Arizona defunds new independent watchdog for troubled prisons

In Arizona, weeks after the passage of Senate Bill 1507, which aimed to establish an independent oversight office for the troubled Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR), the funding for this office was removed from the state budget. This decision came after years of reports highlighting severe medical neglect and inhumane treatment of incarcerated individuals in the state. John Fabricius, a former inmate who spent 15 years in the ADCRR, has advocated for transparency and improved conditions within the prison system since his release in 2018. He described numerous incidents of neglect, including a friend who lost his sight due to delayed medical treatment. The issue of medical care within Arizona prisons has been contentious, with litigation ongoing for over a decade, resulting in the ADCRR facing significant fines and being found in violation of settlement agreements regarding prison conditions. The oversight office was originally set to receive $1.5 million in funding, but this financial backing became a point of contention in negotiations between Governor Katie Hobbs’ office and the legislature, eventually leading to the stripping of the budget. Despite these setbacks, advocates like Fabricius see potential in separating the oversight office from state funding, arguing that it might curtail governmental influence over its operations. The future of the watchdog office remains uncertain as it looks for alternative funding sources while continuing to seek improvement in the ADCRR's treatment of incarcerated individuals.