Arizona Department of Corrections - Support Services

Although the Department generally calculates inmates’ sentences correctly, it continues to make a small number of errors each year. As a result, a few inmates are released earlier or later than their correct release dates, which increases the Department’s financial liability. To minimize errors, the Department should develop procedures manuals for staff who perform calculations, as well as work with Arizona courts to reduce errors in transferring sentencing documents between the courts and the Department. 

This report also addresses the need for the Department to improve some business management practices at prison business offices and inmate stores. Financial controls over business transactions at the two prison business offices we reviewed appeared adequate, although staff at one business office have stolen or allegedly stole significant amounts of money in recent years. To improve practices at its prison business offices and inmate stores, the Department should ensure that Arizona business office staff follow policies related to financial transactions and adopt recommendations for the inmate stores made by an internal task force.