The Arizona Department of Corrections has released over 15,000 inmates in FY 2012 year to date. This is on pace with FY 2011 when a total of 19,055 inmates were released. The sheer volume of inmates returning to our neighborhoods and streets raises important questions about the success rates of prisoner rehabilitation and reentry programs and our ability to minimize recidivism. Nationally, 4 in 10 offenders return to prison within 3 years of their release. According to a recent report by Pew Center on the States, 28% of Arizona inmates released in 2004 returned to prison for new crimes within 3 years and an additional 12% returned for technical violations.
Featured Indicators Data
Arizona Department of Corrections Releases 1,500 Inmates Per Month
High Risk of Injury for Jockeys and Horses at Arizona Race Track
Turf Paradise race track in Phoenix has one of the highest incidents of "breakdown or signs of injury" in the U.S. according to a recent New York Times investigative report that examines risks posed to jockeys and horses in an industry with lax regulation. Their analysis found 11.3 incidents per 1,000 starts at Turf Paradise, making it the most dangerous track outside of New Mexico. The article explores the grim consequences of illegally pumping race horses full of performance-enhancing drugs or pain killers to mask injury.
Northern Section of Tempe Ranks 3rd on List of Most Fun, Affordable U.S. Cities
With a median home price of only $119,900 and over 265 bars and restaurants, the northern section of Tempe (zip code 85281) ranks 3rd on the Bloomberg Businessweek list of most fun, affordable cities in the U.S.
Scottsdale (zip code 85251) also made the list, placing 4th. Ocean City, MD topped the list and the Ala Moana-Kakaako section of Honolulu placed second.
73% of Arizona Nonprofits Have Fewer Than 6 months of Operating Reserves
According to a new report by the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits, one alarming trend for Arizona’s nonprofit sector is the stress on underlying fiscal stability created by the combination of falling revenues and rising demand. Nearly one-third of Arizona nonprofits operated with a deficit in 2011, a ratio that actually increased from 2010. And 29% expect to end the year in 2012 with a deficit. Half of nonprofits continue to tap financial reserves to maintain their operations and 73% of nonprofits have fewer than 6 months of operating reserves.
Arizona Ranks in the Bottom Half of States for Women Receiving Early Prenatal Care
Only 79.5% of Arizona women receive prenatal care in the first trimester of their pregnancy, according to America’s Health Rankings. Connecticut fares best on this measure at nearly 88% while Texas is the worst at less than 60%. Arizona is ranked 21st, which leaves much room for improvement. Receiving early prenatal care reduces the risk of delivering a low birth weight baby and generally leads to more preventative care, early detection of complications, and better maternal health outcomes.
In Maricopa County, 16% of Residents' Income Is From Government Benefits
Americans' reliance on government benefits programs has increased dramatically since 1969, according to a New York Times mapping tool that uses Bureau of Economic Analysis data. Nationally, government benefits accounted for 17.6% of all personal income in 2009. In Maricopa County, that share was slightly lower at 16.4%. Pima County exceeds the national average at 21.9% and Apache County has the highest share of transfer income per capita in Arizona at 43.7%. In 1969, the national average was only 8%.
Recent Publications
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Arizona Directions 1 1
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 -
Policy Points 3 6
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 -
Special Report
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Indicator Trends
AZ Youth Face Tough Odds
According to the national Kids Count program, Arizona still compares unfavorably on key indicators of child well-being, ranking 37th best overall.
Losing Ground:
- Children in poverty (23%)
- Children affected by foreclosure since 2007 (8%)
- Children in single-parent families (37%)
Making Progress:
- Births to teens ages 15-19, rate per 1,000 (56)
- Four year high school graduation rate (76%)
- Youth (15-19) deaths related to firearms, rate per 100,000 (11)
Collaborations
Brookings Mountain West
Morrison Institute for Public Policy and Brookings Institution are now partners in Brookings Mountain West, a collaboration of Brookings Institution and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas that conducts research on economic growth, demographic change, infrastructure improvement, environmental impact, alternative energy, and real estate investment in the Intermountain West. Check out the latest issue of Mountain Monitor.
Demographics
Check out Population Basics, an interactive tool that allows you to explore demographic data about Arizona, our 15 counties, and metro Phoenix and Tucson. If you prefer raw data, explore the demographics section of our Google Spreadsheets collection:
Explore Arizona Demographics Data in Google SpreadsheetsMore to Explore
2010 Census Data
Quick Poll
Math and Science Education Poll
Do you think the amount of emphasis that Arizona public schools place on teaching math and science is about right, too much, or not enough?
