PHOENIX — Gov. Katie Hobbs has signed an executive order to establish an oversight commission for Arizona's corrections system.
The independent commission will be tasked with making recommendations to the governor regarding how Arizona can improve its correctional facilities.
Arizona has previously been sued for its lack of adequate health care services in the state's prisons.
A federal judge recently concluded that there weren’t enough employees to care for the roughly 25,000 incarcerated people housed in Arizona's prisons.
A 2021 audit found that most of Arizona's inmates weren't able to enroll in substance abuse or cognitive restructuring programs.
The governor's commission will consist of four state lawmakers, former inmates, and health care experts.
Commission members will be given access to inspect facilities and review records kept by the Arizona Department of Corrections, the governor's office said.
The commission will be expected to submit a report of recommendations in November.
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