This report provides the findings and recommendations of an independent evaluation of the methodologies employed by the Arizona Department of Corrections in the preparation and application of its Operating Per Capita Cost Report and Private Prison Cost Model. The purpose of the Cost Report is to provide the average daily operating cost incurred by ADC during a fiscal year to incarcerate an inmate. Information has also been utilized to compare state versus private prison costs. This report and the evaluation upon which it is based were conducted and prepared at the Department's request by MAXIMUS, Inc.

On February 13 & 14, 2006, Governor Janet Napolitano and Attorney General Terry Goddard sponsored
a solution-focused conference: Addressing the Methamphetamine Problem in Arizona- Enforcement,
Prevention and Treatment - A Call to Action. The Conference provided a quality, fact-based array of
public policy and community action solutions for an audience that included law enforcement, human
services professionals, medical professionals, community-based organizations, educators, Tribal
organizations, the faith community and neighborhood activists.

Nationally recognized speakers provided insight into and recommendations about the impact of
methamphetamine and what is working nationwide in the areas of prevention, treatment and law
enforcement. Arizona experts shared their experiences regarding the impact of methamphetamine on
Arizona children, youth, families and communities, current practices to address the meth crisis in Arizona
and possible future directions. Finally, participants heard the public policy perspectives of some of
Arizona’s policy makers and presented their individual views of the issues and possible solutions.

The purpose of this report is to examine methamphetamine use among adult arrestees and juvenile detainees in Maricopa County, Arizona. We relied on data from the Arizona Arrestee Reporting Information Network (AARIN) to address the following five questions:
1. What percent of adult arrestees are methamphetamine users and what are their social characteristics?
2. What is the relationship between methamphetamine use and arresting offense?
3. What is the relationship between methamphetamine use by parents and the presence of children in the household?
4. What percent of methamphetamine users are receiving treatment for their drug use?
5. What percent of juvenile detainees are methamphetamine users and what are their social and legal characteristics?

For the 2008 AARIN study, 2,105 Maricopa County (AZ) arrestees volunteered to complete the survey instrument and to provide a valid urine specimen for testing. In addition, the arrestees responded to a series of questions related to methamphetamine use, including patterns of use, treatment, drug transactions, sales and manufacturing, and awareness of the Arizona Meth Project. Among those participants, 435 (20.7%) admitted to having used methamphetamine in the 30 days prior to arrest.

The Arizona Drug Endangered Children Program (formerly referred to as the Meth and Kids Initiative) was established in 2000 to address problems associated with methamphetamine production in homes with children present. For the past three years the DEC Program has focused primarily on Maricopa County cases and Task Force members have provided training and technical assistance to agencies throughout the state. Representatives from the DEC Task Force worked together to formalize the multidisciplinary protocol to address the needs of children and ensure the safety of children who are present at an investigation of a methamphetamine laboratory.