Arizona Revised Statutes

Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 31-141 (2026)

Enforcement of sentence imposing hard labor; employment of prisoners; definition

✓ current as of May 2026

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A. If a person is sentenced to serve a certain number of days in a county jail, the court imposing the sentence may order, in addition to any other sentence authorized by law, that the defendant be kept at hard labor during the term of the sentence, or for any part of such sentence.

B. When a person is sentenced to hard labor, the sheriff shall cause the prisoner to be kept constantly engaged in labor during every day, Sunday excepted. The sheriff may work such prisoners either inside or outside the jail.

C. The sheriff may require prisoners who have been sentenced to imprisonment in the county jail to perform such labor as he deems necessary, even if the prisoner was not sentenced to hard labor.

D. A prisoner who is held awaiting trial or sentencing and who consents in writing to perform labor may perform such labor as the sheriff determines is appropriate.

E. For purposes of this section, "hard labor" includes only labor skills that are within the ability of the prisoner.

F. Notwithstanding any other law, no prisoner given a work assignment or required to perform any labor under this section shall be considered an employee or to be employed by the county or the sheriff, regardless of whether the prisoner is compensated or not, nor shall an employee-employer relationship exist between the prisoner and the county or sheriff for any purpose and none of the rights or privileges otherwise accorded to employees by law shall accrue to such prisoners.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 1 case, 1990–1990 · leading case: Escalanti v. Superior Court, 799 P.2d 5 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1990).

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Escalanti v. Superior Court, 799 P.2d 5 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1990). · cites it 2× “A.R.S. § 31-141(C). A jail prisoner is allowed double time while employed as a trusty working on public streets, highways, or other public works.”

— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 31-141(C) — 1 case

Escalanti v. Superior Court, 799 P.2d 5 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1990). “A.R.S. § 31-141(C). A jail prisoner is allowed double time while employed as a trusty working on public streets, highways, or other public works.”

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