WHEREAS, there is an urgent need to provide transparency and accountability of Arizona’s corrections system; and 

WHEREAS, safeguarding the integrity of Arizona’s correctional system, preventing misconduct, and identifying responsible ways to reduce costs will benefit all Arizonans; and

WHEREAS, lawmakers and policy makers need information to evaluate the success and efficiency of programs and improve public safety outcomes; and

WHEREAS, corrections administrators and officers perform a service to the people of Arizona and should feel safe in their workplace; and

WHEREAS, individuals who are incarcerated should receive humane treatment during their incarceration and be prepared for successful reentry into society; and

WHEREAS, establishing an independent external oversight commission will facilitate the collection and public disclosure of unbiased and accurate information about the state of Arizona’s corrections system; and

WHEREAS, external oversight of Arizona’s corrections system will facilitate improvements to fiscal management, operations, and healthcare within the corrections system.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Katie Hobbs, Governor of the State of Arizona, by virtue of the power vested in me by the Arizona Constitution and the laws of this State, hereby order and direct as follows:

1. The Independent Prison Oversight Commission(the “Commission”) is created to improve transparency into and accountability of Arizona’s corrections system. 

2. The Commission shall be comprised of the following members who are appointed by and serve without compensation at the pleasure of the Governor:

1. Two members of the Arizona Senate of different political parties. The President of the Senate shall select one member and the Senate Minority Leader shall select one member.

2. Two members of the Arizona House of Representatives of different political parties. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall select one member and the House of Representatives Minority Leader shall select one member.

3. One member who represents an inmate advocacy organization as selected by the Governor.

4. One member with a background in inmate training or rehabilitation programs as selected by the Governor.

5. One member who was previously incarcerated in Arizona’s corrections system’s men’s ward as selected by the Governor.

6. One member who was previously incarcerated in Arizona’s corrections system’s women’s ward as selected by the Governor.

7. One member who is a physician who is licensed under Arizona law and who specializes in family or internal medicine as selected by the Governor.

8. One member who is a mental or behavioral health professional who is licensed under Arizona law and who has a history of providing mental health or counseling services to adults as selected by the Governor.

9. One member who is a close family relative (Grandparent, parent, spouse/partner, child, sibling) of a person who completed a term of at least three years in Arizona’s corrections system and who received an absolute discharge within five years preceding the date of the member’s appointment as selected by the Governor.

10. One member who has a background in corrections or represents an organization or association that represents correctional staff as selected by the Governor.

3. The Governor shall select the Chair of the Commission.

4. ADCRR shall allow the Commission to reasonably access and inspect prison facilities and records and talk with staff and inmates for the purpose of monitoring and reporting information on the following topics:

1. Accessibility and quality of mental health and medical care and drug treatment programs;

2. Condition of facilities including security, cleanliness, temperature, and crowdedness;

3. Accessibility to basic necessities such as nutrition, medicines, and sanitary products;

4. Accessibility to communication with family members and legal representatives;

5. Accessibility to and quality of rehabilitation, vocational, and educational programming

6. Sufficient number of qualified staff; and

7. Accessibility to the grievance process and the timeliness of resolving complaints.

5. The Commission shall abide by entrance and security procedures as determined by the Director of Corrections or ADCRR policy for professional visitors when accessing prison facilities. While the Commission shall have the authority to take notes and make recordings while in facilities, the Commission shall respect staff and inmate privacy during their review.

6. The Commission shall issue a preliminary report by November 15, 2023, outlining initial findings and recommendations from its review. Subsequent reports shall be issued at least annually to document findings and provide updates.

7. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately upon signature. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Arizona