Pima County Transition Center to Expand Hours to 7 Days a Week

The changes are planned to go into effect in April.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The Pima County Transition Center, a modular building next to the Pima County Jail, is planning to expand its operations from five to seven days a week by the end of April. The center aims to break the cycle of incarceration, especially for unhoused people and addicts, and will use new Opioid Settlement funding to hire additional staff to facilitate the expanded hours.

Why it matters

The Transition Center plays a critical role in connecting justice-involved individuals, many of whom are homeless or struggling with addiction, to vital resources and services that can help them get their lives back on track and avoid repeat offenses. Expanding the center's hours of operation will make these services more accessible to a greater number of people in need.

The details

The Transition Center opened in 2023 and served nearly 2,500 people last year. After leaving the facility, 65 individuals secured temporary housing, while 31 acquired stable housing. Justice Services Director Kate Vesely said the expanded hours were made possible by new Opioid Settlement funding, which will allow the center to hire additional "justice navigators" to assist clients.

  • The changes are planned to go into effect in April 2026.
  • The Transition Center opened in 2023.

The players

Kate Vesely

The Justice Services Director at the Pima County Transition Center.

Pima County Transition Center

A modular building next to the Pima County Jail that aims to break the cycle of incarceration, especially for unhoused people and addicts, by connecting them to resources and services.

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What they’re saying

“The Transition Center was created to help individuals who are in the justice system, effectively resolve those pending cases in justice proceedings, while also connecting them to resources that will hopefully alter ongoing justice system involvement.”

— Kate Vesely, Justice Services Director (azpm.org)

What’s next

The changes to expand the Transition Center's hours of operation to seven days a week are planned to go into effect in April 2026.

The takeaway

The Pima County Transition Center's expansion to seven-day-a-week operations will make its vital services and resources more accessible to a greater number of justice-involved individuals, many of whom are homeless or struggling with addiction, helping to break the cycle of incarceration in the community.