Donna Leone Hamm Email & Phone Number

My work includes education, training and advocacy for those persons who are seeking executive clemency to reduce an already imposed prison sentence. Includes extensive investigation into social history and background of each client. In addition, I research, investigate and prepare mitigation reports in non-capital cases for defense attorneys. Finally, I have been retained to research and correct time computation errors, medical indifference/malpractice and other issues involved in the prison and jail systems in Arizona. I have also appeared in state courts as an expert witness on prison policy and procedure; protective custody classification; and executive clemency/commutation procedures.

Middle Ground Prison Reform is Arizona's premier prisoner rights' advocacy organization. We are the sole registered agency whose responsibility is to lobby on prison-related issues at the Arizona Legislature. Middle Ground is an all-volunteer, non-profit advocacy organization whose mission is to protect and define the rights, responsibilities and privileges of prisoners (pre-trial detainees and convicted persons) incarcerated in county jails and state prison facilities in Arizona. We perform our advocacy work in the areas of public education, legislative advocacy and litigation. We also make referrals to agencies and services which assist ex-offenders, probationers and others involved in the criminal justice system. Our assistance extends to ex-offenders and to those being supervised on probation, community supervision or parole release. Our litigation has resulted in protecting First Amendment Rights, property and mail rights of prisoners and privacy issues in the Maricopa County Jail system. We are currently litigating constitutional challenges to new legislation that allows prison visitor applicants to be charged a fee for a background check and and legislation which allows a fee to be charged each prisoner who receives a deposit to his/her spendable account. None of the monies collected from these "fees" are used to defray the costs of background checks or of banking account management. Instead, the monies are deposited to a prison building renewal fund. Hence, these are unconstitutional special taxes; not fees. All of this work is performed pro bono by Middle Ground.

Under the supervision of the Arizona Supreme Court, my work as a Justice Court Judge included hearing criminal, civil, traffic, game and fish and small claims cases under the jurisdiction of the court. In addition, conducted preliminary hearings to determine probable cause in felony matters. Case jurisdiction included small claims, civil cases up to $10,000 disputes, domestic violence orders of protection, juvenile truancy issues and city ordinance violations. Presided at marriage ceremonies. Developed innovative alternative to jail sentences; night-court hours and seminars to teach community leaders and students about the operation of the court system. Selected as one of two judges in pilot program for Felony Court Program. Also worked as City Magistrate for the Town of Gilbert, Arizona. My jurisdiction included portions of the Navajo and Hopi Indian Reservations.