Middle Ground Prison Reform

Middle Ground Prison Reform Promoting fair, effective & balanced approaches to crime and punishment. Open by advance appointment only. No walk-ins. Contact via email for fast response.

07/31/2026

We’ve been getting all the complaints regarding the heat abatement policy not being followed at Lewis Prison. We have contacted the Director and Legislators, and even suggested to Thornell that he make an unannounced visit on a Friday night to Lewis (and spend the night attempting to sleep). We’ll assume he didn’t follow our suggestion, but we assure you we will keep advocating. In the meantime, family members should register to vote, find out who are your state representatives and state senator (not federal congress members) and get to know them. Study the position of their opponents in the upcoming November elections. If possible, attend candidate events or forums and (politely) ask their position on sentencing or prison reform issues. Elections matter. Legislators listen to constituents who are registered voters. We’ll keep doing our part, but there is power in numbers at the ballot box!

07/23/2026

A former inmate recently described what prison is like: “ It’s 7th grade, Lord of the Flies, and a mental institution all combined. “ Pretty apt. Hey, ADCRR, that’s not a compliment…!

07/18/2026

Arizona prison healthcare receiver: Ohio's ex-prisons chief takes control with power to override state laws blocking inmate care

07/18/2026

ADCRR prison doctor ruling: Judge rejects Arizona bid to hire less-qualified doctors, says agency must raise salaries instead

07/15/2026

The revised legal mail policy (DO 902) went into effect 7/13/26. Pro per inmates in particular are negatively impacted by the restrictions in this policy. For any inmate acting as his/her own lawyer while challenging a conviction, applying for clemency, litigating a civil rights or personal injury claim, their access to courts, confidential communication, and hiring experts, investigators, paralegals, etc. will be seriously impeded. Send information about incidents of actual harm to: Middle Ground, 1825 West Ray Rd., Unit 1120, Chandler , Az. 85224

06/24/2026

We have been successful in locating a law firm which will challenge various aspects of the revised DO 902, “ Inmate Legal Access to the Courts.” More information coming later. The revised policy, effective July 13, 2026, decimates access to the courts for inmates acting as their own attorneys (Pro per), and imposes draconian new regulations on so-called privileged communications between licensed attorneys and their clients. We don’t know what law school the DOC lawyers graduated from ( the ones who signed off on this policy), but they clearly missed the classes which taught ethics, due process, and equal access to judicial redress for all.

06/14/2026

The 2026 legislative session is over. The bill on home confinement did not pass into law. The bill to provide funding for start up costs of the Independent Corrections Oversight Office did not pass. If these bill are reintroduced next year, they will be assigned different bill numbers. Although both of these bills had good bi-partisan support, we believe that “election year politics” played a role in the failure of the home confinement bill. And as for funding oversight of ADCRR, we believe Thornell is adamantly opposed and the Governor continues to cave to his requests/pleas to keep pesky inspectors from entering his poorly managed and understaffed prisons (unannounced). Both bills were supported by Middle Ground.

06/02/2026

We take about 25 telephone calls/day, plus respond to 50-plus emails. Some calls are from completely irrational people who don’t want to hear truth, accurate information, or reality. We get that having a loved one arrested, jailed or imprisoned is stressful and can be a genuine nightmare. But we can’t invent a new criminal justice system system, improve the public defender system, prevent private lawyers from sometimes cheating clients. We can only obtain information from callers and respond with best available answers. Rude, disrespectful people in denial of reality can go elsewhere. We have plenty of people who appreciate our help.

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day today, with a special shoutout to all incarcerated mothers who work hard to do the hard work so as to reunite with their children, and to all Moms with an incarcerated child who provide the unwavering support needed for sons and daughters to believe in themselves and a future ahead. And recognition to those Moms who hold down the fort when Dad is incarcerated—you are incredible!

Address

1825 W. Ray Road, Suite 1120
Chandler, AZ
85224

Telephone

+14809668116

Website

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