[EDITORIAL] Pinal, other counties have a shot at locking up a prisoner deal

prisoner deal

Pinal County, AZ jail

Editorial board | The Republic | azcentral

(Editor’s note: Opinion pieces are published for discussions purposes only.)

Arizona’s new budget pushes costs onto counties. But it also gives rural counties a chance to recoup losses by housing medium-security state inmates.

Ironically, Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who was among the sheriffs calling for this opportunity earlier this year, will not be among the players. A Maricopa County official said the county does not plan to bid.

Rural counties will. And it’s thanks to lawmakers.

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