In a significant move reflecting a shift in strategy and philosophy, The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry (ADCRR) has recently requested funding for the fiscal year 2023 to commence the gradual discontinuation of fees imposed on deposits into prisoner accounts and visitor background checks. This thrust anticipates supplementing the Department’s building renewal fund – a fund dedicated to maintaining and improving the infrastructure within the state’s correctional facilities.
The fees in question have been an integral part of the ADCRR fiscal strategy for years, serving as a key source of revenue for the Department. Recognizing the potential burden these costs can place on inmate families and friends, the ADCRR is pushing for changes that champion the welfare of all involved parties.
For years, families and friends of the inmates have been compelled to shoulder the financial burden when making deposits to inmate accounts. ADCRR levies a fee depending on the nature of the deposit, which goes towards defraying the costs associated with running and maintaining the state’s correctional system. Additionally, the fees for visitor background checks not only provide revenue for the ADCRR but also shore up costs associated with ensuring the safety and security of everyone inside the correctional facility.
Facing criticism, the Department is endeavoring to strike a balance between lessening this financial burden on inmate families and maintaining the quality of the prison facilities in Arizona. The proposal to phase out these fees, pending approval, is a step towards prioritizing the welfare of inmates and their families — without compromising the sustainability of our corrections facilities.
“With our focus on providing an environment that encourages rehabilitation and reentry into society, this fee elimination and the required request for supplementing funding for the building renewal fund is Arizona’s way of acknowledging that small, seemingly insignificant fees can add up significantly for an inmate’s family,” stated a representative from ADCRR.
The discontinuation of these charges and the accompanying funding request is in line with a national trend towards justice reform. Other states have undertaken similar measures, acknowledging that serving time should not equate to creating undue financial strain on inmates or their families. Lifting these fees in Arizona correctional facilities would surely bring some much-needed relief to the affected families.
Although the proposal and requisite funding request has been made, it remains in the hands of the state legislature. Should the proposal be accepted, Arizona will join the growing number of states taking small but crucial steps forward in advocating for a more humane and equitable justice system.
Despite the uncertainty, one thing remains clear: this proposal signals a progressive shift in the ADCRR’s long-standing policies. Transiting from a fee-based model to one that relies on direct funding signifies a larger shift recognizing and addressing the indispensable value of improving the lives of inmates and their families.
As we wait for the legislature’s decision, let’s take a moment to appreciate the potential for change in our correctional system, an evolution that seeks to balance fiscal responsibility with empathy and understanding for those impacted by the costs of the justice system. Let’s hope that Arizona can lead the way in effecting meaningful changes that, at their core, hold the promise of increased fairness and understanding in our society.
Stay tuned for future updates regarding the decision and its implications on the ADCRR’s fiscal policy strategy and the wider Arizona correctional system as a whole.
