Aggravating and Mitigating Factors When a felony offender is sentenced, the court considers what are referred to as aggravating and mitigating factors. These factors could lessen or enhance the sentence imposed on a defendant, meaning the person would serve more – or...
Category
Sentencing
Inmate: ADOC Violates Release Credits Law
Carlos Hernandez is currently incarcerated in an Arizona (private) prison. He pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of possession of dangerous drugs and was sentenced to a term of 2.5 years. According to a complaint filed this week in Maricopa County Superior...
Diversion for Domestic Violence Offenses
Domestic violence is a serious issue in Arizona and throughout the country. On the other hand, many domestic violence cases involve relatively minor offenses. What might be viewed as a scuffle in one context is viewed in a much more serious light when the act is...
New Sentencing Reform Bill Introduced in Arizona
A new bill just introduced in Arizona would be, if passed, the most comprehensive sentencing reform measure in the state in the last 25 years. HB 2808, which was introduced by Republican Walter Blackman on February 6, 2020, proposes significant reforms in sentencing...
Arizona Resists Changes in “Tough-on-Crime” Sentencing
Some Arizonans are proud that the state is considered one of the fiercest “tough-on-crime” states in the country. Many even supported convicted (now pardoned) former Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s “tent city” prison slum he touted as representative of the way convicted...
Harsh Sentencing Laws in Arizona – Cost vs. Benefit
While many states have adopted laws designed to reduce prison populations, Arizona has gone in the other direction. The United States has the highest rate of incarceration in the world, and Arizona is among the states with the highest rate within the country. The...