University News Last updated 31 August 2022
Dr Sarah Cooper, Director of Research in the School of Law, spoke to members of the Arizona Faith Network on August 16 2022 about her nationwide study of compassionate release procedures in the United States.
Compassionate release procedures typically allow prisoners to seek early release due to serious terminal, non-terminal, and/or age-related health issues.
Reforming Compassionate Release in Arizona
The Arizona Faith Network is an interfaith organisation dedicated to bringing people together to promote peace and understanding through interfaith education and dialogue as well as healing of the world through collaborative social action.
As part of its work, the Network hosts a Smart Justice Café, a space to discuss initiatives relating to justice advocacy in the state.
On August 16, 2022 the Network's Smart Justice Café introduced participants to compassionate release, following efforts in Arizona to introduce a new Medical Parole Bill in 2020, which was drafted by Dr Sarah Cooper at Birmingham City University (BCU).
Dr Cooper worked with Katie Puzauskas, a contract attorney for the Arizona Justice Project, to develop the Bill. The Bill received bi-partisan sponsorship in the Arizona Legislature.
The Bill was drafted based on the findings of Dr Cooper's nationwide study of compassionate release from prison procedures in the United States, which was funded by the Leverhulme Trust and British Academy.
The study produced a holistic assessment of compassionate release in the US, and confirmed Arizona has one of the country's narrowest procedures in terms of eligibility.
Based on practices identified in her research, Dr Cooper proposed a broader medical parole procedure that takes account of serious medical problems, public safety, medical appropriateness, cost, and human dignity. Dr Cooper published these ideas in an article for the Law Journal for Social Justice.
Talking Points
At the Smart Justice Café, Ms Puzauskas and Dr Cooper described current Arizona com-passionate release procedures, and the findings of the study. They highlighted issues around eligibility and exclusions, and described approaches taken in other states in response to questions from participants.
Dr Cooper said: