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Mayor of Marana, Arizona says MTC Gives Incarcerated Men a “New Lease on Life”

“This has been a phenomenal program and a great partnership.”

So says Ed Honea who is the mayor of Marana, Arizona where MTC has operated a facility for the Arizona Department of Corrections since it opened 25 years ago. From the beginning, Mayor Honea, then serving on the Marana City Council, has been a major support to the facility.

“I appreciate what the MTC is doing,” Mayor Honea says. “I think they’re taking a lot of young citizens, and most of them are younger individuals, and giving them a new lease on life when they leave the facility.”

Not only does he champion the work and programs of the unit, but Mayor Honea has facilitated outside work opportunities for the residents who qualify.

Other community leaders also provide similar opportunities. Jeff Bohnenkamp of ESB Design Build explains the benefits of such a partnership to both the community and the men who participate.

“It’s definitely a monetary benefit for them, it’s a training benefit for them. It’s one of the few “win-wins” that are out there. We get a labor force, they learn a trade; as far as the community goes, because they make more money, they pay the victims compensation fund, they pay for their room and board out of this…When that time comes for them to get out, they are more likely to succeed, they’re less likely to go back in, because now they have the ability to go out and get a real job, a good paying job, and be able to self-sustain. I think it’s great. I think it’s great for everyone.”

For its part, the Marana facility strives to do all they can to benefit the community. Warden Jeremy Casey explains.

“If the town of Marana needs anything, MTC’s willing to help with whatever they can, whether it’s additional workforce or specific projects throughout the community; donations, we’ve done donations to the town of Marana for some of their charitable organizations, where the inmates have given back in that way; volunteered, unpaid hours for inmates as well, they go out and help out in the community.”

The Marana facility is deeply grateful for the generous community support that has been a part of its operation since day one including the genuine interest Mayor Honea takes in seeing the men who reside at the facility become successful.

“He actually comes out to the facility quarterly,” Warden Casey says, “and attends the GED graduations and speaks at those for the inmate population.”

“I love to go,” Mayor Honea states, “because I see these young men making an effort to make a better life for themselves and their family.”

About Arizona State Prison - Marana

Arizona State Prison-Marana is accredited by the American Correctional Association—
achieving 100% compliance for mandatory standards in its most recent audit. Other
accreditations and certifications include the Correctional Education Association,
National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC), and the Prison Rape
Elimination Act (PREA).