Arizona prison system cites comprehensive strategy for safety improvements

The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry has implemented a comprehensive strategy over the past 18 months to improve safety in Arizona’s prison system.

Through the hiring of new correctional officers, increased resources at their disposal, changes in protocol and updated technology, the prison system is seeing positive initial results.

In the month of October, violent incidents were at their lowest levels since early 2023.

What has the ADCRR done to improve safety?

With a focus on improving technological resources, fundamental operations, adding more staff and mental health resources for that staff, ADCRR Director Ryan Thornell has implemented numerous changes.

These include:

• Adding hundreds of newly graduated correctional officers to strengthen security, with a steady pipeline of more training
• Optimizing control room staffing by dedicating staff directly inside close custody control rooms
• Investments to support physical, mental and emotional well-being, including a full-time wellness program administrator, peer-led support teams, 24/7 crisis resources, post-traumatic growth training, fitness programs and more
• Enforcement of stricter classification guidelines to make sure inmates are properly housed in the approved custody matrix
• Implementation of body-worn cameras in maximum custody, close custody and mental health units to provide live, continuous monitoring
• Addition of a modern, digital inmate mail system to limit the introduction of contraband and the phasing out of high-risk items inside housing cells
• Institution of an open-door policy, providing multiple ways for staffers to bring concerns forward in a safe, confidential manner through the Director’s Office and the Office of Professional Standards and Accountability
• Launching of a Violence Reduction Workgroup made up of department staff and external experts to improve prison safety through various measures

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