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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session
violent crime; evidence-based strategies
Purpose
Expresses the Legislature's support for strategies that promote effective law enforcement and reduce violent crime.
Background
Statute requires the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AZPOST) to set reasonable minimum qualifications for officers to be appointed to enforce the laws of Arizona and political subdivisions of Arizona and requires AZPOST to certify officers in compliance with these qualifications. The qualifications require U.S. citizenship, relate to physical, mental and moral fitness and will govern the recruitment, appointment and retention of all agents, peace officers and police officers of every political subdivision of Arizona (A.R.S. § 41-1822).
No person may exercise the authority or perform the duties of a peace officer unless they are certified by AZPOST (A.R.S. § 41-1823).
Peace officer is defined as sheriffs of counties, constables, marshals, policemen of cities and towns, commissioned personnel of the Department of Public Safety and specified personnel who are employees of a state agency or political subdivision and who have received certification through AZPOST (A.R.S. § 1-215).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Expresses that the Legislature:
a) opposes calls to defund the police and supports appropriating resources to incentivize quality recruits to fill officer vacancies and to encourage high quality officers to remain on the force;
b) supports investing in strategies and training that will improve the quality of policing and reduce crime; and
c) supports funding law enforcement agencies through a consistent and transparent budget rather than through relying on the collection of fines, fees and forfeitures.
2. Urges the implementation of:
a) focused deterrence and blight reduction strategies to prevent and reduce violent crime;
b) reform methods that focus policework on high-risk offenders, expand rehabilitative programs, reduce prison populations and decrease recidivism; and
c) additional resources to allow law enforcement to assist individuals suffering from mental health or substance abuse issues to address the underlying reasons for criminal behavior.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 13, 2023
ZD/KS/sr