{"id":5474,"date":"2026-08-17T17:01:12","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T17:01:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stand.org\/arizona\/?page_id=5474"},"modified":"2026-08-17T23:00:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T23:00:17","slug":"criminal-justice-reform-in-arizona","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/stand.org\/arizona\/criminal-justice-reform-in-arizona\/","title":{"rendered":"Criminal Justice Reform in Arizona\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Criminal Justice Reform in Arizona<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Stand<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Helping Arizonans Get, Keep, and Succeed at a Second Chance<\/em> <\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Our goal is to advance criminal justice reform in Arizona to build a stronger and more fair criminal justice system so that Arizonans can get, keep, and succeed at a second chance by eliminating harmful fines and fees and reforming youth sentencing guidelines.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our Wins for a Stronger, More Fair Criminal Justice System<\/strong> <\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Starting in 2022, we led the fight to eliminate fines and fees for kids in the criminal justice system. These fees kept kids stuck in the criminal justice system long after they had completed their sentence\u2014and it often fell on their families to pay the fines and fees affecting their financial situation as well. When the bill finally passed and was signed into law in 2023, it resulted in eliminating $40 million in fees for 110,000 kids<\/a>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After that, we turned our attention to the fees charged to adults. We started with the fees for public defenders, jury trials, and appeals<\/a>\u2014three constitutional rights guaranteed to us by the 6th and 14th amendments. Like the fees charged to kids, these fees could keep Arizonans entangled in the criminal justice system for years after they completed their sentence. In 2026, we were able to pass a bill<\/a> eliminating these fees that Governor Hobbs signed into law<\/a>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our work is not over. <\/strong> <\/h6>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re continuing to work toward a stronger, more fair criminal justice system and truly giving Arizonans a second chance. This year, we’re redoubling our efforts to eliminate juvenile life without parole sentences. And we\u2019re working to take our victory from last year one step further by eliminating predatory practices associated with court fee debt collectors.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ending Juvenile Life Without Parole in Arizona<\/strong> <\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Right now, a kid who was at the wrong place at the wrong time can be sentenced to spend their entire life in prison with no possibility of parole. States like Texas, Arkansas, and Kansas<\/a> have already eliminated these sentences, leaving Arizona as one of only 22 states<\/a> that still allows this sentence.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kids deserve second chances. Kids sentenced to juvenile life without parole are described as \u201clow-impact releases.\u201d<\/a> Making them eligible for parole after either 25 or 35 years gives them that chance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Eliminating Arizona\u2019s Poverty Fees<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being poor can be expensive and it can keep people entangled in the criminal justice system. Arizona currently charges fees if a debt collector is needed to collect unpaid fines and fees and interest on the unpaid balances.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We should not be further penalizing poverty. We\u2019re targeting the fees that are essentially taxes on poverty and prevent Arizonans from being able to get a fair shake at a second chance.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other Priorities<\/strong> <\/h6>\n\n\n\n

We also support criminal justice bills as part of a coalition of organizations working to build a stronger criminal justice system including funding the Independent Correctional Oversight Office\u2014which was established in 2025<\/a> but has not yet received funding<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Want to help us fight for a stronger, more fair criminal justice system? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Join us!<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Have a story about Arizona\u2019s criminal justice system that you want to share? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Share<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Read MORe:<\/h5>\n\n\n
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\n \n<\/svg>\nJun 29, 2026<\/span><\/div>
Stand for Children Arizona Statement on Governor Hobbs Signing HB…<\/a><\/h6>

Stand for Children Arizona Executive Director Rebecca Gau released the following statement about Governor Hobbs signing HB 2265 into law on Friday, June 19th. HB 2265 would eliminate court fees for jury trials,…<\/p>\n<\/div>

Continue Reading\n \n<\/svg>\n<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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\n \n<\/svg>\nFeb 16, 2026<\/span><\/div>
Arizona Should Pass Senate Bill 1548 or Demand Real Sentencing…<\/a><\/h6>

Check Out More<\/p>\n<\/div>

Continue Reading\n \n<\/svg>\n<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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\n \n<\/svg>\nJun 6, 2024<\/span><\/div>
Things to Know About Juvenile Fees<\/a><\/h6>

If you owe court fees or cost from your or your child’s juvenile delinquency case, you can ask the court to vacate (cancel) your fees.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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\n \n<\/svg>\nSep 11, 2023<\/span><\/div>
Press Release: GOVERNOR HOBBS SIGNS HISTORIC SB1197 IN SPECIAL CEREMONY:…<\/a><\/h6>

(PHOENIX, AZ) \u2013 In a landmark moment yesterday, Governor Katie Hobbs gathered youth justice advocates and the team from Stand for Children Arizona for a ceremonial signing of SB1197. T<\/p>\n<\/div>

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In the news:<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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Arizona Capitol Times<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arizona governor signs bill to end several criminal court fees<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Criminal defendants no longer have to pay for court-appointed counsel, jury trials and appeals after the governor signed a bipartisan bill passed this session. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Continue Reading<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Arizona Capitol Times<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arizona erases $40M in court fees for juvenile delinquents<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Courts across Arizona have wiped nearly $40 million in outstanding fees from juveniles\u2019 records to comply with a new state law. Now, proponents of the measure …
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Arizona Capitol Times<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bill aims at removing criminal court fees for adults<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

With momentum from a successful effort to end select court fees levied on juveniles, lawmakers are looking to end certain costs for adult criminal defendants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Continue Reading<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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AZCentral<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arizona must reform juvenile life sentences – Opinion<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Arizona remains among a shrinking number of states that allow life without parole for children convicted of homicide. These cases involve devastating harm …<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Continue Reading<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Criminal Justice Reform in Arizona Helping Arizonans Get, Keep, and Succeed at a Second Chance  Our goal is to advance criminal justice reform in Arizona to build a stronger and more fair criminal justice system so that Arizonans can get, keep, and succeed at a second chance by eliminating harmful fines and fees and reforming […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_hide_page_title":true,"color_schema":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5474","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCriminal Justice Reform in Arizona\u00a0 - Stand for Children Arizona<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Stand for Children Arizona is working to build a stronger and more fair criminal justice system.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/stand.org\/arizona\/criminal-justice-reform-in-arizona\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Criminal Justice Reform in Arizona\u00a0 Check out this information from Stand for Children Arizona\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"%Title% was a great read! 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