The effect of the worldwide pandemic reached far and wide in 2020, including the number of people being remanded to Arizona prisons.
But following a dip in jail sentences being handed out during that pandemic era, Arizona's prison population is rising again, with the total number of incarcerated people now hovering around 35,000 statewide, according to recent state data.
The increase is gradual, but new county-level figures show the growth is being driven largely by the state’s most populous areas.
Statewide numbers
Data from the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry indicates the state held about 34,500 people in prison at the end of 2023.
By late 2024, the average daily population had climbed to roughly 35,500, and 2025 estimates showed the number holding steady just above 35,000. The latest data from February 2026 from the department of corrections shows the state’s prison population at about 34,700 inmates.
The current rise follows a decline in 2020 and 2021, when the COVID-19 pandemic slowed court activity and reduced prison sentencing.
With the court system fully operational, the number of people entering prison has increased, pushing the population upward.
Even so, Arizona remains below its peak of nearly 42,000 incarcerated people in 2017. But the current trajectory suggests the state may be moving toward higher incarceration levels after several years of decline.
County-level data
Maricopa County — home to Phoenix and about 60% of the state’s population — accounts for the largest share of prison admissions by a wide margin. Roughly 6 in 10 people sent to state prison each year come from Maricopa County, making it the primary driver of statewide trends.
Pima County, which includes Tucson, is the second-largest contributor, though far behind Maricopa. It typically accounts for about 15% to 20% of new prison commitments.
Other counties, including Pinal County, Yavapai County, and Mohave County, contribute much smaller shares individually but collectively make up a significant portion of the remaining prison population.
Smaller rural counties tend to send fewer people to prison in total numbers, but often at higher rates relative to their population sizes. That dynamic reflects differences in policing, prosecution, and access to alternatives such as diversion programs.
Trends
Criminal justice experts say Arizona’s prison growth pace reflects structural factors built into the system. About 72% of the prison population is serving time for violent offenses, which generally carry longer sentences. As a result, people remain incarcerated for extended periods, slowing releases and keeping the population elevated.
The state’s sentencing laws also play a major role. Under Arizona’s “truth in sentencing” policy, most people convicted of felonies must serve at least 85% of their sentence. That requirement limits early release and reduces the system’s ability to quickly shrink, even when admissions fall.
Together, these factors create a system that is relatively stable but slow to change. Even modest increases in admissions — particularly from large counties like Maricopa — can translate into sustained population growth over time.
The trend has financial and policy implications. Housing roughly 35,000 incarcerated people requires substantial state resources, including funding for staffing, health care, and facility maintenance.
In 2024, the Arizona Department of Corrections reported a roughly $1.47 billion budget, with that growing to $1.6 billion in 2025, according to information from the Arizona Joint Legislative Budget committee.
If the population continues to rise, the state could face pressure to expand capacity or rethink sentencing and release policies.
The future
Lawmakers are weighing decisions that could shape future trends. Proposals to increase penalties for certain drug-related offenses, including fentanyl, could lead to higher incarceration rates. At the same time, reform efforts focused on diversion programs, probation, and reentry support aim to reduce the number of people entering or returning to prison.
Arizona continues to have one of the highest incarceration rates in the country — roughly 710 people per 100,000 population in prisons or jails, according to the Prison Policy Initiative. The latest data suggests that, after a temporary decline during the pandemic, the system is once again growing — driven in large part by trends in its largest counties.
Matt Loeschman has had two separate stints at Independent Newsmedia. He began as a reporter covering Peoria and later Surprise from 2000-2009. In 2017, he returned to Arizona and INI as the news editor of the Daily News-Sun (now the Phoenix Independent). He previously covered the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League for more than a decade.
Community: During high school football season since 2017, he contributes live postgame radio reports to the AzPreps 365 Friday Night Football Wrapup Show. He supports organizations such as Phoenix Children’s, Boys and Girls Clubs of the Valley and the American Cancer Society.
Education: The University of Texas at Austin majoring in Journalism-News and Public Affairs.
Random Fact: He can sing and he has been fortunate to meet many famous people during his journalism career including First Lady Hillary Clinton, King of Country Music George Strait and Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey. Attended all 4 home games of the 2001 World Series.
Hobbies: Watching and playing a wide variety of sports, including golf, tennis, pickleball and softball. Playing PlayStation 5, working out, shopping and reading.
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