ADCRR THANKS GOVERNOR DOUG DUCEY FOR HIS HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC SAFETY

January 14, 2022
Press Release

PHOENIX—The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry strongly supports Governor Doug Ducey’s Executive Budget that focuses on our front-line officers. ADCRR currently has more than 1,800 vacant correctional officer positions at our prison complexes. The Executive Budget proposes $129.6M for pay increases for these and other key positions. ADCRR cannot fully support our mission without these resources, which provide solutions to key challenges in recruitment, retention, and provision of programs the Department currently faces. Governor Ducey clearly sees these needs and is proposing the necessary investments to operate and provide all services to fully support our mission of public safety, rehabilitation, and reentry.

“On behalf of the men and women of ADCRR, I want to thank Governor Ducey for his visionary leadership, and his support and unprecedented investment in our most valuable resource—our staff whom we cannot achieve our public safety and rehabilitation mission without,” said David Shinn, ADCRR Director. “This historic budget recognizes the challenges law enforcement is facing nationally and addresses critical needs head-on.  His pro-public safety investment in our Department will not only help us continue to recruit and retain outstanding men and women for crucial public safety positions, but it will also provide vital support for rehabilitative  treatment and programs, building renewal projects, and much-needed transportation improvements.”

The Governor’s Executive Budget additionally includes: 

  • Fully fund the Building Renewal formula, for the second year in a row, by providing ADCRR with $32.6M to address high-need capital projects, mitigate deferred maintenance issues, and reduce future replacement costs.
  • $18M for critical Fire and Life Safety projects at four ADCRR prison complexes: ASPC’s Lewis, Eyman, Tucson, and Perryville. These funds will be used to enhance safety and security for both staff and inmates.  
  • The Executive Budget also includes proposed funding of $42.3M, with additional funds provided in FY 24, FY25, and FY26 to replace the outdated evaporative cooling systems currently being utilized in most of our complexes.  This will drastically improve the living conditions for those in our custody and care while also enhancing the working conditions for staff.  
  • The Executive Budget also proposes to establish a Fleet Replacement funding source of $7.4M per year.  This funding will allow the Department to replace approximately 10% of our oldest vehicles annually.  Reliable transportation is essential for maintaining public safety during the transportation of inmates that occurs statewide on a daily basis.
  • The Executive Budget includes $9.5M to purchase body scanners to improve contraband detection which will bolster public safety for our communities while also enhancing the safety of our staff and inmates.

ADCRR is grateful for the pro-public safety initiative and support of Governor Ducey in keeping #AZUnstoppable.

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