# Arizona AG's office sought left-wing groups for prison reform help

> Arizona AG's office repeatedly sought left-wing legal groups for prison reform roles.
- Title: Arizona AG's office sought left-wing groups for prison reform…
- Summary: Arizona AG's office repeatedly sought left-wing legal groups for prison reform roles. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes' office recruited ACLU and Prison…
- Keywords: arizona, kris mayes, attorney general, aclu, prison law office, adcrr, corrections, prison reform, legal groups, recruiting, fentanyl, police funding
- Source: Fox News — https://foxnews.com/politics/moderate-ags-office-turned-groups-spent-years-suing-prisons-recruiting-help-emails-reveal
- Author: Robert Schmad
- Published: 2026-10-16T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: arizona, kris mayes, attorney general, aclu, prison law office, adcrr, corrections, prison reform, legal groups, recruiting, fentanyl, police funding
## Arizona AG's office sought left-wing groups
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes' office repeatedly sought recruiting help from ACLU and Prison Law Office for prison reform roles.
## Barr had years of legal collaboration
Chief Deputy Attorney General Daniel Barr previously litigated with ACLU and Prison Law Office in federal cases challenging prison conditions.
## ACLU and PLO advocate prison reform
ACLU seeks to cut jail and prison populations by 50% through decriminalization and bail reform while PLO focuses on prison conditions and medical care.
## Mayes won narrow re-election
Mayes won her 2022 race by just 280 votes, one of the narrowest margins in state history.
## Barr sought ADCRR attorneys
Barr requested ACLU and PLO recommendations for attorneys to handle Arizona Department of Corrections work and ADCRR general counsel candidates.
## Barr sought ADCRR general counsel
Barr repeatedly asked ACLU and PLO for candidates for ADCRR general counsel after no one was hired.
## ACLU responded to recruitment
ACLU National Prison Project Director David Fathi promised to redouble efforts to find ADCRR general counsel candidates.
## PLO recommended candidate
PLO deputy director Corene Kendrick suggested a candidate who was already suing ADCRR in civil rights cases.
## ADCRR hired Ashley Oddo
ADCRR ultimately hired Ashley Oddo, who previously led Arizona State University’s Academy for Justice.
## Oddo has left-wing background
Oddo has no institutional ties to ACLU or PLO but supported left-leaning criminal justice policies.
## Mayes defends law enforcement
Mayes has secured funding for police and cartel task forces and seized 27 million fentanyl pills.
## ACLU advocates defunding police
ACLU promotes defunding police departments and redirecting resources to community services.
## Mayes opposes defunding police
Mayes responded with a resounding no when asked if she supported defunding police.
## Key takeaway

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes' office recruited ACLU and Prison Law Office attorneys for prison reform roles despite their opposing views on policing.