FLORENCE, AZ (March 9, 2022) - The Pinal County Attorney's Office (PCAO) is honored to be a part of a COPS Office-funded research study that is focusing on PCAO's innovative approach to pursuing criminal justice.

This week CNA’s Center for Justice Research and Innovation, a nonprofit research and analysis organization, visited Pinal County to conduct a case study highlighting examples of innovative use of technologies implemented in the criminal justice system throughout the country to (1) reduce crime and disorder, (2) enhance public safety, or (3) build relationships of trust with the community. This case study focused on PCAO's Adult Diversion Program and the use of the iTether platform.

"We are honored to be a part of this case study exploring innovative digital technologies utilized in policing efforts across the country,” said Victim Services Manager Teresa Fuller. “The Digital Transformation of Community Supervision (DTCS) project and the iTether platform are a game-changer for community supervision, allowing defendants real-time access to resources, educational content and connecting them with their assigned officer through a HIPPA compliant telehealth platform"

The case study includes interviews with all of the involved stakeholders, such as participating community organizations, subject matter experts and individuals with lived experience.

The PCAO Adult Diversion Program allows those who qualify to enter into the program, which consists of goal-setting and metrics that must be met in order to avoid resumption of prosecution.

"It has been an honor to be involved with the process of implementing the iTether platform from start to finish,” said Senior Diversion Officer Nicole Buccellato. “I feel this technology is definitely versatile and will help an array of organizations with their own individual needs just as it has our own program"

CNA chose the PCAO Adult Diversion Program for the case study due to the innovative nature of the program, the evaluation element associated with it, and its’ ability to be easily replicated by other agencies.

"Defendants from Diversion are always commenting on how innovative and advanced our methods are,” said Senior Diversion Officer Josh Moreno. “It is a pleasure to work with other agencies that are also interested in advancing criminal justice practices."

This case study is the second in roughly a half dozen that CNA is conducting across the country. They will then write up the case study and work towards publishing it in the coming months.

"One of the reasons this project has been so successful is that we have a wide variety of stakeholders and subject matter experts, whose expertise have been invaluable on this project,” Fuller said. “I am glad their efforts are getting the recognition they deserve"

For more information on the Diversion Program, click HERE.

This project was supported by Grant No. 2019-ZB-BX-0006 awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the SMART Office. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

FLORENCE, AZ (February 22, 2022) - Dozens of residents from across Pinal County attended the first Citizens Academy hosted by the Pinal County Attorney's Office under County Attorney Kent Volkmer.

The class, which filled up within a couple days of it being announced, took place on Saturday. The 28 attendees listened to a criminal justice presentation from County Attorney Kent Volkmer, reviewed and discussed three cases prosecuted by PCAO, took a tour of the county jail and had an opportunity to use a shooting simulator to experience difficult, real life situations facing law enforcement.

We thank those who attended for asking questions, spurring debate and truly diving into the program to better understand the criminal justice system and how charging decisions are made.

We have received significant interest in upcoming classes. We hope to host three more classes in 2022 and will release details as soon as they are finalized.

Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2022 (Florence, AZ) - The next opportunity to meet and chat with the county attorney is coming up in two weeks.

After a successful launch to our "Coffee with Kent" events last month, the next one is scheduled for Wednesday, February 16th at the Superior Chamber of Commerce. County Attorney Kent Volkmer will join Superior Police Chief Frank Alanis at the Superior Chamber of Commerce to meet and chat with residents. All are welcomed to attend, have coffee on us and ask questions.

"Coffee with Kent" is a series of events that will take place around Pinal County throughout the year. In January, County Attorney Volkmer joined Sheriff Mark Lamb and Florence Police Chief Bruce Walls. Several dozen people showed up to the Florence event and asked about crime trends and other community concerns.

Details on the next event in Superior:

When: Wednesday, February 16, 2022

Where: Superior Chamber of Commerce, 165 Main St., Superior, AZ

Time: 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 

We will post additional dates and locations for these events as the year progresses.

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FLORENCE - The dangerous synthetic opioid fentanyl is sharply increasing its prevalence in drug cases in Pinal County.

Fentanyl, which is roughly 100 times stronger than morphine, has been attributed to an uptick in opioid overdose deaths across the country in recent years. It takes a small amount to overdose and has become the drug of choice for some due to how cheap and easy it is to obtain.

"Not just in Pinal County but across the state and across the nation, we've just seen this unbelievable explosion of fentanyl and we're not immune to it," said Pinal County Attorney Kent Volkmer.

Volkmer noted the increasing prevalence of fentanyl in drug cases in Pinal County.

In 2019, less than 2% of drug-related charges involved fentanyl. In 2020, that number increased to around 11%. In 2021, the number exceeded 22%.

"We've seen a 750% increase in...charging for fentanyl," Volkmer said.

The effects of the drug are not hard to find.

"Pinal County is witnessing overall, about one overdose every single day," Volkmer said. "Not everybody is passing, but on average we see almost an overdose every day. That's tragic."

A woman who previously used fentanyl hopes her story deters anyone else from trying the drug.

"I just have a great life," said Valley resident Amanda Thompson, who has been sober for nearly two years. "If you would have asked me three years ago how my life would be I probably would have told you I'd be dead."

Thompson said she first used fentanyl by way of a guy she was dating at the time.

"At first it was just laced in the heroin we got and when we didn't get that we started smoking the [pills]," Thompson said.

Thompson was candid in sharing her story, hoping others realize the dangers of fentanyl.

"My friend diluted the pill and I snorted it...that's the last thing I remember," she said. "I woke up to being shot with Narcan, on the second shot, because I flatlined."

Thompson noted the devastating impact fentanyl has had on her life and those around her.

"I can't even tell you in the last 18 months that I've been sober how many people I've known from my past have died from fentanyl," she said. "Probably at least ten."

Thompson said during sobriety she repaired her relationship with family and is now in a much better place. She hopes her story deters others from ever trying the drug.

"Don't do it," she said. "I had my family, I had everything, and it was just, in the blink of an eye I lost it all. You can die."

Volkmer noted the problem fentanyl is causing across the country.

"That's the scariest part, there's not an easy solution," he said.

If you or someone you know needs help with opioid addiction, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has a National Hotline. That number is 1-800-662-4357.

According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, there have been more than 11,500 suspected opioid deaths in the state since the Summer of 2017.