An Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC), Prison Operations Task
Force was convened to review and update the procedures and policies
related to the areas of inmate management listed above. A single combined
policy which incorporated these policies, as well as the many interim
addendum changes that were instituted since the publishing of the parent
policies, was the result of the Task Force endeavor. The Task Force
received content input and review from ADC Legal Services who participated
in the review process. Highlights are listed below.
All inmates are to obtain all personal property items, including arts
& crafts (hobby) materials, with the exception of specialty items such
as some religious articles, publications etc., through the inmate store at
the prison facility. This will include items such as, televisions, radios,
electric shavers and athletic shoes, which were previously authorized to
be received from family members, vendors and others.
This program has been instituted to standardize the types of property
available to an inmate. It will also aid to reduce the introduction of
contraband into the prison system, make it less of an incentive for one
inmate to extort property from another, and result in a savings of staff
time previously required to search and process packages coming into the
prison system from difficult to control outside sources.
As an alternative to receiving property from sources outside of the
prison system, inmates are authorized to receive money, which will be
placed into the inmate's prison trust account. The inmate may then
purchase items from the inmate store using this money.
The weekly spending limit has been increased for most inmates based on
their security level, to a maximum of $60.00 per week for inmates at the
lowest custody levels (I & 2), while Level five (5) inmates shall
remain at the current $40.00 weekly limit. Additionally, the purchase of
any single item over $ 10.00 will not count against the spending limit.
Also, the authorization to purchase certain store items has been
restricted based on the inmate's custody status.
Permission has been added for inmates to correspond with a minor that
is their own child or step-child.
The new policy specifically prohibits inmates from sending or receiving
mail containing lewd, threatening or similarly offensive material.
Postage stamps, which have been used as a form of currency and in
extortion schemes, are now prohibited
from being delivered through the mail. This restriction does not apply
to self-addressed, stamped envelopes received from and return addressed to
the inmate's attorney of record, or to those inmates in Central Unit at
the Florence Prison. Postage stamps are available for purchase at the
inmate store.
Any inmate entering or returning to the Department's custody on or
after the effective date of the new policy, shall be authorized property
only as listed in the new policy. This does not include inmates returning
due to a short term absence for medical or court issues.
Inmates that are in the Department's custody prior to the effective
date of the new policy, who are in possession of previously authorized
property which is not listed in the new authorized property list, must
dispose of that property no later than three (3) years from the effective
date of the new policy.
Three years from the effective date of the new policy, all inmates
shall only be authorized that property which is listed in the authorized
property list in effect at that time. All other property, which would then
be considered contraband, may be sent out by the inmates or, at their
request, placed into storage with ADC.
The new policy will be placed into effect on October 11, 1999. The
"Notice of Change" regarding these issues was posted on inmate
bulletin boards beginning September-1, 1999. Selected staff have been made
available to address inmate questions and concerns regarding these changes
