Little Rock, Arkansas – Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced a major milestone in Arkansas’ ongoing efforts to address its decades-long prison bed shortage. Since Gov. Sanders took office, the state has opened 1,485 new prison beds, marking a significant step toward relieving overcrowded county jails and enhancing public safety.
Tackling the Prison Bed Shortage
“Arkansas’ prison bed shortage has gone on for decades, and under my leadership, we have stopped kicking the can down the road,” said Governor Sanders. “While we continue to make progress on the new prison we are building, these 1,500 beds go a long way toward alleviating the burden on county jails and getting violent offenders off our streets.”
The addition of these beds is part of a broader initiative to address Arkansas’ longstanding challenges with overcrowded correctional facilities. County jails across the state have struggled to accommodate inmates due to insufficient prison capacity, often leaving violent offenders in facilities ill-equipped for long-term incarceration.
Coordinated Leadership and Progress
Arkansas Secretary of Corrections Lindsay Wallace praised the progress made under Governor Sanders’ administration, emphasizing its importance for public safety. “It’s our job to keep violent offenders off our streets, and these additional beds will help us end our state’s longstanding bed shortage,” Wallace said.
Chairman of the Arkansas Board of Corrections, Benny Magness, highlighted the cooperative efforts behind this achievement. “The Board has worked closely with Governor Sanders to open these beds while also paving the way for a new prison. It is critical—for our inmates and for public safety—that we work to end the prison bed shortage in Arkansas,” he stated.
Legislative and Infrastructure Efforts
In 2023, Governor Sanders signed the Safer, Stronger Arkansas legislative package, which included the Protect Act, Arkansas’ most substantial investment in its prison system in two decades. As part of this package, the state purchased land in Franklin County for the construction of a new prison, which will employ approximately 800 workers with an average salary of $46,000.
State leaders such as Senator Ben Gilmore and Representative Jimmy Gazaway applauded the governor’s focus on public safety and prison reform. “Governor Sanders has shown her commitment to this issue time and again, and today’s announcement cements her leadership on public safety,” said Senator Gilmore. Representative Gazaway emphasized the significance of addressing overcrowding, calling it a critical step toward creating a more effective justice system.
Facility Expansion Details
The additional 1,485 prison beds are distributed across 16 facilities statewide, helping to alleviate pressure on county jails. Key facilities and their bed expansions include:
- Tucker Unit (Tucker): 394 beds
- McPherson Unit (Newport): 244 beds
- White River Correctional Center (Batesville): 173 beds
- Tucker Work Release (Tucker): 124 beds
- Ester Unit (Pine Bluff): 124 beds
- North Central Unit (Calico Rock): 100 beds
- Phillips County Detention Center (Helena): 80 beds
- Mississippi County Work Release Center (Luxora): 58 beds
Additional expansions were made at facilities in Grady, Brickeys, Malvern, Texarkana, and Pine Bluff, among others.
As the state moves forward with plans for a new prison in Franklin County, the current increase in bed capacity represents a crucial interim solution. “These additional prison beds address the critical bed shortage county jails are facing,” said Governor Sanders. “This will help remove the burden of long-term incarceration from county governments and create safer communities across the state.”
