PHOENIX (AP) - A state commission plans to hold public hearings on criminal justice issues.
The Arizona Criminal Justice Commission said the hearings will focus on identifying available data and providing "a reliable foundation" for discussions on topics such as prison and probation populations, sentencing laws, recidivism and re-entry programs.
The hearings are scheduled in Phoenix on Sept. 25 in the Governor's Executive Tower and Oct. 30 at the commission's offices.
According to the commission's announcement , the hearings are a response to calls from legislators and other policymakers for a clearer understanding of the state's criminal justice system.
Yavapai County Attorney Sheila Polk, the commission's chairperson, says the goal is to develop a "common data framework" in the wake of competing reports issued in recent years by various groups.
