Arizona State Senators Kevin Payne, David Gowan, Janae Shamp, and Frank Carroll are calling on Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, & Reentry (ADCRR) Director Ryan Thornell and Governor Katie Hobbs to answer for another alleged inmate homicide unfolding at Lewis Prison Complex this week.
If true, this latest incident marks 11 inmate homicides occurring within state correctional facilities in FY 2025. This represents a drastic increase from the previous four years in which the department averaged two homicides per year.
“This troubling news comes on today’s deadline I provided Director Thornell to produce records pertaining to incidents, culture, and operations of ADCRR in my June 4 letter,” said Senate Public Safety Committee Chairman Payne. “The longer we wait before we can get to the bottom of the gaps in security at our state prisons, the more lives that may be lost. On top of the murder at Lewis, we also received word of an incident at another facility in Florence where several guards were assaulted. It’s only a matter of time before one of our correctional officers is killed.”
“Our corrections officers and staff face the very real threat that on any given day, they could be attacked by an unchecked inmate due to staffing shortages, due to administrators providing inmates with more freedom than what’s appropriate for public safety, or a variety of other issues within ADCRR’s current policies and procedures,”
said Senate Majority Leader Shamp. “Senate Republicans want to see greater oversight of ADCRR, and we’re calling on Governor Hobbs to take action.”
“A core function of government is to ensure the safety of our citizens by properly incarcerating individuals who are paying back their debts to society. Those who are responsible for maintaining the orderly conduct of inmates in custody are putting their lives on the line every day we maintain status quo with how our state prisons are being managed,” said Senate Majority Whip Frank Carroll. “One murder is one too many, let alone 11. That statistic by itself should tell you the State of Arizona is not doing something right.”
“Our corrections officers are overworked and underpaid. Our prisons and jails are understaffed. Criminal activity, substance abuse, and other atrocities are occurring as a result,” said Senate Military Affairs & Border Security Committee Chairman Gowan. “Republican lawmakers have provided several solutions to address these issues, but we’ve been met by resistance from the Governor.”