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OFFICERS PROTECT ARIZONA
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criminals in prison.
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Law enforcement officers are supporting HB 2131, which would keep state prisons for violent teen criminals open until July 2015.
HB 2131, which has already passed the House of Representatives and is expected to be approved by the State Senate, puts the brakes on the Governor's plan to release violent criminals in July 2010.
But despite the will of the Legislature on this important public safety issue, Gov. Brewer is expected to veto the bill. Even now, she is meeting with state employees to plan the closure of building and the transition of services to county governments.
Learn More about HB 2131 and Monitor its Status.
HB 2131, which has already passed the House of Representatives and is expected to be approved by the State Senate, puts the brakes on the Governor's plan to release violent criminals in July 2010.
But despite the will of the Legislature on this important public safety issue, Gov. Brewer is expected to veto the bill. Even now, she is meeting with state employees to plan the closure of building and the transition of services to county governments.
Learn More about HB 2131 and Monitor its Status.
County governments are not equipped to house and rehabilitate the most violent juvenile criminals in Arizona.
Counties do not have the resources to house and supervise hardened juvenile
criminals. In July 2010, these worst of the worst juvenile felons -- including sex offenders, murderers, and thieves -- will be released into neighborhoods with no oversight or supervision.
County juvenile detention centers are not designed or properly staffed to provide long-term incarceration. Federal law requires that teen criminals be housed separately from adult prisoners, and teens must be rehabilitated and educated.
State prison schools currently provide these programs utilizing educated and highly trained professionals who are dedicated to the mission of changing the delinquent thinking and behaviors of juvenile offenders.
As part of State Sunset Review, the Auditor General's Office conducted a complete review of ADJC operations in September 2009. ADJC was found to be a well-performing agency in spite of 15 percent staff reduction and nearly $20 million in budget cuts from FY 2007. ADJC was recommended for continuation.
See the audit
Shifting the financial burden of juvenile incarceration from the state to counties forces local governments to raise your taxes.
To incarcerate and adequately supervise teenage inmates, counties will be forced to raise taxes at a time when all of Arizona is struggling.
The Governor's plan
wastes your tax dollars
Arizonans have already spent millions of dollars building ADJC facilities and training its employees to deal with juvenile inmates in ways that comply with federal law. The Governor wants to flush this long-term investment in public safety and security down the toilet.
Counties do not have the resources to house and supervise hardened juvenile
criminals. In July 2010, these worst of the worst juvenile felons -- including sex offenders, murderers, and thieves -- will be released into neighborhoods with no oversight or supervision.
County juvenile detention centers are not designed or properly staffed to provide long-term incarceration. Federal law requires that teen criminals be housed separately from adult prisoners, and teens must be rehabilitated and educated.
State prison schools currently provide these programs utilizing educated and highly trained professionals who are dedicated to the mission of changing the delinquent thinking and behaviors of juvenile offenders.
As part of State Sunset Review, the Auditor General's Office conducted a complete review of ADJC operations in September 2009. ADJC was found to be a well-performing agency in spite of 15 percent staff reduction and nearly $20 million in budget cuts from FY 2007. ADJC was recommended for continuation.
See the audit
Shifting the financial burden of juvenile incarceration from the state to counties forces local governments to raise your taxes.
To incarcerate and adequately supervise teenage inmates, counties will be forced to raise taxes at a time when all of Arizona is struggling.
The Governor's plan
wastes your tax dollars
Arizonans have already spent millions of dollars building ADJC facilities and training its employees to deal with juvenile inmates in ways that comply with federal law. The Governor wants to flush this long-term investment in public safety and security down the toilet.
On Jan. 15, as part of the State Budget Package, Gov. Jan Brewer proposed to eliminate the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections claiming it would save $67 million. The plan calls for closure of all juvenile correctional facilities by July 2010. All inmates will be sent to their home counties. When the facilities close, 900 officers and staff will be out of work, as well as teachers, mental health professionals and medical personnel.
The Governor's proposal
must be stopped.
must be stopped.
KNOW THE FACTS
PROTECT ARIZONA | Copyright 2010 AZCOPS | All Rights Reserved.
Working Together to PROTECT ARIZONA!
PROTECT ARIZONA!
KNOW THE FACTS:
The Governor's plan
to close prisons for violent
juveniles puts Arizona
communities at risk.
The Governor's plan
to close prisons for violent
juveniles puts Arizona
communities at risk.
FACT:
The average cost per day per youth in the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections is about $182.96.
Source: ADJC.
The average cost per day per youth in the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections is about $182.96.
Source: ADJC.