Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has announced the distribution of $10 million in opioid settlement funding to five county sheriff’s offices to expand programs that assist individuals returning to society after incarceration.
The initiative aims to strengthen coordinated reentry services that address substance abuse, recovery and long-term stability while reducing repeat involvement in the criminal justice system.
Under the program, five sheriff’s offices will each receive $2 million to enhance existing services and develop additional resources for individuals transitioning out of jail.
The agencies selected to receive funding are the sheriff’s offices in Coconino, Mohave, Navajo, Pinal and Yavapai counties. The Pinal County allocation remains subject to approval by the county’s Board of Supervisors.
State officials say the funding comes from Arizona’s share of nationwide opioid settlement agreements reached with pharmaceutical companies and other entities connected to the opioid crisis.
The money is intended to support programs that help individuals secure treatment, housing, employment assistance and other services that can improve outcomes following incarceration. Officials hope the investments will reduce relapse rates and decrease the likelihood of repeat offenses linked to addiction.
To ensure oversight of the funds, participating agencies will be required to submit regular financial reports and program updates to the Attorney General’s Office. The sheriff’s offices have until June 30, 2027, to spend the allocated funding.
The latest distribution represents part of Arizona’s broader effort to direct opioid settlement dollars toward prevention, treatment and recovery initiatives as communities across the state continue to address the long-term effects of the opioid epidemic.
