Restoring public trust in the Arizona Department of Corrections

> 0

Incarcerated Men & Women

> 0

Staff Members

>$ 0

Annual Budget

Our Mission

The mission of Arizonans for Transparency and Accountability in Corrections (ATAC) is to safeguard justice, fairness, and accountability within the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR) by creating and implementing an Independent Correctional Ombudsman (Inspector) and a citizen-led legislative prison oversight committee (Committee). Our goal is to ensure the fair treatment of incarcerated individuals and provide a safe working environment for staff, while promoting transparency and accountability within the ADCRR. By fostering integrity and trust in the ADCRR, we aim to uphold the principles of justice and fairness for all.

Areas of Focus

The focus of Arizonans for Transparency and Accountability in Corrections is on promoting accountability and transparency within the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry through comprehensive research, analysis, and reports, public-awareness campaigns, community organizing, and legislative outreach. We aim to establish a robust Independent Correctional Ombudsman and citizen-led legislative corrections oversight committee to ensure that the ADCRR is meeting its statutory mandates and operating with integrity.

Legislation

Meeting with state lawmakers and stakeholders to provide information on the need to pass comprehensive legislation to establish the citizen’s oversight and advisory board and corrections ombuds.

Government

Providing research, analysis, and best practices to the governor and state lawmakers on the facilitation and implementation of the citizen’s oversight and advisory board and corrections ombuds.

Organizing

Bringing together community members, organizations, and a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers to achieve the goal of transparency and accountability in the ADCRR.

Public

Conducting research, analysis, reports, and public-awareness campaigns to Inform Arizona families and taxpayers on the importance of a transparent and accountable ADCRR.

Who benefits from Oversight?

Staff

Administration

Incarcerated Women

Incarcerated Men

Arizona Families

Arizona Workers

Why does Arizona need oversight?

The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry is the third largest executive agency in the state government and the only such agency without independent oversight.

Human Lives

The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry houses over 33,800 incarcerated men and women throughout the state.

Massive Budget

The annual budget appropriation for the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry consumes over $1.5 billion dollars each year.

Public Safety

Increased functionality in the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry dramatically improves public safety in Arizona.

Citizens' oversight and Ombuds model

ATAC is a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting accountability and transparency within the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry.

We work in partnership with the public, corrections experts, and lawmakers to develop and implement oversight legislation through our model of an independent Correctional Ombudsman (Inspector) and a citizen-led legislative prison oversight committee (Committee).

Our model provides effective and responsive oversight, ensures accurate reporting, and serves as a framework for advising the government on improvements within the ADCRR, with the ultimate goal of upholding justice and fairness for all.

Meet ATAC

John Fabricius works as a directly impacted advocate for criminal justice reform in Arizona and abroad. John is the lead author of “Truth in Corrections: Restoring Public Trust in the Arizona Department of Corrections”, a proposal and framework outlining a Citizen’s Advisory and Oversight Board. John worked closely with state lawmakers to craft oversight legislation that was proposed during the 2020 and 2021 legislative sessions.

Alexandria is a marketing-sales professional and criminal justice reform volunteer for various organizations. She has 11 years of lived experience in the Arizona Criminal Justice system, with a collective 5 years in Arizona State. She is dedicated to ensuring current and future prison populations are treated with dignity and respect, while receiving real rehabilitation while incarcerated. Alexandria approaches reform with a realistic, data driven approach. Her passion lies in creating a better future by driving important and meaningful conversations with key criminal justice reform stakeholders and community members.

Jessica is an IT professional and passionate advocate for criminal justice reform. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and Sociology, a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice, and a Paralegal diploma. Jessica worked for six years in public defense as a capital mitigation specialist helping save her clients from the death penalty before experiencing the other side of Arizona's criminal justice system when she was sent to prison herself. While imprisoned, she witnessed first hand the substandard medical care provided to the incarcerated. Jessica strongly believes that no prison sentence should ever be a death sentence. Now with more than eight years of lived experience, she is even more determined to help bring transparency and accountability to the current system and to give a voice to the tens of thousands of human beings living within the Arizona Department of Corrections who have been silenced for far too long.

How can you Help?

Let’s Make Arizona a leader in Smart criminal justice