PHOENIX -- The Arizona Senate Judiciary Committee opened hearings Monday on closing legal loopholes that allow felons to remain on the street.

Government watchdog group Goldwater Institute said the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office has diverted resources away from basic law enforcement to highly publicized immigration sweeps, which it claims are ineffective.

The institute said one problem that's created is with unserved felony warrants that allow criminals to walk the streets.

The sheriff's office admits there are 39,000 unserved warrants, but said the majority are for minor crimes and that dangerous criminals, rapists and murderers remain a priority for serving warrants.

The Senate committee hearing is part of an effort to build new laws in the years ahead to help with crime-fighting efforts.