News & Updates
News & Blog
Updates on our campaigns, policy developments, and perspectives from the front lines of criminal legal system reform in Arizona.
"Every setback is a setup for a comeback."
— Anonymous
SB 1507: What It Does, What It Doesn't, and What Happens Next
A detailed breakdown of Arizona's SB 1507, which created the Independent Correctional Oversight Office but left it unfunded. What the law can do, what it can't, and what advocates, lawmakers, and communities must do next.
Inside Arizona's Prisons: A Conditions Report
This report draws on firsthand accounts and federal litigation to describe what people face inside Arizona prisons regarding health care, heat, staffing, and solitary confinement.
Independent Oversight Implementation Guide
An in-depth guide on establishing independent correctional oversight, highlighting best practices, the spectrum of oversight models, and a campaign roadmap for advocates.
The Phantom Watchdog: Why Arizona's Unfunded Prison Oversight Costs Taxpayers Millions
Arizona created the Independent Correctional Oversight Office in 2025 to monitor state prisons, but left it entirely unfunded. Discover the fiscal, legal, and human costs of a phantom watchdog.
The Anatomy of an Accountability Law: How Arizona Finally Brought Oversight to Its Prisons
Trace the five-year fight to pass SB 1507 and establish independent oversight of the Arizona Department of Corrections. Learn how coalition building and formerly incarcerated leadership changed state law.
Independent Oversight Could Have Stopped The Lewis Prison Lock Disaster
The 2018 Lewis Prison lock disaster left Andrew McCormick dead and exposed Arizona's broken prison oversight. Learn how independent monitoring could have prevented the failures — and why the state still hasn't fixed the problem.
The Right to Petition Behind Bars: How Arizona Restricts Incarcerated People's Access to the Courts
Explore the systemic barriers to court access for incarcerated people in Arizona, including legal mail delays, digital restrictions, and procedural hurdles under the PLRA.
The Legacy of Mass Incarceration in Arizona: Policies, Impacts, and Paths Forward
Explore the history and impact of mass incarceration in Arizona. Discover how truth-in-sentencing laws, private prisons, and systemic disparities affect communities, and learn about evidence-based pathways for reform.
The Arizona State Legislature: 2025 and Beyond
A comprehensive analysis of Arizona's 2025-2026 legislative landscape for prison and sentencing reform. We map factions, bills, budgets, DOJ findings, and evidence-based paths to change.