Agency Vision

Excellence in correctional management strengthens public safety and contributes to the mission of the criminal justice system.

Agency Mission

To serve and protect the people of Arizona by imprisoning those offenders legally committed to the Arizona Department of Corrections and by providing community based supervision for those conditionally released.

Guiding Principles

  • We have the legal and operational responsibility to be accountable to the judicial, legislative, and executive branches of government; the inmate; and most importantly, to the citizens of Arizona.
  • We are obligated to respond effectively to the changing demands placed upon the agency.
  • We value honesty and integrity in our relationships, and we place a high priority on quality of services and development of teamwork, trust and open communication.
  • We maintain an environment that is humane and fair to both employees and inmates, utilizing a grievance and disciplinary system that is consistently administered and that fosters due process.
  • We encourage, recognize, and reward examples of professional performance at all levels that contribute to the enhancement of our responsibility.

Agency Strategic Issues FY 2010 - FY 2015

Strategic Issue 1: Managing Inmate Population Growth

Inmate population has increased from an average daily population of 29,936 in FY 2001 to 39,628 in FY 2009 (32 percent increase). In FY 2009, the Department had an average daily bed deficit of 4,420. As the inmate population continues to grow, the Department must continue to use planning and process improvement strategies throughout the organization to maximize resources and ensure the safety of the public, staff and inmates.

 

Strategic Issue 2: Validating the Inmate Classification System

As the foundation of the Arizona correctional system, the Department must ensure that the inmate classification system is an objective and viable tool that provides reliable structure and accountability and appropriately directs resources to inmate management. The system must reliably determine inmate custody and internal risk levels based on the risk the inmate presents to the public and staff and the time remaining until the inmate is released. The classification system is critical to designating proper inmate confinement, movement and housing; identifying inmate medical and mental health service requirements; and scheduling inmate work, education, treatment, spiritual services, and recreational assignments.

 

Strategic Issue 3: Providing Health Care for Arizona's Growing and Aging Prison Population

Just like the rest of the nation,Arizona's prison population is growing older. On June 30, 2009, 34% of the inmate population was age 40 years or older and 5.7% was age 55 years or older. Many of these inmates suffer from the nine chronic high-cost illnesses that contribute to nine out of ten deaths in the United States, including congestive heart failure, chronic lung disease, cancer, diabetes, chronic liver disease, and dementia. As these chronic diseases progress, the amount of care needed and cost of care delivered increase markedly, with much of the cost spent on physician and hospital fees associated with repeated hospitalizations.

 

Strategic Issue 4: Integration of Technology and Service Delivery in the Department

The need for viable technology, process automation and system integration is essential to the ability of the Department to continue to effectively carry out its mission and its obligations to the public. In the area of health care services, for example, technological needs include electronic medical records systems, billing, medical coding, appointments, and computer equipment for health services staff. Without automated processes in place, it will become increasingly difficult for the Department to provide appropriate service and care in an efficient and safe manner.

Agency Goals FY 2010 - FY 2015

Goal 1: To maintain effective custody and control over inmates in an environment that is safe, secure and humane.

 

Goal 2: To require inmate participation in self improvement programming opportunities and services including work, education, substance abuse treatment, sex offender treatment, and spiritual access designed to prepare inmates to be responsible citizens upon release.

 

Goal 3.: To provide cost-effective constitutionally mandated correctional health care.

 

Goal 4: To maintain effective community supervision of offenders, facilitate their successful transition from prison to the community and return offenders to prison when necessary to protect the public.

 

Goal 5: To provide leadership, direction, resource management, and support for Department employees to enable the Department to serve and protect the people of the State of Arizona and to provide comprehensive victim services and victim-focused restorative justice programs that hold offenders accountable.