Court rules Arizona prison visitor constitutional
Appeals court upholds ruling that one-time prison visitor fee in Arizona is constitutional
PHOENIX (AP) -- A new court ruling says Arizona's one-time prison visitor fee that goes toward maintaining state-run lockups is constitutional.
The ruling issued Tuesday by a three-judge panel of the state Court of Appeals upholds a trial judge's December 2011 decision that rejected a challenge by prisoner rights advocates.
Arizona implemented the $25 fee in July 2011.
The state said it was for a background check but money from the fee goes for repairs and maintenance of state-run prisons.
People who were approved for visitation prior to the enactment of the being implemented were grandfathered in.
Children under 18, inmates' foster parents and those who want only phone privileges are exempt from payment.
