It’s Time to Fund Independent Prison Oversight in Arizona!

Last year, a bipartisan group of Arizona lawmakers took a major step toward ensuring accountability in the state’s prisons by passing SB1507, creating the long overdue Independent Correctional Oversight Office.

This office was designed to monitor prison conditions, investigate complaints, and ensure the health, safety, and rights of both correctional staff and incarcerated people — finally creating some accountability in the state’s prison system.

But more than a year later, the office still does not exist. Why? Because it was never funded.

Without independent oversight, Arizona’s prison system continues to face serious and well-documented issues — including violence, suicides, and dangerously inadequate medical and mental health care. In fact, conditions have become so severe that a federal judge recently ordered a federal takeover of prison healthcare.

This is unacceptable.

This year, lawmakers again showed strong support by passing HB2063 and SB1032 to fund the oversight office. Now, $1.5 million must be included in the state budget to finally make this office a reality.

Arizona cannot afford further delay.

We call on Arizona’s lawmakers and the Governor to:

Include full funding for the Independent Correctional Oversight Office in the FY2026 state budget
Ensure the office is established without further delay
Prioritize the safety, transparency, and accountability of Arizona’s prison system

This is about safety. This is about accountability. This is about doing what was already agreed upon and signed into law.

Fund the oversight office now!

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Dear Governor Hobbs and Distinguished Members of the Arizona State Legislature,

I am writing to urge you to prioritize funding for the Independent Correctional Oversight Office in Arizona’s 2026 budget.

Last year, the legislature passed SB1507 with broad bipartisan support, establishing this office to provide the desperately needed independent oversight of Arizona’s prison system. The office was designed to inspect facilities, investigate complaints, and report on critical issues including safety, healthcare, staffing, and rehabilitation.

However, because no funding was included in the budget, the office has still not been created.

In the absence of independent oversight, serious concerns within Arizona’s prisons continue to persist. There are reports of violence, suicides, and inadequate medical and mental health care, and conditions have deteriorated to the point that a federal judge recently ordered a federal takeover of prison healthcare services.

This year, the legislature has again demonstrated strong support by advancing HB2063 and SB1032, which include $1.5 million to fund the oversight office. Now, it is essential that this funding be included in the final state budget.

As budget negotiations begin, I urge you to:

Include full funding for the Independent Correctional Oversight Office
Ensure the office is established and operational without further delay
Uphold the legislature’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and safety

This office represents a critical step toward improving conditions for both correctional staff and incarcerated individuals, while strengthening public trust in our state’s institutions.

Arizona has already done the hard work of passing this reform. Now, we need to follow through once-and-for-all.

Thank you for your time and consideration.