MY THOUGHTSREGARDINGTHEHOMEARRESTSTATUTE

Ithinkthatthestatute,411604.13,inincrediblypoorlywrittenandunclear.
However,inspiteofitslackofclarity,Istronglybelievethat,aswritten,thestatutedoesnot
provideforthepossibilityofhomearrestforaninmateinWidemanssituation.Iamawarethat
theBoardofExecutiveClemencyhas,ontheirownorthroughinstructions,interpretedthestatue
inawayastomakeWidemaneligibleforhomearrest.Thismakesnosensetomeandneedsto
befixed.
Therearetwowaysforthissituationtobecorrected,achangeinthestatuteorachangeinthe
Boardsinterpretation.
Gettingthestatutechangedtodramaticallyimprovethewording,givingitanunambiguousand
clearintentmightbethebestsolutioninthelongrunforthecriminaljusticesystemandvictims
rights,butitwouldlikelybeofnovaluetoourcasewithWideman.Firstofall,unlessArizona
isdramaticallydifferentthanthelegislativeprocessinthestatesandfederalgovernmentwhereI
havesomeexperience,gettingthisstatutecorrectedcouldpossiblytakeyearstoaccomplish.
Second,Iassume,aswehaveseenwithotherstatutes,Widemanwouldbegrandfatheredinto
thecurrentstatuteandanychangeinitwouldnotaffecthiscase.
ThatleavesuswiththealternativeofgettingtheBoardtochangeitsinterpretationofthestatute.
Theremaybenumerouswaystoaccomplishthisgoal,butIcanthinkofonlyoneclearwaytodo
itthatIbelieveispracticalanddoable.MythinkingisthatitishighlyunlikelythattheBoard
hasarrivedatthisinterpretationofthestatuteontheirown.Iamconfidentthattheygotthere
withlegaladvicefromoutsidetheBoard.Icannotimaginethatadvicecomingfromanywhere
otherthantheAZAttorneyGeneralsofficebywayoftheAssistantAG,KellyGibson,or
possiblyherpredecessor,withtheresponsibilityofprovidinglegalcounseltotheBoard.
Assumingthattobethecase,thesimplesolutiontoourproblemwouldbetoconvinceherto
changetheinterpretation.Idonotknowher,butIwouldguess,especiallyinahighprofile,
emotionallycharged,caselikeWidemans,shewouldnothavethecloutorsimplythenerveto
changetheinterpretationonherown.Theobviousalternativetothatideawouldbetoconvince
theAttorneyGeneral,MarkBrnovich,oftheneedforclarityandanewinterpretationinthis
statute.HecouldtheninstructKellyGibsontogivenewdirectiontotheBoardofExecutive
Clemency.Whilethisisatotallylogicalapproach,Ihavenoideahowachievableitis.
Thatismyideaofhowtoaccomplishthetask.NowIwouldliketoprovidemythoughtsasto
whatIbelieveistheonlyrightandproperwaytointerpretthishorriblywrittenstatute,which
wouldmakeWidemantotallyineligibleforhomearrest.
LetsfirstexamineSubsectionAofthestatute,whichstates:
A. An inmate who has served not less than six months of the sentence
imposed by the court is eligible for the home arrest program if the inmate:

1.Meetsthefollowingcriteria:
(a)Wasconvictedofcommittingaclass4,5or6felonynotinvolvingadangerousoffense.
(b)Wasnotconvictedofasexualoffense.
(c)Hasnotpreviouslybeenconvictedofanyfelony.
2.Violatedparolebythecommissionofatechnicalviolationthatwasnotchargeableor
indictableasacriminaloffense.
3.Iseligibleforworkfurlough.
4.Iseligibleforparolepursuanttosection31412,subsectionA.

Thissubsectionsaysaninmateiseligibleforhomearrestiftheinmateandthenlistsfour
specificrequirements.Itdoesnotsaythattheinmateiseligibleifanyoftheserequirementsare
true.Itiscleartomethatthestatuteintendedfortheinmatetobeeligibleonlyifallofthe
requirementsaretrue.Otherwise,itwouldhaveusedtermslikeany,ororsome.Noneof
thesetermsappear,makingitquitestraightforward.

Letsexamineeachofthefourrequirements.

ThefirstrequirementsayshemustMeetthefollowingcriteria.Itdoesnotsayhemustmeet
someofthecriteria.Hemustmeetallofthem.Wideman,oranyoneconvictedof1stdegree
murder,clearlyfailstomeetcriteria1(a),sincethatisaclass1felonyandcertainlyadangerous
offense.Thatmakescriteria1(b)and1(c)irrelevant.

Thesecondrequirement,dealingwithaparoleviolation,isverypoorlywritten,butIbelieveits
pointisclear.Aswritten,aninmatewhohasneveryetbeenparoledobviouslycannothave
violatedparole,implyingthatthisrequirementcanneverbemetinthatcase.Sincethe
considerationofhomearrestforaninmatewill,mostofthetime,beforaninmatewhohasnot
yetbeenparoled,thisrequirement,aswritten,wouldmakenosenseatall.Itiscleartomethat
theintentherewastosimplyprecludeconsiderationofhomearrestforaninmatewhohadbeen
outonparoleandviolatedthatparolebyacriminaloffense.Topresumeotherwisewouldmean
thattheonlyinmateseligibleforhomearrestwouldbethosewhohavealreadybeenparoled,
whichisabsurd.

Thethirdrequirementstatesthattheinmatemustbeeligibleforworkfurlough.My
understandingisthataninmateconvictedofaviolentcrime,andcertainly1stdegreemurder,is
simplynoteligibleforworkfurlough.

Thefourthrequirement,whiletotallystraightforwardandclear,isprobablythemosttelling
relativetothequestionofwhetheritisallormerelyanyofthefourrequirementsthatmustbe
mettobeeligibleforhomearrest.ObviouslyWidemaniseligibleforparolesincehehasalready
served25yearsandhashadfiveparolehearings.Iftheproperinterpretationofthehomearrest
statutewas,astheBoardiscurrentlyinterpretingit,thatany,andnotnecessarilyall,ofthe
requirementsmustbemetforaninmatetobeeligibleforhomearrest,thananyinmateeligible
forparoleisalsoeligibleforhomearrest,withoutregardtoanyotherconsiderations.Ifthat
weretrue,thanwhywritethelawincludingthefirstthreerequirements?Theyallbecome
irrelevant.Wewouldnotcareiftheinmatecommittedaviolentcrime,violatedparoleorwas
eligibleforworkfurlough.Ifheiseligibleforparole,thenheiseligibleforhomearrest
period!Anyonewhothinksthisthroughmustseethatmakesnosense.

TosumupSubsectionA,Wideman,oranyinmateconvictedof1stdegreemurder,automatically
failstomeetthefirstandthirdrequirementofthisparagraph.Ifyouinterpretthestatute
properly,hethencannotbeeligibleforhomearrest.

SubsectionBofthestatutereadsasfollows:
B.Theboardofexecutiveclemencyshalldeterminewhichinmatesarereleasedtothehome
arrestprogrambasedonthecriteriainsubsectionAofthissectionandbasedona
determinationthatthereisasubstantialprobabilitythattheinmatewillremainatliberty
withoutviolatingthelawandthatthereleaseisinthebestinterestsofthestateafterconsidering
theoffenseforwhichtheinmateispresentlyincarcerated,thepriorrecordoftheinmate,the
conductoftheinmatewhileincarceratedandanyotherinformationconcerningtheinmatethat
isinthepossessionofthestatedepartmentofcorrections,includinganypresentencereport.The
boardmaintainstheresponsibilityofrevocationasapplicabletoallparolees.
Therearetwoimportantpointstobemaderegardingthissubsection.First,itsaysthattheBoard
willdeterminewhichinmatescanbereleasedtothehomearrestprogrambasedonthecriteriain
subsectionA.Itdoesnotsaysomeofthecriteriaoranyofthecriteria.Itsaysthecriteria,
whichtomeshowsthatthestatutedraftersmeantallofthecriteria.Second,itsaysthatthe
Boardwillalsodeterminewhichinmatescanbereleasedtothehomearrestprogrambasedon
thesamedeterminationofasubstantialprobabilityofremainingatlibertyandwhatisinthebest

interestsofArizonathattheyusetograntparole.Tome,thatsaysthatiftheBoardisnotready
toparoleaninmateonthisdetermination,theycannotreleasehimtohomearresteither.
SubsectionCofthestatutereadsasfollows:
C.Aninmatewhoisotherwiseeligibleforhomearrest,whoisnotonworkfurloughandwhois
currentlyservingasentenceforaconvictionofaseriousoffenseorconspiracytocommitor
attempttocommitaseriousoffenseshallnotbegrantedhomearrestexceptbyoneofthe
followingvotes:
1.Amajorityaffirmativevoteiffourormoremembersoftheboardofexecutiveclemency
considertheaction.
2.Aunanimousaffirmativevoteifthreemembersoftheboardofexecutiveclemencyconsider
theaction.
3.Aunanimousaffirmativevoteiftwomembersoftheboardofexecutiveclemencyconsiderthe
actionpursuanttosection31401,subsectionI,andthechairmanoftheboardconcursafter
reviewingtheinformationconsideredbythetwomembers.
IreadthissubsectionassimplydefiningtheBoardvotesrequiredtogranthomearresttoan
inmate.Thisisclearinthattheopeningsentencereferstoaninmatewhoisotherwiseeligible
forhomearrest.ThebasisofaninmateseligibilityisdefinedinSubsectionA.Ifaninmate
doesnotpassthetestofSubsectionA,thevotingrequirementsdefinedinthissubsectionarenot
relevant.
InreadingSubsectionsDthruK,Idonotbelievethereisanythingwrittentherewhichis
germanetothequestionofaninmatesactualeligibilityforhomearrest,soIhavenothingtoadd
regardingthosesubsections.

Belowisthewordingoftheentirehomearreststatute:
411604.13.Homearrest;eligibility;victimnotification;conditions;applicability;definitions
A.Aninmatewhohasservednotlessthansixmonthsofthesentenceimposedbythecourtis
eligibleforthehomearrestprogramiftheinmate:
1.Meetsthefollowingcriteria:
(a)Wasconvictedofcommittingaclass4,5or6felonynotinvolvingadangerousoffense.
(b)Wasnotconvictedofasexualoffense.

(c)Hasnotpreviouslybeenconvictedofanyfelony.
2.Violatedparolebythecommissionofatechnicalviolationthatwasnotchargeableor
indictableasacriminaloffense.
3.Iseligibleforworkfurlough.
4.Iseligibleforparolepursuanttosection31412,subsectionA.
B.Theboardofexecutiveclemencyshalldeterminewhichinmatesarereleasedtothehome
arrestprogrambasedonthecriteriainsubsectionAofthissectionandbasedonadetermination
thatthereisasubstantialprobabilitythattheinmatewillremainatlibertywithoutviolatingthe
lawandthatthereleaseisinthebestinterestsofthestateafterconsideringtheoffenseforwhich
theinmateispresentlyincarcerated,thepriorrecordoftheinmate,theconductoftheinmate
whileincarceratedandanyotherinformationconcerningtheinmatethatisinthepossessionof
thestatedepartmentofcorrections,includinganypresentencereport.Theboardmaintainsthe
responsibilityofrevocationasapplicabletoallparolees.
C.Aninmatewhoisotherwiseeligibleforhomearrest,whoisnotonworkfurloughandwhois
currentlyservingasentenceforaconvictionofaseriousoffenseorconspiracytocommitor
attempttocommitaseriousoffenseshallnotbegrantedhomearrestexceptbyoneofthe
followingvotes:
1.Amajorityaffirmativevoteiffourormoremembersoftheboardofexecutiveclemency
considertheaction.
2.Aunanimousaffirmativevoteifthreemembersoftheboardofexecutiveclemencyconsider
theaction.
3.Aunanimousaffirmativevoteiftwomembersoftheboardofexecutiveclemencyconsiderthe
actionpursuanttosection31401,subsectionIandthechairmanoftheboardconcursafter
reviewingtheinformationconsideredbythetwomembers.
D.Homearrestisconditionedonthefollowing:
1.Activeelectronicmonitoringsurveillanceforaminimumtermofoneyearoruntileligiblefor
generalparole.
2.Participationingainfulemploymentorotherbeneficialactivities.
3.Submissiontoalcoholanddrugtestsasmandated.
4.Paymentoftheelectronicmonitoringfeeinanamountdeterminedbytheboardofnotless
thanonedollarperdayandnotmorethanthetotalcostoftheelectronicmonitoringunless,after
determiningtheinabilityoftheinmatetopaythefee,theboardrequirespaymentofalesser

amount.Thefeescollectedshallbereturnedtothedepartment'shomearrestprogramtooffset
operationalcostsoftheprogram.
5.Remainingattheinmate'splaceofresidenceatalltimesexceptformovementoutofthe
residenceaccordingtomandatedconditions.
6.Adherencetoanyotherconditionsimposedbythecourt,boardofexecutiveclemencyor
supervisingcorrectionsofficers.
7.Compliancewithallotherconditionsofsupervision.
8.Paymentofamonthlyhomearrestsupervisionfeeofatleastsixtyfivedollarsunless,after
determiningtheinabilityoftheinmatetopaythefee,thedepartmentrequirespaymentofa
lesseramount.Thesupervisingcorrectionsofficershallmonitorthecollectionofthefee.Monies
collectedshallbedeposited,pursuanttosections35146and35147,inthecommunity
correctionsenhancementfundestablishedbysection31418.
9.Paymentofadrugtestingfeeinanamounttobedeterminedbytheboardandnottoexceed
thecostsofthedrugtestingprogram.Thefeescollectedpursuanttothisparagraphbythe
departmentmayonlybeusedtooffsetthecostsofthedrugtestingprogram.
E.Beforeholdingahearingonhomearrest,theboardonrequestshallnotifyandaffordan
opportunitytobeheardtothepresidingjudgeofthesuperiorcourtinthecountyinwhichthe
inmaterequestinghomearrestwassentenced,theprosecutingattorneyandthedirectorofthe
arrestinglawenforcementagency.Theboardshallnotifythevictimoftheoffenseforwhichthe
inmateisincarcerated.Thenoticeshallstatethenameoftheinmaterequestinghomearrest,the
offenseforwhichtheinmatewassentenced,thelengthofthesentenceandthedateofadmission
tothecustodyofthestatedepartmentofcorrections.Thenoticetothevictimshallalsoinform
thevictimofthevictim'srighttobepresentandtosubmitawrittenreporttotheboard
expressingthevictim'sopinionconcerningtheinmate'srelease.Nohearingconcerninghome
arrestmaybehelduntilfifteendaysafterthedateofgivingthenotice.Onmailingthenotice,the
boardshallfileahardcopyofthenoticeasevidencethatnotificationwassent.
F.Aninmatewhoisplacedonhomearrestisoninmatestatus,issubjecttoallthelimitationsof
rightsandmovementandisentitledonlytodueprocessrightsofreturn.
G.Ifaninmateviolatesaconditionofhomearrestthatposesanythreatordangertothe
community,orcommitsanadditionalfelonyoffense,theboardshallrevokethehomearrestand
returntheinmatetothecustodyofthestatedepartmentofcorrectionstocompletethetermof
imprisonmentasauthorizedbylaw.
H.Theratioofsupervisingcorrectionsofficerstosuperviseesinthehomearrestprogramshall
benogreaterthanoneofficerforeverytwentyfivesupervisees.

I.Theboardshalldeterminewhenthesuperviseeiseligiblefortransfertotheregularparole
programpursuanttosection31411.
J.ThissectionappliesonlytopersonswhocommitfelonyoffensesbeforeJanuary1,1994.
K.Forthepurposesofthissection:
1."Dangerousoffense"hasthesamemeaningprescribedinsection13105.
2."Seriousoffense"includesanyofthefollowing:
(a)Aseriousoffenseasdefinedinsection13706,subsectionF,paragraph1,subdivision(a),
(b),(c),(d),(e),(g),(h),(i),(j)or(k).
(b)Adangerouscrimeagainstchildrenasdefinedinsection13705.Thecitationofsection13
705isnotanecessaryelementforaseriousoffensedesignation.
(c)Aconvictionunderapriorcriminalcodeforanyoffensethatpossessesreasonablyequivalent
offenseelementsastheoffenseelementsthatarelistedundersection13705,subsectionP,
paragraph1orsection13706,subsectionF,paragraph1.