Lawsuit Filed to Block Arizona Private Prison Plans

The American Friends Service Committee Tucson office has filed a lawsuit to block state plans for 5,000 new prison beds.

The group says the state should not be allowed to spend any more taxpayer’s money until the Department of Corrections can prove that the prisons are safe, that the corporations are doing the job they’re being paid to do, and that the state can hold the corporations accountable.

The Arizona Republic reports that the suit accuses the Arizona Department of Corrections of failing to follow two state statutes. State law requires that any private prison contract must either save money or provide better service for the same cost as state-run prisons. The suit also says that the Corrections Department has failed to carry out biannual studies required by law to compare the performance of private and state prisons.

A ruling on the temporary restraining order is expected sometime this week.