The Arizona Revised Statutes have been updated to include the revised sections from the 56th Legislature, 1st Regular Session. Please note that the next update of this compilation will not take place until after the conclusion of the 56th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session, which convenes in January 2024.
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This online version of the Arizona Revised Statutes is primarily maintained for legislative drafting purposes and reflects the version of law that is effective on January 1st of the year following the most recent legislative session. The official version of the Arizona Revised Statutes is published by Thomson Reuters.
31-231 - Unauthorized communication with prisoner; classification; definition
31-231. Unauthorized communication with prisoner; classification; definition
A. A person who is not authorized by law and who without legal or official permission communicates with a prisoner who is within the custody and control of the department is guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor.
B. For the purposes of this section, all prisoners who are detained within a correctional facility or who are supervised in any program outside of a correctional facility are within the custody and control of the department. This section does not apply to prisoners who are on parole, community supervision, work release or home arrest or who are under any other conditional release that does not involve direct and continuous supervision by the department.
C. For the purposes of this section, "communication" means:
1. Any verbal or nonverbal communication that poses a direct threat to the safe and secure operation of the department's institutions, programs or inmate labor work crews.
2. Any written communication that includes taking any unauthorized letter, writing, literature or reading material to or from a prisoner who is within the custody and control of the department.