ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
inmates; early release; drug
treatment
Requires the Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC) to
establish a program for the early release of inmates who would benefit from
participation in a drug treatment program.
According to the National
Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, 80 percent of
adults in U.S. prisons are incarcerated because of criminal activities linked
to drug and alcohol abuse. A 1997 audit
by the Administrative Office of the Courts showed a positive correlation
between treatment and successful completion of probation by released offenders.
The Joint Legislative Budget
Committee (JLBC) estimates that releasing an inmate from prison six months
early saves five to eight thousand dollars. However, because the cost of
providing each qualified inmate with drug treatment is unknown by JLBC, the
fiscal impact of S.B. 1238 on the state general fund is indiscernible at this
time.
1. Requires ADC to establish a program for the early release of inmates who would benefit from participation in a drug treatment program. Requires ADC to cooperate with the Department of Health Services, the Supreme Court and the Board of Executive Clemency to adopt rules implementing this program.
2.
Requires ADC to incorporate into its rules inmate
screening by a licensed residential treatment facility.
3.
Requires ADC rules to provide for the release of a
qualified inmate to a level two or level three behavioral health residential
facility six months before the inmate's earliest scheduled release date.
4.
Provides for a general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Staff
January 26, 2001