Arizona Laws 31-231. Unauthorized communication with prisoner; classification; definition
A. A person who is not authorized by law and who without legal or official permission communicates with a prisoner who is within the custody and control of the department is guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor.
Attorney's Note
Under the Arizona Laws, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class 2 misdemeanor | up to 4 months | up to $750 |
Terms Used In Arizona Laws 31-231
- Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
- Department: means the state department of corrections. See Arizona Laws 31-201
- Person: includes a corporation, company, partnership, firm, association or society, as well as a natural person. See Arizona Laws 1-215
- Writing: includes printing. See Arizona Laws 1-215
B. For the purposes of this section, all prisoners who are detained within a correctional facility or who are supervised in any program outside of a correctional facility are within the custody and control of the department. This section does not apply to prisoners who are on parole, community supervision, work release or home arrest or who are under any other conditional release that does not involve direct and continuous supervision by the department.
C. For the purposes of this section, "communication" means:
1. Any verbal or nonverbal communication that poses a direct threat to the safe and secure operation of the department’s institutions, programs or inmate labor work crews.
2. Any written communication that includes taking any unauthorized letter, writing, literature or reading material to or from a prisoner who is within the custody and control of the department.