PUBLIC SAFETY, HUMAN DIGNITY, AND SUCCESSFUL REHAbilitation

These are identical bills running in both the House and the Senate. One is likely a striker vehicle. 

These bills would strip courts of discretion, permanently eliminating early termination of lifetime probation based solely on category of offense. 

Judges already have authority to deny early termination when public safety requires it. This is another blanket policy that fails to acknowlege rehabilitation, compliance, or judicial findings—undermining individualized justice and the role of courts 

Only 2% of criminal cases ever go to trial. This means Prosecutors know they have a 98% chance they will never have to prove their case in a court of law. No evidence is ever presented, no accuser is ever faced, the legal right to a jury of one’s peers is sidestepped, and judicial discretion is lost. With no judicial discretion on the front end, keeping it during the probationary period is critical to ensure justice. 

SB1092 would apply retroactively, years after cases have been resolved through plea agreements and final judgments, raising serious constitutional concerns around impairment of contracts, due process, separation of powers, and ex post facto rules. 

Even Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell agrees that longer probation terms won't make a difference. We need a stepped program that allows for growth and successful rehabilitation. 

HB 2870 would ban people on probation from living in the same home if their risk level, which is a highly subjective measure, is assessed at a level 2 or level 3. 

While framed as a safety measure, HB2870 would have a devastating and counterproductive impact on one of the most fragile parts of our system: transitional housing for people on probation or parole. 

Stable housing is one of the strongest predictors of compliance, treatment participation, and successful reentry. Policies that make lawful housing unattainable undermine community safety and strain public resources.

These shared housing models are often the only viable placements available—and eliminating them will push even more people into homelessness, instability, and technical violations.

HB 2413 requires electronic monitoring for those on the sexual offense registry who are unhoused.

Research is clear: GPS monitoring does not reduce recidivism among those who have committed sexual offenses. 

Multiple studies, including those from the DOJ, show no significant difference in reoffense rates between monitored and non-monitored individuals.

Costs between $5 and $35 per person per day. For Arizona taxpayers, that's millions annually—money that could fund proven interventions like cognitive behavioral therapy, housing assistance, and employment support that actually reduce reoffending. 

Arizona already has robust supervision requirements for those convicted of sexual offenses. 

Adding more surveillance without evidence of benefit is policy-making driven by fear, not facts. 

This bill also creates a false sense of security. Monitors track location, not intent. They cannot prevent crimes. Worse, they impede successful reintegration by limiting employment, housing options, and family connections—all protective factors against recidivism.

Anyone convicted of a DCAC who commits an additional offense or violates a condition of probation will be immediately rearrested and probation shall be revoked. 

This bill includes any “additional offense,” even a minor offese. 

Violations of probation can include technical violations, like missed appointments, falling behind on probation fees, or failing to get written permission for certain activities. 

Judges can already revoke probation and do so liberally when the interests of public safety are on the line. 

This bill removes the judicial review process and mandates extremely harsh punishments that may be unwarranted.

Removes the statute of limitations for failing to register and adds failing to register as a sex offender to the list of offenses for which a prosecution may be commenced at any time. 

The requirement to register has been ruled time and again to be an administrative requirement, not part of any punishment

Failing to register happens easily as requirements are often contradictory or confusing. It is rarely nefarious.

Registrants are rarely notified if registration requirements change. They learn by word of mouth or not at all, often leading to violations.

30 years of research shows no benefit to public safety as a result of sexual offense registries.

SB1208 would establish a mandatory minimum of 25 years of service before lifetime probation sentences can be modified or terminated. 

Might be a striker vehicle. 

As with SB1092 and it's mirror bills, Judges already have authority to deny early termination when public safety requires it. This is another blanket policy that fails to acknowlege rehabilitation, compliance, or judicial findings—undermining individualized justice and the role of courts.

 Only 2% of criminal cases ever go to trial. This mean Prosecutors know they have a 98% chance they will never have to prove their case in a court of law. No evidence is ever presented, no accuser is ever faced, and the legal right to a jury of one’s peers is sidestepped.

These one-size-fits-all policies don't work. We need judges who can evaluate individual cases, recognize genuine rehabilitation, and focus resources on actual threats—not blanket punishments that ignore evidence and harm families.

Even Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell agrees that longer probaation terms won't make a differece. We need a stepped program that allows for growth and successful rehabilitation.