Disability advocates demand action when it comes to Arizona’s criminal justice system
Press Contact:
Sarah Ruf, Director of Communications
Phone: (480) 578-9668
Email: [email protected]
Sept. 30, 2024 (Phoenix, AZ)—Today, the Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (ADDPC) released a report entitled Stuck in the System: Searching for Better Criminal Justice Interactions for People with Disabilities. This report addresses the struggles faced by individuals with disabilities when they encounter the Arizona criminal justice system, as well as possible solutions to the issues.
“(I’ve) personally seen cases where an individual with a disability has progressed all the way through the justice process before the individual’s disability was identified…(this) unquestionably caused harm to the individual,” said Dr. Joseph Stewart, Forensic Psychologist and Director of the Yavapai County Restoration to Competency program, which is featured in the report.
“For years, we’ve heard from families and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who have told us about problems with their experience with the justice system,” added Jon Meyers, ADDPC Executive Director. “It is past time for the state to meaningfully correct these gaps and concerns.”
Community advocates are coordinating an in-person roundtable discussion about ways to improve the criminal justice system for people with disabilities; more details will be released soon.
For more information on the event and how to address these issues in the developmental disability community, visit https://addpc.az.gov/ or contact ADDPC at 480-578-9668.
The Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council promotes greater community inclusion across the lifespan for all Arizonans with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Council achieves this through grantmaking, advocacy, research and innovative projects in five key goal areas: self-determination, meaningful careers, inclusion, system access, and safety.
