SAFFORD — The Graham County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Monday to raise the rate of pay for Arizona Department of Corrections inmate labor from 50 cents per hour to $1.50.
It was a change proposed by Supervisor Paul David two years ago, stemming from the pandemic.
“Ever since Covid-19, when we weren’t able to receive any inmates out at the Fairgrounds, getting inmates back and at a full crew has been a struggle to say the least,” said County Manager Dustin Welker. “We’ve had anywhere from zero to 10, maybe 12 at the very most.”
ADOC rejected David’s proposal at the time, but Arizona Department of Transportation recently increased its rate of pay for inmate labor to $1.50, prompting ADOC to OK the change by Graham County.
The $1.50 per hour is the maximum allowed under state statute.
