Discussion on Needed Prison Space Continues

Adjusting the number of Prison Beds in Arkansas to match a law passed in 2023 continues to be discussed around the state.

A recent discussion was held at  a joint meeting of the City, County and Local Affairs Legislative Committee held in conjunction with Arkansas Association of Counties’ Annual Conference in Rogers. 

According to a recap of the meeting from the Arkansas Advocate posted by KTLO, a research firm presented information that the state's inmate population will continue to increase by an average rate of 2% annually for the next 10 years. This is due in part to the Protect Arkansas Act which removes the possibility of parole for the state’s most serious offenders.

The report recaps some of the measures both the state and local counties have done to increase inmate capacity over the last several years. One proposal that has come under scrutiny is a proposed 3,000-bed prison in Franklin County in part due to the proposed cost of the facility. 

Republican Senator Bryan King of Green Forest has been one of the critics of the facility, questioning the amount of money needed to get infrastructure to the facility on top of the construction cost. 

The full article can be found on the KTLO Website.