February 9, 2019

Email or Call Speaker Rusty Bowers

Email: RBowers@AzLeg.gov

Call: (602) 926-3128

There is vocal support from many bi-partison legislators and staffers about criminal justice reform, including Rep. Walt Blackman (R-6), the sponsor of HB2270.

However, Rep. John Allen, the Chair of the Judiciary Committee is blocking the bill from being heard. He continues to say he will not hear HB2270, nor any other reform bills that address reforming severe and extended punishments, including HB2362, HB2148, or HB2245.

It’s time to contact John Allen’s boss, Speaker of the House Rusty Bowers

Email/Letter:

Dear Speaker Bowers,

Please hold your committee chair John Allen accountable to hear HB2270, HB2362, HB2148, and HB2245, bills Arizonans, including Rep. Allen’s constituents, want heard.

These criminal justice reform bills need a hearing because:

• You have made public statements about your desire for judicial discretion and allowing earned release credits. Neither HB2245 nor HB2270, bills that address those expressed desires have been put on the House Judiciary Committee agenda. 
   
• Arizona has the 4th highest incarceration rate in the country, and just having a discussion on these bills in committee is important to begin addressing this issue.
   
• Incarceration costs over $1.1 billion to Arizona taxpayers dollars, diverting scarce general funds away from education, child welfare, and other needed state programs. Corrections is the third largest state agency budget, absorbing 11% of the state’s budget dollars. We need to take a look at reform, and these bills being heard in committee allow an avenue for discussion.
   
• Longer time in prison and punishment after release does not make Arizona safer. Arizona recidivism rate is over 50%. Research shows that longer sentences cause diminishing returns to reducing recidivism and enhancing public safety. 
   
• Crime rates nationwide are dropping, and many states including North Carolina and Texas have reduced spending on prisons, made major reforms to their sentencing laws, and seen much greater decreases in crime than Arizona.
   
• Arizonans agree that sentencing reform is important. A newly released poll found:
  • 8 out of 10 voters believe it is important to “reduce the number of people in jail or prison
  • If lawmakers make additional funding available to prevent crime, voters strongly prefer investments in education (41%) and treatment (22%) to jails and prisons (1%)
• Crime victims are just as likely as other voters to support criminal justice reform policies — 80% support reducing the jail and prison population. 

Sincerely,