URGENT UPDATE: Arizona prisons are set to transition from physical letters to digital mail starting December 15, 2023. The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR) announced this significant change is aimed at reducing contraband and enhancing safety for inmates and staff. However, families of incarcerated individuals are raising alarm bells over the potential negative impact on inmates’ mental health.
Families fear that this shift to digital communication could severely affect their loved ones’ emotional well-being. One woman from the Valley, who has maintained a close connection with her incarcerated brother for over a decade, expressed her concerns: “There’s something really special about getting a piece of mail in your hands and opening it,” she said, wishing to remain anonymous for her brother’s safety.
With her brother serving a 13-year sentence on a murder conviction, she emphasized the importance of physical mail, stating, “It’s one way they can put a little cheer and hope in their cells.” The emotional weight of receiving hand-written letters and family photos is irreplaceable, she argues.
Beginning on December 15, all general mail sent to inmates will be redirected to a facility in Texas for scanning. The scanned content will then be delivered digitally through tablets or kiosks within the prisons. This decision comes in the wake of alarming incidents, including a recent case where four female prisoners in Goodyear were hospitalized after ingesting illegal drugs hidden in paper.
Despite the ADCRR’s assertion that this new system will curb the trafficking of contraband, families are demanding transparency. “We need numbers. How many cases of this actually happening are there?” questioned the Valley woman. She believes alternatives should be explored that do not deprive inmates of personal connections.
“This is just another factor in essentially dehumanizing people rather than trying to make it better,” she stated passionately. The ADCRR maintains that legal mail, publications, and packages will still be delivered physically, but many families are skeptical about how effective the new digital system will be.
As the December deadline approaches, the debate over inmate welfare versus prison security intensifies. Family members are mobilizing to voice their concerns, emphasizing that maintaining personal connections is vital for inmates’ rehabilitation and mental health.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story and the potential implications for Arizona’s prison population.
