Senate Public Safety Committee Chair Expands Probe into Department of Corrections, Requests Additional Information from Director Thornell

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                   

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Senate Public Safety Committee Chair Expands Probe into Department of Corrections, Requests Additional Information from Director Thornell

PHOENIX, ARIZONA— Senate Public Safety Committee Chairman Kevin Payne is doubling-down on his investigation of disturbing events transpiring within the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, & Reentry (ADCRR), including inmate murders, suicides, overdoses, confiscated weapons, and assaults against correctional employees.

Back in April, Chairman Payne launched a probe of ADCRR in response to the murders of three inmates at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Tucson. Officials with ADCRR reported Ricky Wassenaar, an Arizona inmate currently serving 16 life sentences, allegedly killed three other inmates after an "altercation" inside the prison. Wassenaar has an extensive history of violence, including his role in a hostage crisis at the Lewis Prison Complex that lasted for two weeks back in 2004. Chairman Payne sent a letter to ADCRR Director Ryan Thornell requesting a timeline of events, reports, policy changes, staffing levels, staffing rosters, and other pertinent information surrounding the case and Wassenaar's criminal history.

Following receipt of the requested information, Chairman Payne sent a second letter to Director Thornell Tuesday afternoon, joined by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Quang Nguyen. The lawmakers are asking for a variety of additional public records be provided to the Arizona Legislature by June 25, including reports on inmate deaths, Narcan administration logs, substance use disorder treatment records, restrictive housing reports, statistics on staff assaults, data on disciplinary actions taken against staff and inmates, data on confiscated weapons, and other pertinent items relevant to the operations and culture of ADCRR. These details will be used in determining the next course of action to ensure the safety and security of both correctional employees and inmates within ADCRR facilities.

"I have grave concerns that a disaster is unfolding right before our eyes at Arizona's correctional facilities," said Chairman Payne. "I fear the lives of correctional officers and staff are in jeopardy each day they report for duty, and I'm concerned dangerous inmates within their custody are not secure. It appears we have a ticking timebomb on our hands. Director Thornell must provide us with immediate clarity as to why current policies and procedures are failing both employees and inmates. We are eagerly awaiting these records for review and will update the public on next steps as soon as they are determined."

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For more information, contact:

Kim Quintero

Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus

kquintero@azleg.gov