Phoenix, Arizona
REVISED
interstate compact; adult
offender supervision
Purpose
Updates the existing Parole
and Probation Interstate Compact (the Compact) to allow for more accurate
tracking of offenders and more consistency regarding supervision definitions,
notification of victims and law enforcement, and compliance mechanisms.
Background
The existing Parole and
Probation Interstate Compact was created in 1937 when far fewer offenders were
supervised outside of the states where they were sentenced. According to the Council of State
Governments, over a quarter of a million parolees and probationers are now supervised
under the Compact, a compact viewed by the Council as outdated. The intent of
the new compact is to address issues related to victims, supervision and
enforcement.
The Council of State
Governments, the Probation and Parole Compact Administrators Association, the
American Probation and Parole Association, and the National Institute of
Corrections have all endorsed the idea of a new compact. Language for the new compact was drafted by
a national drafting team consisting of representatives from superior courts,
departments of correction, district attorneys offices and other agency
representatives.
Thirty-five states and
territories must pass the Compact before it may take effect. In 2000, nine states signed the Compact into
law. The first 35 participating states
will be able to assist in the administrative, by-law and rulemaking decisions.
According to the
Administrative Office of the Courts, as of July 2000 the State of Arizona
supervised 1,210 probationers and 414 parolees from other states and in the
same month 1,634 probationers and 325 parolees from Arizona were being
supervised in other states.
1. Standardizes the definition of supervision for probationers and parolees.
2. Allows a state’s Compact administrator to notify communities, victims and law enforcement when offenders move between states.
3. Allows a participating state to have recourse against other participating states that do not abide by the Compact.
4. Establishes a national Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision.
5. Creates state councils responsible for appointing commissioners to the national commission as well as providing oversight and advocacy and specifies the membership of Arizona’s state council.
6. Requires that Arizona’s annual assessment for the Interstate Commission shall not exceed $25,000 per year unless approved by the Arizona state council and appropriated by the Legislature.
7. Provides for a general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Judiciary Committee
1. Clarifies Arizona’s state council membership.
2. Requires the assessment to be under $25,000 unless approval is received.
3. Makes the language of the bill more specific to Arizona.
Amendments Adopted by Appropriations Committee
Adopts the Judiciary Committee amendment.
Senate Action
JUD 2/20/01 DPA 5-3-0-0
APPROP 3/6/01 DPA 9-1-2-0
Prepared by Senate Staff
March 9, 2001