is changing Arizona corrections from a retribution penal state to a more rehabilitation state. It is almost a one out of four people have either been to jail or prison in Arizona. And the tide and ramifications because of this looks to be soon reversed. We saw some reform start at the local levels when courts adopted " Veteran Courts " to help alternative avenues for veterans that found themselves on the wrong side of the law. Local rehabilitation services for addicts were not only implemented on the local level but also state level as well. The hard line approach of Sheriff " Joe's ( Maricopa County Sheriff ) pink underwear " is fading fast.
HB2270 has been written with the following sentencing changes but we should remember the bill is still in the building stages and has been read twice in the Arizona House or Representatives. The bill was assigned 1/24/2019.
Non - violent offenses reduction to 50%
Dangerous Offenders reduction to 75%
DCAC ( Dangerous Crimes Against Children ) reduction to 85%
Taking on Arizona sentencing guidelines is no small task. As many know computation of sentences within Arizona Criminal code is the most backwards , upside down , forward , sideways complex system there can be. So considering why it took so long to reform is easily understood. This doesn't make it right but does explain the chaos. And of course many inmates and family's separated from those inmates receive the brunt of the results.
Now HB2270 reduces the time of incarceration. And in turn increases the time that the inmate serves on " Community Supervision ". Which means depending on the offense and severity will determine the amount of monitoring that will be required by AZDOC to continue the sentence but on Community Supervision.
HB2270 also has some revisions to go through. There are some questions arising about the computation and whether this applies to " Flat - time " sentences. If so how? There are many experts working on this at this time and hopefully will have the bill not only apply to new criminal cases but also retroactively.
https://corrections.az.gov/sites/default/files/REPORTS/CAG/2018/cagdec18.pdf
https://corrections.az.gov/sites/default/files/documents/PDFs/adc-appropriationsreport_fy2019_0.pdf
https://36shgf3jsufe2xojr925ehv6-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/The-High-Price-of-Prison-Growth.pdf
https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/issue-briefs/2018/03/more-imprisonment-does-not-reduce-state-drug-problems
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