We are an independent branch of government constitutionally entrusted by the people to advance and protect the rule of law. We maintain jurisdiction over all children under the age of eighteen and their families who are referred to us for the fair and just resolution of disputes. Therefore, in accordance with the due process of law, our mission is to promote and facilitate community safety through:
• The protection of abused and neglected children through the provision and oversight of services to children and families involved with the court.
• The restoration of victims, families, and the community.
• The reduction of delinquent behavior by holding juveniles accountable through a continuum of prevention, rehabilitation, and transition programs.

A landmark assessment of infrastructure needs in Arizona was produced by the L. William Seidman Research Institute in May 2008 for the Arizona Investment Council (AIC): "Infrastructure Needs and Funding Alternatives for Arizona: 2008-2032", that addressed infrastructure needs in four categories: energy, telecommunications, transportation, and water and wastewater. The information from the AIC report is a major input to the report that follows. Other types of infrastructure — most notably education, health care, and public safety — also are analyzed here to provide a more complete picture of infrastructure needs in Arizona. The goals of this report are to place Arizona’s infrastructure needs into national and historical contexts, to identify the changing conditions in infrastructure provision that make building Arizona’s infrastructure in the future a more problematic proposition than in the past, and to provide projections of the possible costs of providing infrastructure in Arizona over the next quarter century.

The condition of Arizona’s infrastructure has a direct impact on economic productivity and quality of life. As economic competition expands domestically and globally, and as the knowledge economy evolves, the importance of a strong infrastructure increases. Education, in particular, is of growing importance. Arizona’s infrastructure challenges will require commitment and creativity to meet the needs and potential of 10 million people and to ensure a positive future for the state.