Senate Republicans Call for Action Amid Alarming Rise in Arizona Prison Inmate Deaths

By Jonathan Eberle |

Arizona Senate Republicans are raising alarms following the recent murder of an inmate at Lewis Prison Complex, marking the 11th homicide in the state’s correctional facilities this fiscal year. This figure starkly contrasts with the average of two deaths annually over the past four years.

Lawmakers have called upon the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry (ADCRR) Director Ryan Thornell and Governor Katie Hobbs to address this escalating public safety issue within prisons. Senate Public Safety Committee Chairman Kevin Payne emphasized the urgency of the situation. “We’re running out of time to identify and fix the security failures within our correctional system. It’s not just inmates; our officers are increasingly at risk, too,” he stated.

Payne highlighted not only the homicide at Lewis Prison but also a recent assault involving multiple correctional officers at a facility in Florence. Senate Majority Leader Janae Shamp attributed the violence to staffing shortages and what she termed overly lenient policies for inmates. “Corrections officers face real threats daily. ADCRR’s current policies grant inmates excessive freedom, jeopardizing safety and order,” she asserted, urging Governor Hobbs to reassert control over correctional facilities.

Majority Whip Frank Carroll reinforced this sentiment, underscoring the government’s responsibility to protect its citizens. “Eleven inmate homicides in one year is unacceptable. Arizona is clearly failing on this front,” he remarked.

Concerns were echoed by Senate Military Affairs and Border Security Committee Chairman David Gowan, who criticized the perceived lack of support from the executive branch. “Our prisons are underfunded, understaffed, and plagued by criminal activity,” he noted. Gowan lamented that proposed solutions have been ignored by the administration, leaving pressing issues unaddressed.

Previous Republican proposals aimed to enhance staffing levels, boost officer salaries, and upgrade security infrastructure, yet these initiatives have faced resistance in the legislature.

Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.