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Ariz. part of prison, crime study
Council seeking ways to curb inmate influx

Amanda J. Crawford
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 7, 2007 12:00 AM

Facing burgeoning prison growth that will cost taxpayers billions over the next decade, Arizona has been selected to take part in a multimillion-dollar research project examining crime and prison trends and developing possible policy solutions.

The Council of State Governments' Justice Center announced Tuesday that Arizona was one of five states selected as part of the new initiative that will look for ways to curb prison population growth projected to be as high as 50 percent over the next decade. A new analysis unveiled to launch the research project shows that left unchecked, growth could cost taxpayers and additional $3 billion over the next decade. That's on top of a corrections budget that is approaching nearly $1 billion per year.

The Justice Reinvestment project, funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts and the U.S. Department of Justice, plans to release a detailed report on crime and prison trends and policy options for Arizona next month. The hope is that the report could help state officials find ways to address the root cause of crime and invest money in the most fruitful ways.
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"There should be a discussion on what does the data show that will have the biggest impact on crime in the state," said James Austin, of the JFA Institute, a researcher for the project. "That's something that Republicans and Democrats agree we need to do before just doing more of the same."

Arizona's prison system grew by more than 50 percent over the past decade, and corrections spending has doubled from $409 million in fiscal 1997 to $817 million in fiscal 2007. The prison population, now around 35,000 could grow to nearly 57,000 if current trends continue, the group estimates. That would be a huge strain on the state budget, prison capacity and manpower.

The state prison system is already understaffed. It is underfunded by more than 4,000 beds. And corrections officials are asking for more money to place nearly 2,000 inmates in temporary private prison cells elsewhere, while planning to squeeze about 1,300 inmates into existing facilities by double-bunking or using tents, Corrections Director Dora Schriro said.

Some legislators involved in the project said they hope to find ways to target state resources to reduce crime and address prison growth. The suggestions from the experts could range from sentencing reforms to changes in incarceration practices to community-intervention strategies.

Sen. John Huppenthal, a Chandler Republican who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, said researchers are developing maps that show which neighborhoods spawn the most criminals. That could allow policymakers to target state dollars for intervention programs and encourage more community outreach in those areas. He also looks forward to learning from experts involved in programs in other states, like New York, where violent crime has fallen.

"I think it is an incredible opportunity to bring the best research to Arizona on how we can reduce violent crime," said Huppenthal, who also serves on the Justice Center's board of directors. But he was quick to point out that he's not "soft" on crime and is not as interested in recommendations that could address Arizona's sentencing policies, which are among the toughest in the nation.

Austin points out that Arizona is unique in the nation by having long sentences and no parole for many non-violent offenses.

In Texas, where the Justice Reinvestment project released its findings last week, legislators have been holding hearings to discuss policy suggestions from the group. Among the recommendations in Texas: more drug and alcohol treatment and releasing non-violent substance abusers from prison earlier into halfway houses.

Rep. Bill Konopnicki, R-Safford, said he hopes the group's work in Arizona gets the public thinking more about tough-on-crime policies that have grown prison numbers but may not be reducing crime. Konopnicki led a legislative work group whose lengthy report in 2005 recommending alternatives to prison and sentence reductions for non-violent offenders went nowhere.

"It's easy to say on TV, 'Lock them up let them do the time,' " said Konopnicki, who believes the state needs more balanced approach, including electronic monitoring to allow for more intensive probation. "Our report was objective, but people said the people that did it were soft on crime. This is going to have facts and numbers and compare us to other states. . . . This is huge."