URGENT UPDATE: Starting December 15, 2023, the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR) will shift all general inmate mail from physical letters to digital scans, raising serious concerns among families about the mental health of their loved ones. This significant move aims to combat contraband and enhance safety within prison facilities, but many families believe it will further alienate inmates.
Families are expressing outrage over the upcoming policy change, fearing it will strip away vital emotional connections. One Valley woman, who requested anonymity for her brother’s safety, shared her heartbreak: “We’re close. We’ve always been close.” Her brother has been incarcerated for approximately 13 years on a murder conviction and has worked hard to remain positive in a challenging environment.
As the ADCRR transitions to digital communication, all general mail will be routed to a facility in Texas for scanning before being delivered to inmates through tablets or kiosks. Families worry that this digital shift could hinder the personal touch that physical letters provide. “There’s something really special about getting a piece of mail in your hands and opening it,” she emphasized, adding that these letters provide “a little cheer and hope” in an otherwise bleak setting.
The ADCRR cites ongoing challenges with contraband, including drug-soaked paper, as a primary reason for this drastic change. Recently, four female inmates in Goodyear were hospitalized due to illegal drug ingestion. The ADCRR reports it continues to grapple with the “negative consequences” of such incidents, but families are demanding more transparency regarding the effectiveness of the new system. “We need numbers. How many cases of this actually happening are there?” she questioned.
Supporters of the change argue that it is a necessary step for safety, but critics believe it punishes all inmates for the actions of a few. This mother of two expressed her frustration: “They should easily be able to identify that in-house and not have to punish everybody.” She argues that eliminating physical mail is a dehumanizing measure rather than a solution.
As of now, the ADCRR will maintain the delivery of legal mail, publications, and packages through traditional means, but the majority of communication will shift to digital formats, leaving families grappling with the emotional fallout.
As this situation develops, the community will be watching closely how this change impacts inmates’ mental health and if it truly addresses the contraband issue without sacrificing human connection. For now, families are left with uncertainty and concern over what this new policy means for their loved ones behind bars.
Stay tuned for updates as this story unfolds.
