KEY PUBLIC SAFETY BILL SWEEPS THROUGH CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM COMMITTEE

HB 2713 to Incentivize Individuals Convicted of Nonviolent Offenses Through Increased Earned Release Credits; Legislation Will Reduce Recidivism, Increase Public Safety & Save Taxpayer Dollars 

(Phoenix, AZ) – Today, members of Arizona’s House Criminal Justice Committee unanimously voted in favor of House Bill 2713, criminal justice reform legislation that takes a smart and safe approach to incentivizing rehabilitation, reducing recidivism, and strengthening public safety in Arizona. The legislation would safely reduce incarceration by expanding earned release credits for individuals convicted of nonviolent offenses and incentivizing them to complete rehabilitative programming, as well as participate in productive skills and job training. 

Arizona is one of only three states that requires individuals convicted of nonviolent offenses to serve at least 85% of their sentences before becoming eligible for release to supervision, with the exception of people convicted of drug possession offenses. Other states that have allowed incarcerated people to be released to supervision after serving shorter percentages of their sentences behind bars have seen reductions in their prison populations and violent crime rates as compared to Arizona. 

Here’s what House Bill 2713 does:

• Increases earned release credits for individuals convicted of nonviolent offenses and incentivizes substance abuse and skills/job training programs by:

  • Allowing those convicted of drug offenses to earn an additional 5 days for every 6 days (total of 50%) and those convicted of other nonviolent offenses to earn an additional 2 days for every 6 days (total of 33%) for successfully completing meaningful programming or having actively participated in a qualified work program for at least 6 months.

• Applies to the current population that has already completed or is enrolled in the qualified programming.

• Requires additional victim notification of earliest release date.

• Adds reporting requirements to better track the success of additional earned release credits.

• Allows individuals who are eligible for additional earned credits to instead serve the remainder of their sentences under community supervision, rather than taking up valuable bed space within the Department of Corrections.

“We applaud the House Criminal Justice Committee for passing a bill that takes a smart, safe, and proven approach to expanding earned release credits, which will increase public safety and reduce recidivism, all while saving taxpayer dollars,” said Lauren Krisai, Senior Policy Analyst at Justice Action Network. “By incentivizing programs that help individuals address substance misuse and equipping them with skills and jobs training, Arizona will take a much-needed step towards reducing incarceration and will ultimately have safer communities, stronger families, higher workforce participation, and reduced incarceration costs. We look forward to continuing to support this bill as it moves through the legislative process.”

“An earned time credits program will make Arizona a safer place to live, and give people an opportunity to earn a second chance, all while looking out for taxpayers,” said Grover Norquist, President at Americans for Tax Reform. “We applaud HB 2317’s passage out of committee. Conservative legislators have a tremendous opportunity to lead the way to an improved criminal justice system by energetically supporting this bill. Republican lawmakers should make enacting the earned time credits bill a top priority. It’s the smart, conservative, and right thing to do.” 

“On behalf of the Americans for Prosperity activists across Arizona, we’re excited to see momentum behind expanding earned release credits this session,” said Stephen Shadegg, Arizona State Director at Americans for Prosperity. “Not only do earned release credits prepare incarcerated individuals for reentry into their communities, but they have a proven success rate in lowering recidivism. These pivotal programs are paying dividends to make our criminal justice system more restorative and communities safer, and should be more readily available across our great state.”

“This represents a good first step toward reducing the burden of long sentences on incarcerated people and their families in Arizona,” said Molly Gill, Vice President of Policy at FAMM. “Many people in prison work hard to better themselves, with no recognition for it. No one is safer by keeping people in prison after they are ready to come home. Though the bill doesn’t apply to all people in prison, getting this system established will be a boon for those who can take advantage of it. We are hopeful that this new system will encourage the creation of more rehabilitative programming in state prisons and more participation by people in prison.”

“ALEC Action is encouraged by the progress of HB 2317. This bill will safely reduce the length of time certain individuals serve in prison by incentivizing participation in substance abuse programming, along with education and job training programs that have been demonstrated to enhance public safety by lowering recidivism rates,” said Lisa Nelson, CEO at ALEC Action. “It is also remarkably consistent with the goals outlined by the ALEC model Resolution in Support of Reentry Programs, which seeks to empower individuals and provide for more restorative justice for incarcerated individuals by promoting the principles of second chances and redemption. ALEC Action enthusiastically supports this bill and encourages all Arizona legislators to vote in favor of it.”