07/02/2025
🎉 **WE DID IT! WE PASSED OVERSIGHT OF THE ADCRR!** 🎉
Today, SB 1507 passed, establishing truly independent oversight of Arizona's prison system for the first time in state history. This bipartisan victory comes after years of coalition building with partners across the political spectrum—from the American Conservative Union to the ACLU.
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**Why this matters:**
Without independent oversight, Arizona's prison system has operated as a closed system—no external accountability, no transparent investigation process, and no constitutional compliance mechanism. This creates a dangerous environment that harms everyone: ≈34,500 people in ADCRR custody (≈25,000 in state facilities under ongoing 8th Amendment violations from Jensen v. Shinn, plus ≈9,000 in private facilities who can be transferred back at any time) face constitutional violations, while correctional staff work in increasingly unsafe conditions that drive massive attrition and understaffing. When staff can't safely do their jobs due to inadequate resources, training, and support, it creates a vicious cycle: high turnover leads to inexperienced staff, which increases safety risks for everyone, which drives more staff to leave. Meanwhile, staff misconduct goes unchecked because internal investigations lack credibility, and preventable deaths from medical neglect continue because there's no independent authority to investigate and mandate changes. Independent oversight breaks this cycle by creating external accountability that protects both staff and incarcerated people—ensuring safe working conditions, proper training and resources, constitutional compliance, and transparent reporting that builds public trust in the system.
**What's next:** Independent oversight means real transparency, accountability, and ultimately—lives saved.
This victory belongs to every advocate, formerly incarcerated person, family member, and concerned citizen who refused to accept the status quo. When we work together across party lines, we can create real change.
**Ready to keep the momentum going?**
✅ Share this post to spread the word
✅ Donate to Praxis Initiative at https://givebutter.com/oNmY8J
✅ Join our coalition—Arizona's criminal legal system still needs comprehensive reform across all six stages
Together, we're building a more just Arizona—one bill at a time.
