Arizona

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John Norton, 202-999-4268
jnorton@famm.org

FAMM releases statement following Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs plan to introduce independent prison oversight

PHOENIX – FAMM President Kevin Ring released the following statement after Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs introduced a plan for independent prison oversight in the state.

“We applaud Governor Hobbs for taking this important step to address Arizona’s prison crisis,” Ring said. “Independent oversight will improve the safety and health of incarcerated people and correctional officers. “You can’t fix problems without knowing they exist. Oversight will bring much needed transparency and accountability. We are hopeful that this oversight program, along with the appointment of the new state prison director, signal a commitment to a safer prison system.”

Prison oversight has broad, bipartisan support nationally, with an overwhelming 82% of those polled responding that they believe “that states and the federal government should have a system of independent oversight for their prisons.”

The results were based on an online survey conducted by Robert Blizzard of Public Opinion Strategies. It was a national survey of 1000 registered voters via online. The survey was conducted on behalf of Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM) from July 29-August 3, 2022 and has a credibility interval of + 3.53%.

FAMM has advocated independent prison oversight for years; it’s one of the top issues family members bring up when discussing their incarcerated loved ones. The ongoing Visit A Prison campaign encourages lawmakers to tour the prisons in their jurisdiction, and catalogs the visits on a map of the United States.

For more than three decades, FAMM has united the voices of affected families, the formerly incarcerated, and a range of stakeholders and advocates to fight for a more fair and effective justice system. FAMM has led the fight to reform extreme mandatory sentencing laws and to promote rehabilitation and dignity for all people in prison, 94 percent of whom will return to our neighborhoods one day.

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FAMM is a national nonpartisan advocacy organization that promotes fair and effective criminal justice policies that safely reduce incarceration, save taxpayer dollars, and keep families together. Founded in 1991, FAMM has secured bold sentencing and prison reform across the country while elevating the voices of directly impacted individuals and families.