Arizona imprisonment rate doubles, ranked fourth highest in the country

Arizona currently has the fourth highest imprisonment rate in the country and the number of women in prison in Arizona has doubled since 2000 by 104 percent, according to FWD.us.

In 2000, the female imprisonment rate grew by 50 percent. Today, that number doubled to 107 percent in Arizona. Far outpacing the growth of men by 56 percent nationwide.

“Arizona has been seeing a decline in crime and the rate of growth in the prison population is far outpacing the resident population. The system is being used to send more people to prison for less serious offenses,” Zoe Towns, Director at the Criminal Justice Reform FWD.us.

Tuesday Brauer, who served nine years in prison, said some of those behind bars may have deeper rooted issues that led to their incarceration. She also added that programs for inmates may be the answer.

“When you come from a family with issues, when you’ve been molested or abused, from domestic situations you don’t know how to deal with them you just know how to recreate them,” said Brauer.

Brauer takes us down memory lane with what she said was the most painful years of her life.

“I’ve seen women who have tried to commit suicide and who have tried to hang themselves because they need help,” said Brauer.

Since Brauer has been released her goal is to create a space for women once they serve their time.

“What these women need is to feel that they have the support system or that they something to come home to. I had that, most of these women were abused or neglected. These women just need that love and compassion and they can strive in this world,” said Brauer.

News 11 reached out to the Department of Corrections for information regarding how many people are being held in our local prison but they said they could not answer due to the government shutdown.