Independent Correctional Oversight Office
Budget
No budget appropriation as of October 2025; the legislation establishes a fund that can accept outside contributions (41-7007)
Staffing
No employees as of October 2025
State Prison Profile
Arizona has 16 state prison facilities (7 of which are privately operated) and incarcerates 35,302 people in state or contracted prisons as of September 2025. The state prison system is run by the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry (ADCRR).
Authority
Sec. 3. Title 41, Arizona Revised Statutes, Chapter 59
- Structure: The Governor appoints the Director of the Office, who serves a term of five years and can only be removed for good cause. The person appointed as Director and their spouse may not have a conflict of interest as specified in the statute.
- Authorized Activities: The Director is directed to monitor the conditions of confinement and assess the department’s compliance with any applicable federal and state rules, policies and best practices that relate to inmate health, safety, welfare and rehabilitation; investigate complaints; provide information to incarcerated people, their families, and others regarding the rights of inmates; operate a secure hotline and online form to receive complaints; inspect every correctional facility at least once every two years; collect and analyze data; monitor and participate in relevant legislative and policy developments; and hold quarterly stakeholder meetings.
- Access: The Office has access to all facilities, with or without prior notice, during reasonable hours, as well as access to any incarcerated person, staff member, contractor, or other person in order to conduct interviews, conduct inspections, or provide information. Additionally, the Office may access, inspect, and copy all information, records, or documents necessary for investigation of a complaint or to complete any reporting requirement, and the prison agency must assist the office in getting any necessary releases signed with respect to restricted or privileged documents. The prison agency has 20 days to provide requested information, but if the requested records pertain to the death of an incarcerated person, a threat to bodily harm, a physical or sexual assault, or a denial of medical treatment, then the information must be provided within 5 days.
Activities
No activities have taken place since the enabling legislation was passed.
Reports
The Ombudsman is statutorily required to issue an annual report before December 31st each year that includes numerous specified data points. (41-7002) No reports have been issued.
Organizational History
The Arizona passed enabling legislation to establish the Office in July 2025 with strong bipartisan support, but no funding was appropriated, so the office currently exists on paper only. Advocates are currently seeking outside funding for the Office so it can begin operations.
Prior to the passage of this legislation, in January 2023, newly elected Governor Katie Hobbs issued Arizona Executive Order 2023-06 shortly after being sworn in. The Executive Order established the Independent Prison Oversight Commission to “provide transparency and accountability of Arizona’s corrections system” and facilitate improvements to operations and management. This marked the first and only time that a prison oversight body was established through a Governor’s Executive Order. The Commission had 12 members, including legislators and various citizens with designated types of expertise, but it had no budget and no staff. The Commission was charged with inspecting prison facilities and reviewing records to monitor correctional issues ranging from healthcare access to staffing. In November 2023, the Commission issued a report with its findings and recommendations. The report concluded that, because the commission is comprised of volunteers, it does not have the necessary staff and funding to provide adequate oversight. The Commission recommended establishing a fully staffed and funded oversight body authorized by the Legislature in lieu of the voluntary Commission. Following issuance of the report, the Commission effectively disbanded.
Other Relevant Entities
Arizonans for Transparency and Accountability in Corrections (ATAC)
News Stories
- Report finds governor’s prison oversight committee lacks power to address issues (December 27, 2023)
- New agency proposed to provide strict oversight of prisons (Feb. 14, 2025)
- Bill would create an ombudsman for the Arizona Department of Corrections (March 11, 2025)
- Push for new prison oversight office stalls with the governor (June 21, 2025)
- New Arizona law creates independent prison oversight office (July 2, 2025)
- Future of prison oversight office uncertain (August 5, 2025)
Special Note
In January 2023, a federal judge issued a remedial order in the case of Jensen v. Thornell that required ADCRR to make substantial changes to improve conditions and healthcare in its facilities. The judge also appointed two monitors to assess the agency’s ongoing compliance with its remedial orders. Due to the agency’s insufficient progress in remedying conditions and the provision of health care in the prisons, the court is currently weighing the possibility of placing the prison agency in receivership.