Middle Ground Prison Reform

Testified on ombudsman/oversight today. Expressed support for the concept but concerns about bill as written. Invited to submit amendments by sponsor. Democracy works.

The federal district court of Arizona has placed the ADCRR in receivership for its failing inmate healthcare system. She excoriated Ryan Thornell, calling his claims of improvements amnestic, duplicitous, or both. She didn’t use the word “liars,” but came really, really close.

Funding for Independent Correctional Oversight Office still uncertain azcapitoltimes.com/news/2026/01/2…

I’m so honored to be recognized by Arizona Capitol Times for the second time as “Unsung Hero.” Congratulations to all honorees.

I am extremely honored to be named a second time! Thank you Az. Capitol Times. Women Achievers of Arizona 2025 – Winners azcapitoltimes.com/news/2025/09/2…

Prison oversight office stalled due to funding problems in Arizona kold.com/2025/08/08/pri…

Here’s a podcast we recently finished. youtu.be/iae0rqSDTNE

@fab_john Congratulations on SB 1507 which the Governor signed into law. You put your heart and soul into it and can be proud of the outcome : well done! Now, more than ever, oversight is needed.

Killing spree at Tucson prison could have been prevented, critics say azcentral.com/story/news/loc… via @azcentral

We visit every year and it just keeps getting more spectacular each time. Merry Christmas to you & family.

To all those incarcerated in jails and prisons throughout Arizona, and to the families who love them, we will keep fighting —as we have for 40 years — to define and protect your constitutional rights.

Wishing a blessed Thanksgiving to the thousands of incarcerated people and their loved ones who maintain hope for mercy and grace from those who judge them. We all need an extra bit of compassion toward each other these days.

Monitoring reports show prison health care provider NaphCare, Arizona still noncompliant after 2022 case azcapitoltimes.com/news/2024/10/0…

IV: GEO Group, Centurion allegedly mismanaged COVID-19 in Arizona prisons citizensforethics.org/reports-invest…

II: Records reveal allegations of Arizona prisoners suffering rampant mistreatment and neglect during COVID citizensforethics.org/reports-invest…

@TheRickWilson I literally couldn’t read this all the way through aloud to my husband as I was choking with laughter.

Couchfucker, A Hillybilly Elegy Story: In the dim glow of the late afternoon sun through the trailer’s coal-dust stained windows cast its warm embrace upon the living room, J.D. found himself captivated by the soft, inviting curves of the worn-out couch. It wasn't just a piece of furniture to him; it was a comforting presence, whispering promises of hidden delights through its frayed fabric and sagging cushions. His fingers traced the patterns of the upholstery, feeling an inexplicable connection, an intimacy that transcended the ordinary. He often sat there for hours, losing himself in the tactile sensation of the fabric against his skin, the faint scents of his family’s history embedded in its fibers. It was an intersection, like his feelings during the annual family reunion, that combined shame and arousal. J.D. had to admit it to himself; he was polyfurniamorous. Everything in the room struck a deep chord of desire; his infatuations and lusts weren’t limited to the couch. The antique-styled melamine coffee table with its printed veneer surface stirred something deep within him. He admired the craftsmanship, the way each groove and edge seemed to beckon his touch. On quiet evenings, he would pour himself a glass of corn liquor and sit by the table, imagining the hands that once crafted it, the lives it had silently observed. He knew the stains on its surface would tell many a tale of life in the holler, particularly under UV light. The old armchair by the window held a special place in J.D.’s heart. It was where he felt the most at ease, the most understood. The chair's worn velour surface and creaky joints seemed to respond to his every move, almost as if it were alive, sharing his burdens and joys. He would sink into its embrace face down, feeling the weight of his troubles lift as he closed his eyes and let the chair cradle him. In those moments of release, J.D. felt a deep, unspoken bond, a romance that defied the conventional, a love that was as enduring and unyielding as life in the holler itself.

Breaking: ADCRR has to pay $2.65 million in attorneys fees to Prison Legal News after 8 years of litigation regarding censorship of their magazine in Az. prisons. Shameful waste of taxpayer $$! Wonder how $2.65 M would have impacted inmate health care?

Budget cuts occurred for almost all state government agencies, but ADCRR and Board of Executive Clemency were spared. ADCRR was actually approved for additional funds for inmate healthcare costs, per court action.

The 2024 Legislative session has finally adjourned after 160 days. No major sentencing reforms passed, except to provide for mandatory minimum sentences (5-15 years) for selling 200 grams or more of fentanyl. No sentencing reductions passed at all.

Proposed FY 24/25 state budget will spare cuts to ADCRR and Board of Executive Clemency. Most other state agencies will have budget cuts. Unfortunately, saving $ by reducing the number of non-violent prisoners was not seriously considered. Final budget still in works.