Civil Commitments in Arizona

Patient and nurse
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Attorney Colleen Connor joined Phoenix, Arizona’s Maricopa County Attorney’s Office in 2011. She continues to support the office in the role of government advice practice group leader. Over the course of her career as an attorney, Colleen Connor has gained experience in a range of legal areas, from representing various municipal offices during settlement negotiations to supervising lawyers during civil commitment hearings.

Arizona maintains a number of civil commitment laws designed to guide the relevant authorities in determining whether or not an individual living with severe mental illness may require involuntary treatment. In Arizona, court-ordered treatment is referred to as assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) when it takes place in outpatient, communal settings, though the court may deem inpatient, hospital settings more appropriate.

The exact nature of a civil commitment arrangement is based off of a number of factors. These factors include whether or not the individual is a danger to themselves or others, the regularity and severity of their specific condition, and the likelihood or ability of the individual to voluntarily seek out treatment in the future. At www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org, individuals can review and download the application for emergency admission for evaluation. The website also maintains the state petition for court ordered treatment.

Proposed Election Laws to Tighten Controls on the Election Process

Gavel
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Phoenix resident Colleen Connor has been an attorney with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for over eight years. As an attorney in this office, Colleen Connor is responsible for protecting the integrity of election laws in the state.

More recently, election law integrity and voter access have been two of the hot topics taking center stage. The proposed bills are focused on trying to secure the election process without preventing Arizonians from voting. On the agenda, one of the bills that were proposed would eliminate voters from a list of mail-in ballots if they did not vote in two consecutive elections. Another proposed bill would penalize canvassers for submitting registration forms beyond the deadline. While these measures did not pass, the intent is to place tighter controls on the election process.

However, a few measures did pass that would provide added protection and reduce fraud. The first measure would place limits on early voting facilities that allowed voting outside of polling stations before Election Day. The other measure that passed related to ID requirements for new voters. Ultimately, the emphasis was on cleaning up and securing the voting process in Arizona.

An Overview of Public Record Law in Arizona

Colleen Connor, practice group leader in the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office in Arizona, provides representation and legal advice to elected officials and government departments around Phoenix. As an attorney for the county, Colleen Connor has extensive experience handling cases involving everything from statutory duties to public record laws in the state.

In Arizona, anyone is allowed to inspect and copy public records. While there is no specific statute defining what a “public record” is, Arizona Public Record Law does require that all public bodies and officers maintain records of anything that is reasonably necessary for documenting the official and government-funded activities of that position. This may include books, maps, photographs, or other documentary materials. These records are required under section 39-121.01(B) of Arizona law and are generally regarded as public records.

Based on this, public records in Arizona are kept by different government entities at varying levels. This includes school districts, county agencies, state agencies, and committees supported by state spending. Elected and appointed individuals are also subject to Arizona public records law. However, there are some exceptions to these laws.

If obtaining any record violates the privacy of an individual, it is usually not regarded as public. This includes the home address or phone number of a peace officer, justice, public defender, or other eligible person. Specific departments, such as the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Juvenile Corrections, are also exempt from providing members of the public with a reason for withholding certain records.

Health Benefits of Yoga

Yoga Exercise in the morning

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An attorney advising and representing government agencies and officials, Colleen Connor serves as the leader of the Government Advice Practice Group at the Maricopa County Attorney's Office in Phoenix, Arizona. Outside of work, Colleen Connor enjoys hiking and scuba diving, as well as practicing yoga. 

For some, yoga is a spiritual practice that promotes centeredness and helps to facilitate a more peaceful life. But yoga isn’t just limited to spirituality. In recent years, doctors have been increasingly pointing to yoga as a valuable practice to promote overall body health. Through its poses (also known as asanas), yoga not only promotes flexibility but helps to build strength in different muscle groups throughout the body. 

Osteopathic physicians have also recognized yoga as a preventative health tool. They say the practice helps to stimulate the body’s self-healing processes, which can improve health and quality of life. One specific way it does this is by reducing inflammation, which, if left unchecked, can lead to chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease.

What Is the Arizona Clean Elections Act?

Since 2011, Colleen Connor has provided legal representation to local officials through her position at the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. A respected attorney, Colleen Connor is a recognized expert in local election law and has contributed an article to a peer-reviewed journal which discussed the Clean Elections Act. 

In 1998, the Arizona electorate approved Proposition 200, known as the Clean Elections Act, by a narrow majority. As part of the act, the state established the five-member Clean Elections Commission, which oversees four programs that work toward increasing participation in state and federal elections. Three of the programs address campaign financing. 

First, the act established the Clean Election Fund, which is financed through fines, candidate penalties, and small-dollar donations from local residents. Candidates running for a state-level office who agree to following stipulations outlined by the Act can receive public financing through the Clean Elections Fund.

The commission also handles and investigates claims levied against candidates who may have broken Clean Election rules. To improve the integrity of local elections, the commission also enacts a voter education plan that informs Arizona residents on candidates, policy issues, and the voter registration process.