Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey says future of Tent City still up in the air
Jan 17, 2018, 6:22 PM | Updated: 6:32 pm
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
PHOENIX — Tent City, Maricopa County’s infamous outdoor jail, closed its doors at the direction of Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone last year, but state and county officials are still unsure about what to put in its place.
In an interview with KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Mac and Gaydos, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey said he wants to turn the space into a second chance center that would be used to help inmates secure opportunities once they leave prison.
“What I want to see — what’s important to me as governor is when someone has served their time and paid their debt to society and is lawfully released from prison, I want to see them have an opportunity to make a better decision. To have a job.”
During his State of the State address, Ducey emphasized that one of his priorities in 2018 was to reduce the state’s recidivism rate and “get people off the streets…with the goal of shutting down prisons, not building new ones.”
Ducey said the second chance centers would give former inmates a “real second chance.”
“When someone’s in the last 6 months of their term they’re getting a resume written, they’re getting job skills, learning to be an electrician, welder, food services, that’s what I’m going to move forward.”
In an interview on Tuesday with Mac and Gaydos, Penzone said he would like to work with the governor to finalize a plan for the space and Ducey did not disagree with that sentiment.
“We can work with people all over the state. We’re looking for a way to do that with our state prison system.”
But when it comes down to it, Ducey said, the site formerly known as Tent City is county property.
