Arizona runs one of the most litigated prison systems in the country. A federal court has imposed a receiver to oversee health care in state prisons, the result of years of documented failures under the Parsons v. Ryan lawsuit. The state also created a new Independent Correctional Oversight Office in 2025, though it has been stalled by funding disputes. In that environment, the grievance process matters more than ever, and Arizona's Department Order 802, which was updated in May 2025, is the document that governs your ability to use it.
The process has four steps: an informal complaint, a formal grievance to the Deputy Warden, a first-level appeal to the Warden, and a final appeal to the Director. All of that must be completed within a hard outer limit of 120 calendar days from the time you initiate the formal grievance. Medical grievances run a parallel but different track, skipping the Warden entirely and going straight from the formal stage to the Director. Know which track applies to your complaint before you file anything.
The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry is referred to throughout this article as ADCRR.
Why the Process Matters: The PLRA
The Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995, 42 U.S.C. section 1997e(a), requires you to exhaust all available administrative remedies before a federal court will hear a lawsuit about prison conditions. DO 802 itself says this directly: pursuant to the PLRA, inmates shall completely exhaust the Department's internal grievance and administrative processes prior to filing any complaint with any State Board or Federal Court. Every step and every deadline in this article exists because a court will check whether you followed the process correctly.
The Supreme Court in Woodford v. Ngo (2006) held that exhaustion means proper exhaustion -- following all procedural rules, not just going through the motions. Skip a step, miss a deadline, put multiple complaints on one form, or file a duplicate, and the grievance will be returned unprocessed and you will not have exhausted. A court can dismiss your case even if your underlying complaint was legitimate.
The PLRA applies to conditions of confinement claims. It does not apply to habeas corpus petitions challenging the fact or length of your sentence.
Overview of Arizona's Grievance System
DO 802 covers any aspect of institutional life or conditions of confinement that personally affects you, including complaints about Department Orders, Director's Instructions, Post Orders, Technical Manuals, written instructions and procedures, and the actions of staff.
What is NOT grievable under DO 802:
- Actions of the Governor or State Legislature
- Decisions of the Board of Executive Clemency
- Judicial proceedings or decisions of the courts
What has its own separate appeal process and cannot be grieved through DO 802:
- Disciplinary hearings (use DO 803, Inmate Discipline Procedure)
- Publication screening and review (use DO 914, Inmate Mail)
- Protective segregation (use DO 805, Protective Custody)
- Security Threat Group validation (use DO 806)
- Classification actions (use DO 801, Inmate Classification)
Do not file a DO 802 grievance on any of the topics above. It will be returned as unprocessed and will not preserve your rights on the underlying issue. Use the correct separate appeal process for each of those categories.
One complaint per form. Arizona requires a single complaint with related issues on a single Inmate Grievance form. If you raise multiple unrelated issues on one form, or submit a duplicate complaint, the grievance will be rejected and returned as unprocessed.
Maximum 120 calendar days. The entire formal grievance process from initiation to final Director decision may not exceed 120 calendar days. This outer limit drives urgency at every step.
All time limits in Arizona grievances are measured in workdays. A workday is Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, including any time an employee is absent from work. State observed holidays are not workdays.
Non-medical and medical grievances follow different tracks. The steps below describe the non-medical track first, followed by the medical track. Read both sections if your complaint involves medical, dental, or mental health issues.
Step-by-Step: Non-Medical Grievance Process
Step 1: Informal Complaint Resolution -- Form 802-11
Before you can file a formal grievance, you must attempt informal resolution. This means discussing your complaint with staff in the area most responsible for the issue, or submitting an Inmate Informal Complaint Resolution on Form 802-11 to the Correctional Officer III (CO III) in your unit.
Deadline to file: The Informal Complaint must be submitted within 10 workdays from the date of the action that caused your complaint.
Attach all supporting documentation to your Informal Complaint form when you submit it.
The CO III has 15 workdays to investigate and provide a written response using the Inmate Informal Complaint Response, Form 802-12.
If the CO III's response resolves your complaint, the process ends. If not, or if you are dissatisfied with the response, you move to the Formal Grievance.
Keep a copy of your Form 802-11 and Form 802-12.
Step 2: Formal Grievance -- Form 802-1 to the Deputy Warden
If informal resolution did not work, you file a Formal Grievance using Inmate Grievance Form 802-1 (or the Inmate Grievance-GF Supplement, Form 802-7, if needed). Submit this to the unit CO IV Grievance Coordinator.
Deadline to file: You have 5 workdays from receipt of the CO III's informal response to submit the Formal Grievance. This is a short window. File the moment you receive the informal response.
One complaint per form. Related issues can be combined on one form. Multiple unrelated issues on one form will result in rejection.
The CO IV Grievance Coordinator logs and assigns a case number to your grievance. The CO IV may request an additional investigation. You will be notified in writing of any extensions, which cannot exceed 15 workdays.
The Deputy Warden has 15 workdays from receipt of the formal grievance to issue a written response. The response will say either "Resolved" or "Not Resolved." If not resolved because of a Department written instruction, the specific DO or instruction will be named in the response.
Keep copies of your Form 802-1, all attachments, and the Deputy Warden's written response.
Step 3: First Level Appeal to the Warden -- Form 802-3
If you are not satisfied with the Deputy Warden's response, you appeal to the Warden.
Deadline to file: Within 5 workdays of receiving the Deputy Warden's response, submit Inmate Grievance Appeal Form 802-3 (and/or Form 802-7 supplement) to the Warden through the unit CO IV Grievance Coordinator.
The Warden has 20 workdays to review the complete record, which includes your informal complaint, the formal grievance, and the Deputy Warden's investigation and response. The Warden may send the grievance back to the Deputy Warden or CO IV for additional investigation.
The Warden's written response either affirms or reverses the Deputy Warden's decision. If reversed, the Warden must tell you in writing what corrective action is being taken.
Property loss claims: Each institution can resolve grievance claims for property loss up to $450 per occurrence. The claim must be initiated with a Formal Grievance form.
Note: Medical grievances may not be appealed to the Warden. Medical complaints skip this step and go directly to the Director. See the medical track below.
Step 4: Appeal to the Director -- Form 802-3
If you remain unsatisfied after the Warden's decision, you may appeal to the Director. This is the final step.
Deadline to file: Within 5 workdays of receiving the Warden's decision, submit the Inmate Grievance Appeal form to the unit CO IV Grievance Coordinator. The CO IV must log, process, and forward all documents to the Central Office Appeals Officer within 5 workdays.
The Central Office Appeals Officer may return the appeal to the CO IV for further investigation or if it does not meet the requirements of DO 802. Within 30 calendar days of receiving the appeal, the Central Office Appeals Officer prepares a response and submits it to the Director for signature.
The Director's decision is final. It constitutes exhaustion of all remedies within the Department. The Director may delegate signature authority.
This is the final step. Once you receive the Director's decision, you have exhausted your administrative remedies and may proceed to federal court.
Non-Medical Process: Deadlines at a Glance
All deadlines are in workdays unless noted.
Informal Complaint filing deadline: within 10 workdays of the incident
CO III response to Informal Complaint: within 15 workdays of receipt
Formal Grievance filing deadline: within 5 workdays of receiving the CO III's informal response
Deputy Warden response: within 15 workdays of receipt (extensions allowed, max 15 additional workdays)
First Level Appeal to Warden filing deadline: within 5 workdays of receiving the Deputy Warden's response
Warden response: within 20 workdays of receipt
Director Appeal filing deadline: within 5 workdays of receiving the Warden's response
CO IV must forward to Central Office: within 5 workdays of receiving the Director appeal
Central Office Appeals Officer prepares response: within 30 calendar days of receipt
Outer limit: 120 calendar days from initiation of the Formal Grievance to final Director decision
If you do not receive a response at any stage within the required time, you are entitled to move to the next step. The clock on your next filing begins the day after the response was due.
Non-Emergency Upward Movement: If a stage fails to respond on time, move up. The time you have to file the next step is the same as it would have been had you received a timely response.
Step-by-Step: Medical Grievance Process
Medical grievances cover any complaint related to medical, dental, or mental health services and the actions of medical staff. The track is different from the non-medical process.
Step 1: Informal Complaint
Same as non-medical. Attempt informal resolution through discussion with staff, or submit Form 802-11 to the CO III. The CO III contacts appropriate medical staff to attempt resolution. The CO III or relevant medical staff responds within 15 workdays.
Step 2: Formal Medical Grievance -- Form 802-1
If the informal step does not resolve your complaint, file a Formal Grievance on Form 802-1 within 5 workdays of receiving the CO III or medical staff's response. Submit it to the unit CO IV Grievance Coordinator.
The CO IV immediately forwards the Formal Medical Grievance to the Contract Facility Health Administrator, not to the Deputy Warden.
The Contract Facility Health Administrator has 15 workdays to investigate, prepare a written response, and return the completed grievance in a sealed envelope to the CO IV. The CO IV forwards the sealed envelope to you. The response will say either "Resolved" or "Not Resolved."
Step 3: Director Appeal -- Form 802-3 (No Warden Level for Medical)
Medical grievances do NOT go to the Warden. The appeal goes directly to the Director.
Within 5 workdays of receiving the Contract Facility Health Administrator's response, submit a Grievance Appeal form to the unit CO IV. The CO IV immediately logs, processes, and forwards the Medical Grievance Appeal to the Health Services Contract Monitoring Bureau Grievance Appeals Investigator.
The Investigator reviews the appeal in consultation with the Assistant Director for Health Services Contract Monitoring Bureau and contracted health services staff, prepares a response, and submits it to the Director for signature.
The Director's decision is final and constitutes exhaustion of all remedies for the medical grievance.
Note on the receivership: As of early 2026, a federal court has appointed a receiver to oversee health care in nine ADCRR state prisons as a result of the ongoing Parsons v. Ryan / Jensen v. Shinn litigation over unconstitutional health care. This means medical care in those facilities is now subject to federal court oversight independent of the internal grievance process. The grievance process is still required for PLRA purposes. After exhausting, contact the organizations listed in the After Exhaustion section, who can also connect you with resources related to the receivership.
What to Put in Your Grievance
At every step, the quality of your record determines the quality of everything that follows:
Include: The exact date, time, and location of the incident. The full name or badge number of any staff member involved. Names of witnesses. A clear, specific description of what happened. The exact remedy you are requesting. Be concrete.
Attach supporting documentation: Copies of prior requests, medical records requests, property receipts, prior complaint responses, notes. Attach copies, keep originals.
One complaint per form. If you have two separate complaints, file two separate forms, each with its own deadline clock running.
Keep a complete copy of everything: Every form you submit, every response you receive. Every copy confirms the timeline that a court will evaluate. If you have family on the outside, send copies after each filing. Copies outside the facility cannot be confiscated.
Families: Families cannot file a grievance under DO 802 on your behalf for standard complaints. The grievance must be filed by you. The exception is sexual abuse (see Special Circumstances below), where third parties including family members may file on your behalf. Your family can help from the outside by keeping copies of your filings, tracking workday deadlines, and contacting advocacy organizations after exhaustion.
When the System Fails
No response within the deadline: If any stage fails to respond within the required workday window, you are entitled to move to the next step. The clock on your next filing starts the day after the response was due. Document the date you filed and the date the response was due, and note the non-response at the top of your next filing.
Returned as unprocessed: If your grievance is returned, the Grievance Coordinator must note the specific reason. Common reasons in Arizona: multiple unrelated issues on one form, duplicate complaint, past the time frame, threatening language, issue already addressed through the grievance process. Fix the problem if it is fixable and refile within the remaining time frame if possible. If the deadline has passed, note extenuating circumstances if any apply (court, hospital, CDU).
Retaliation: Prohibited. Retaliation or the threat of retaliation for using DO 802 is strictly prohibited. If you are retaliated against, file a new grievance specifically about the retaliation using the same DO 802 process. Staff found in violation face disciplinary action under DO 601. Document the retaliation immediately.
Emergencies: You are not required to use the formal grievance process to submit an emergency complaint. An emergency is a condition that would subject you to substantial risk of medical harm, personal injury, or other serious and irreparable harm if processed through normal time frames. Submit an emergency complaint directly to any staff member. It will be immediately evaluated through the chain of command to determine if it qualifies and requires immediate response.
Safety concerns: You may also file grievances and appeals directly to the Warden when the content would pose a threat to your safety, the safety of staff, or the safety of other inmates if filed through established procedures.
Federal Prisons in Arizona
Arizona has a significant Bureau of Prisons presence. Active BOP facilities in Arizona include the Federal Correctional Institution at Safford (FCI Safford), the United States Penitentiary at Tucson (USP Tucson), the Federal Correctional Institution at Phoenix (FCI Phoenix), and the Federal Correctional Institution at Yuma (FCI Yuma). Arizona also hosts a facility at the Arizona State Prison Complex at Florence under the Interstate Compact arrangement.
If you are incarcerated at any of these BOP facilities, the ADCRR DO 802 process described in this article does not apply to you. Federal inmates use the BOP Administrative Remedy Program, which runs BP-8 through BP-11 under 28 CFR Part 542. All BOP facilities in Arizona fall under the Western Regional Office at 7338 Shoreline Drive, Stockton, CA 95219.
See the InmateAid federal grievance article for the complete BOP process, all deadlines, and the critical distinction between a rejection and a denial.
After Exhaustion: Where to Go Next
Once the Director has issued a final decision, you have exhausted ADCRR's administrative remedies. Federal court is now an option for conditions of confinement claims.
Arizona Center for Disability Law (ACDL): azdisabilitylaw.org. Arizona's federally mandated Protection and Advocacy organization. Has federal authority to investigate abuse and neglect and to access ADCRR facilities. Has been actively involved in monitoring ADCRR conditions and the Parsons v. Ryan litigation. If your complaint involves a disability, mental illness, inadequate mental health care, or disability accommodation failures, the ACDL is a critical resource.
ACLU of Arizona: acluaz.org. The ACLU of Arizona has been a key litigant in the Parsons v. Ryan / Jensen v. Shinn case challenging ADCRR health care. They focus on systemic conditions rather than individual representation but maintain extensive knowledge of ADCRR's failures and can refer you to other resources.
Office of the Independent Correctional Oversight: Arizona created a new Independent Correctional Oversight Office in 2025 (Laws 2025, Ch. 258) with authority to monitor conditions of confinement and compliance with federal and state rules. As of mid-2025, the office was stalled pending funding. Watch for its activation and contact ADCRR or your elected officials about its status. When operational, it provides a civilian oversight channel outside the internal grievance process.
Florence Project (Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project): firrp.org. Provides free legal services to immigrants in detention in Arizona. If your immigration status is a factor in your incarceration situation, contact the Florence Project.
Be honest about capacity: these organizations are small and cannot take every case. Have a complete, organized grievance record when you contact them.
Jails vs. Prisons: Key Differences in Arizona
Arizona county jails are operated by county sheriffs under Arizona Revised Statutes and are separate from ADCRR. DO 802 does not apply to county jails. Each county jail operates under policies set by the sheriff and may have different grievance procedures, deadlines, and forms.
If you are in a county jail in Arizona, ask for the jail's grievance policy in writing. Get the form names, the filing deadline, the number of steps, and the response deadlines. If the jail does not provide a written policy, submit a written complaint anyway, document your attempt, and keep that documentation. The PLRA exhaustion requirement applies to pretrial detainees in county jails just as it applies to sentenced prisoners. You must exhaust whatever process exists at that specific jail before filing in federal court.
Private prisons: Arizona contracts with private operators for a significant portion of its prison capacity. If you are housed in a private prison in Arizona, DO 802 still governs your grievance process. The private prison Warden stands in the role of Deputy Warden at the formal grievance level, and the Contract Beds Bureau Support Administrator stands in the role of Warden for the first level appeal. The same forms and deadlines apply.
Special Circumstances
Sexual offense grievances: Special rules apply under DO 802 section 802.09. No time limit will be imposed on when you may submit a grievance alleging sexual abuse. You are not required to attempt informal resolution for sexual abuse complaints. You may submit a sexual abuse grievance without submitting it to a staff member who is the subject of the complaint. Third parties, including family members, attorneys, and outside advocates, may file on your behalf. Emergency sexual abuse grievances require an initial response within 48 hours and a final decision from the Warden within 5 workdays. The Warden has 90 workdays to issue a final decision on any sexual abuse grievance. PREA reporting is separate from the grievance process; file both to protect your rights.
ADA and disability accommodations: Refer to DO 108, Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance. Contact the facility ADA Coordinator in addition to filing a grievance. The Arizona Center for Disability Law has independent authority to investigate disability complaints at ADCRR facilities.
Disciplinary appeals: The disciplinary hearing process under DO 803 is a completely separate track. A DO 802 grievance does not substitute for a disciplinary appeal, and a disciplinary appeal does not substitute for a grievance. You may need to use both, depending on what happened.
Interstate Compact inmates: If you are an Arizona inmate housed in another state through Interstate Compact, you must first attempt to resolve issues using the informal and formal grievance procedures available at the facility in the state where you are housed. The Interstate Compact Supervisor acts in the role of Deputy Warden and the Central Office Security Operations Administrator acts in the role of Warden for your appeals. Time frames for filing may be adjusted for inmates housed out of state.
Frequently asked questions
What forms do I use in Arizona's grievance process?
For the informal step, Form 802-11 (Inmate Informal Complaint Resolution). For the formal grievance, Form 802-1 (Inmate Grievance) and if needed Form 802-7 (supplement). For the Warden and Director appeals, Form 802-3 (Inmate Grievance Appeal). Spanish versions are available: Form 802-2S (formal grievance in Spanish) and Form 802-4S (appeal in Spanish). All forms should be available through the unit CO IV Grievance Coordinator and in the law library.
How long do I have to file the informal complaint?
Ten workdays from the date of the incident. Workdays are Monday through Friday, excluding state holidays. Ten workdays is two calendar weeks, so this window is tighter than it sounds. Start the process immediately.
Can I file a medical complaint on the same form as a non-medical complaint?
No. Medical and non-medical grievances follow different tracks. Medical complaints go to the Contract Facility Health Administrator rather than the Deputy Warden, and medical appeals go directly to the Director rather than through the Warden. Mixing medical and non-medical complaints on a single form will result in rejection.
What happens if I get no response at a stage?
If any stage fails to respond within the required workday window, you are entitled to move to the next step. Your filing window for the next step starts the day after the response was due, the same as if you had received a timely response. Document the non-response and note it explicitly in your next filing.
What is the 120-day outer limit?
DO 802 sets a maximum of 120 calendar days from initiation of the Formal Grievance to final Director decision. This total limit covers the Formal Grievance, the Warden appeal, and the Director appeal. Extensions at any step cannot exceed 15 workdays. Monitor elapsed time across the whole process, not just each individual step.
Can my family file a grievance for me in Arizona?
For standard grievances, no. DO 802 requires you to file the grievance yourself. For sexual abuse grievances, third parties including family members may file on your behalf. Your family can help outside the process by keeping copies, tracking workday deadlines, and contacting outside organizations after you have exhausted.
I filed a complaint about my disciplinary hearing using DO 802. Was that wrong?
Yes. Disciplinary matters have their own appeal process under DO 803, Inmate Discipline Procedure. A DO 802 grievance is not the right vehicle and will be returned. Use the DO 803 disciplinary appeal process for disciplinary matters and follow its own deadlines, which are separate from the grievance deadlines. --- INTERNAL LINKS TO PLACE: 1. Arizona inmate search (InmateAid Arizona page) 2. Family rights and advocacy in Arizona (FRA series Arizona article) 3. How the Arizona prison disciplinary process works (if spoke exists) 4. How Prison Works hub 5. Staying Connected hub --- SPEC NOTE / SOURCING (strip before publish): - Voice: formerly incarcerated narrator written TO the incarcerated person; family guidance woven in. No em dashes. No smart quotes. No double hyphens. Plain text. - Meta title char count: 48 (under 60). Meta description char count: 152 (in 150-160 range). All 7 FAQ headings under 60 chars, verified. - Defining hooks for Arizona: (1) DO 802 updated May 2025 -- the current governing document; (2) separate non-medical and medical grievance tracks (medical skips Warden entirely and goes straight to Director -- a distinctive Arizona structural feature); (3) 120-calendar-day outer limit on the entire formal process; (4) four-step non-medical process (informal/Deputy Warden/Warden/Director) all in workdays; (5) federal receivership over ADCRR health care (as of early 2026 from the Parsons v. Ryan / Jensen v. Shinn litigation) -- the most significant Arizona conditions context; (6) new Independent Correctional Oversight Office (Laws 2025 Ch. 258, stalled pending funding); (7) major BOP presence (FCI Safford, USP Tucson, FCI Phoenix, FCI Yuma); (8) large private prison sector (7 of 16 facilities private) -- DO 802 still applies with substituted roles. - SOURCES: ADCRR Department Order 802, Inmate Grievance Procedure (effective December 12, 2013, replacement page May 25, 2014; updated May 2025 per KOLD Aug 2025 report): 802.01 General Information (purpose; non-grievable: governor/clemency/courts; separate processes for discipline/publication/protective segregation/STG/classification; PLRA exhaustion required; available regardless of disciplinary status/housing/classification; no barriers to access; 1.8 emergency definition, no formal grievance required, chain of command evaluates; 1.9 direct to Warden if safety risk; 1.10 expiration of any stage = entitled to move to next step; extensions max 15 workdays; 1.10.1 time to proceed starts day after response was due; 1.11 120 calendar day maximum for entire formal process); 802.02 Informal Complaint Resolution (Form 802-11 to CO III; within 10 workdays; CO III responds within 15 workdays on Form 802-12; for medical CO III contacts medical staff); 802.03 Formal Grievance Non-Medical (Form 802-1 and/or 802-7 to unit CO IV; within 5 workdays of CO III response; one complaint per form; CO IV logs/assigns case number; CO IV may request additional investigation; Deputy Warden responds within 15 workdays; response "Resolved" or "Not Resolved"; signed by Deputy Warden); 802.04 First Level Appeal Warden Non-Medical (Form 802-3 and/or 802-7 to Warden; within 5 workdays of Deputy Warden response; Warden has 20 workdays; affirms or reverses; corrective action if reversed; property loss up to $450; medical may NOT appeal to Warden); 802.05 Appeals to Director Non-Medical (Form 802-3 via unit CO IV; within 5 workdays of Warden decision; CO IV forwards to Central Office within 5 workdays; Central Office Appeals Officer prepares response within 30 calendar days; Director signature; Director decision final; constitutes exhaustion); 802.06 Formal Grievance Medical (Form 802-1 to CO IV; within 5 workdays of CO III/medical response; CO IV immediately forwards to Contract Facility Health Administrator; CFHA has 15 workdays; response in sealed envelope returned via CO IV); 802.07 Appeals Director Medical (Form 802-3 to Director via CO IV; within 5 workdays; CO IV immediately forwards to Health Services Contract Monitoring Bureau Grievance Appeals Investigator; review with Asst Director Health Services and contracted staff; response submitted to Director; Director decision final = exhaustion; copies to CFHA and ADC Contract Compliance Monitor); 802.08 Interstate Compact/Contract Beds (attempt facility grievance first; IC Supervisor = Deputy Warden role; Central Office Security Ops Admin = Warden role for IC; private prison Warden = Deputy Warden; private prison Program Supervisor = CO IV; Contract Beds Bureau Support Admin = Warden for private prison appeals; contracted CFHA for health; time frames may be waived for out-of-state); 802.09 Sexual Offense (no time limit; no informal required; may not be referred to subject staff; third parties including family/attorneys/advocates may file; emergency: initial response 48 hours, Warden final decision within 5 workdays; Warden final decision on merits within 90 workdays; extension up to 70 workdays; no response = denial; discipline for sexual abuse grievance only if malicious intent; document response and actions); 802.10 Rejected/Unprocessed (serious bodily harm threats; multiple unrelated issues; duplicates; previously addressed; past time frame unless extenuating; Coordinator must note specific reason); 802.11 Retaliation (strictly prohibited; inmate may pursue retaliation through DO 802; employee disciplinary action per DO 601; failure to substantiate not grounds for discipline against inmate; intentional falsification may lead to disciplinary referral); Definitions (WORKDAY = Monday through Friday 8 AM-5 PM including employee absent days, state holidays excluded); Forms list (802-1, 802-2S Spanish, 802-3, 802-4S Spanish, 802-7 supplement, 802-9 unit log, 802-10 monthly statistical, 802-11 informal complaint, 802-12 informal response); KOLD Aug 7 2025 (ADCRR updated DO 802 in May 2025, included "updated appeal process through the levels of the prison"); Arizona State Library Laws 2025 Ch. 258 (Independent Correctional Oversight Office; director appointed by Governor 5-yr term with Senate consent; monitors conditions of confinement compliance; information/public awareness/legislative/policy); prisonoversight.org Arizona (Arizona has 16 state prison facilities, 7 private; ~33,000 incarcerated; federal receivership context; Governor Hobbs Independent Prison Oversight Commission Jan 2023 EO); ADCRR corrections.az.gov receivership statement Feb 2026 (U.S. District Court ordered receiver to oversee all health care services in 9 state prisons; ADCRR disagreed and will appeal; $1.3B invested in healthcare over 3 years); BOP bop.gov/locations (Arizona BOP facilities: FCI Safford, USP Tucson, FCI Phoenix, FCI Yuma -- Western Regional Office 7338 Shoreline Drive Stockton CA 95219); azdisabilitylaw.org (Arizona Center for Disability Law = P&A for Arizona); acluaz.org (ACLU of Arizona; Parsons/Jensen litigation); firrp.org (Florence Project immigration detention). - VERIFY FLAGS for Poorwa: (1) CRITICAL: DO 802 was updated in May 2025 -- the KOLD report confirms this. The Michigan policy clearinghouse has the 2013/2014 version. VERIFY the updated May 2025 DO 802 text against the ADCRR website (corrections.az.gov/department-orders-policy) before publish. Specifically verify whether any of the following changed: workday deadlines at each step, the four-level non-medical structure, whether medical still skips Warden, whether the 120-day outer limit changed, form numbers. Flag every deadline for re-verification. (2) Confirm BOP Arizona facilities (FCI Safford, USP Tucson, FCI Phoenix, FCI Yuma) current per bop.gov/locations -- Arizona also historically housed inmates at private BOP-contract facilities like CAR (Corrections Corporation/CoreCivic Arizona). (3) Confirm Western Regional Office address Stockton CA current. (4) Confirm Arizona Center for Disability Law azdisabilitylaw.org current; confirm ACLU of Arizona acluaz.org current; confirm Florence Project firrp.org current and relevant (immigration detention, included because AZ immigration/federal detention context is significant). (5) Confirm Independent Correctional Oversight Office current operational status (was stalled pending funding as of Aug 2025 per KOLD; Laws 2025 Ch. 258 established it). (6) Confirm receivership status -- federal receivership ordered Feb 2026; ADCRR appealing; I noted this as a live ongoing situation, hedged as "as of early 2026" -- verify current status. (7) Confirm county jail structure in Arizona (county sheriffs operate independently; DO 802 does not apply; each county has own policy). (8) Confirm private prison DO 802 structure (private prison Warden = Deputy Warden role; Contract Beds Bureau Support Admin = Warden role) is unchanged in the May 2025 update. (9) Form numbers 802-1 through 802-12 -- confirm still current form numbers in the May 2025 update. (10) 30 calendar days (not workdays) for Central Office Appeals Officer to prepare Director response -- confirm this is still calendar days in the May 2025 update; this mixed workday/calendar day structure is distinctive. No volatile phone rates. No crisis-line specifics. Medical receivership context handled factually and carefully -- noted as relevant to the medical grievance track without legal advice.