{"id":4470,"date":"2026-01-30T18:37:06","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T18:37:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stand.org\/arizona\/?page_id=4470"},"modified":"2026-02-10T22:14:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T22:14:08","slug":"criminal-justice","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/stand.org\/arizona\/criminal-justice\/","title":{"rendered":"Criminal Justice Reform"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Juvenile life without parole<\/span><\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

SB 1548 – juvenile; natural life; parole eligibility <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sponsored by Senator David Farnsworth<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Summary:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This bill would end the practice of sentencing kids to life in prison without a chance of parole. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Background:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under A.R.S. \u00a7 13-751, courts can impose sentences for juvenile offenders of either life or natural life for first degree murder charges. Under a natural life sentence there is no eligibility for parole. Comparatively, life sentences come with a possibility of parole after either 25 or 35 years.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Modifying A.R.S. \u00a7 13-751 to eliminate the possibility of natural life sentences would have the effect of eliminating juvenile life without parole sentences.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

227 people are currently serving either life with parole or de facto life sentences in Arizona for crimes committed before they turned 25.1<\/sup> We are waiting for records from ADCRR for the number of juvenile life without parole sentences.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Provisions:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bill would make juveniles sentenced to life without parole for crimes committed before they turned 18 eligible for parole after serving 25 years of their sentence. For de-facto life sentences, it will make people eligible for parole after serving 35 years of their sentence.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rationale:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Legal Decision Making Lab at Montclair State University describes kids sentenced to juvenile life without parole as \u201clow-impact releases.\u201d3<\/sup> It also found that eliminating juvenile life without parole sentences is significantly more cost-effective. They estimated nearly $1 million in annual savings over the first 10 years for the Department of Corrections. <\/sup>3<\/sup> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice found only 1 out of 12 kids given a life sentence has been re-arrested after being released. 2<\/sup> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In two separate cases, mandatory juvenile life without parole sentences were ruled unconstitutional at the federal level in 2012 and it was made retroactive in 2015. <\/sup>5<\/sup> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Texas, North Dakota, South Dakota, and West Virginia are just a few states that have ended this practice <\/sup>6<\/sup>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stand for Children Arizona polling found that 62% of Arizonans support eliminating Juvenile Life Without Parole sentences, including 49% of Republicans.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sources:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Sentencing Project; 2. Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice; 3. Legal Decision Making Lab at Montclair State University; 4. National Institute of Health; 5. Restore Justice Foundation; 6. Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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    Register your support<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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    Adult Constitutional Fees<\/span><\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

    HB 2265 \u2013 Courts; Fees; Assessments <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Sponsored by Representative Neal Carter<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Summary:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This bill will eliminate fines and fees charged to access constitutional protections in the criminal justice system including those for public defenders, jury trials, or appeals. It will also forgive any fines and fees previously charged and not yet paid.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Background:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The amount of money raised by these fines and fees is only a small fraction of the total expenses paid by Arizona, the 15 counties, and municipalities.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n