In a new law in Arizona, those visiting inmates at the state prisons will need to submit to background checks. There will be a $25.00 charge for the background check.
According to the Digital Journal, Senate Bill 1621 mandates a one time fee for a background check for those wanting to visit inmates. It costs Arizona some $150 Million, annually to maintain its prisons and the fees are one way of offsetting the costs in a bad economy, especially.
There is some concern the fees for background checks may have a negative impact. It has been widely observed that inmates that maintain contact with their families do better and have a lower recidivism rate once they fulfill their sentences. The cost of the prison background check and the background check itself may prevent various family members from visiting those who are incarcerated.
Arizona is facing a $1.6 Billion deficit this year, which may be one of the reasons for the fee.
