Arkansas – Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders is calling on the Arkansas Legislature to take action and approve funding for a new state prison in Franklin County. In an op-ed published by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette titled “Finish the Job,” she lays out the urgent need for expanding the state’s prison capacity, arguing that Arkansas has faced a chronic shortage of prison beds for two decades.
According to Governor Sanders, the lack of sufficient prison space has led to repeated instances of violent offenders being released back into the community prematurely. She emphasizes that this has contributed to Arkansas’s troubling crime rates, which remain among the worst in the nation.
“Enough is enough,” Sanders wrote. “Arkansas has a chance to address this crisis head-on and help end our state’s prison bed shortage, but we need to act now. The Legislature must appropriate the funds our state needs to build a new prison.”
The governor also highlights the financial burden caused by the state’s reliance on county jails to house inmates who cannot be accommodated in state-run facilities. With counties ill-equipped for long-term incarceration, taxpayers are footing an annual bill of approximately $30 million. This, she argues, is an inefficient system that does not serve the best interests of Arkansans.
Governor Sanders’ administration has already taken steps to alleviate the crisis. Her efforts include securing the opening of 1,500 new prison beds in existing facilities and passing the Protect Act, which ensures that violent offenders serve their full sentences before being released. However, Sanders stresses that these measures alone are not enough.
“My administration is moving quickly to build a new, 3,000-bed prison in Franklin County that will boost that area’s economy while building a safer, stronger Arkansas,” she stated. “The state has set aside the funding we need to get the project started, and the Legislature approved a new prison by voting for the Protect Act.”
Despite the initial approval of the project, additional legislative action is needed to secure full funding. Sanders urges lawmakers to complete what they started and finalize the necessary appropriations. She warns against any further delays, insisting that Arkansas cannot afford to postpone these crucial investments in public safety.
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To illustrate the consequences of insufficient prison capacity, the governor contrasts two hypothetical scenarios. One inmate, housed in the state-run Wrightsville Unit, has access to structured rehabilitation programs, job training, and support systems designed to help him reintegrate into society. Another inmate, shuffled between county jails, lacks access to these programs and is more likely to re-offend upon release.
“Before I signed the Protect Act, the state would have likely let this inmate go on parole early, sometimes years before his sentence was supposed to be up. Once he’s out, there’s about a 50 percent chance that he recommits and finds himself back behind bars within three years,” Sanders explained.
The governor argues that the revolving door of repeat offenders highlights the failure of the current system. She notes that more than 3,600 individuals have been incarcerated in Arkansas prisons four or more times, with one individual having cycled through the system an astonishing 21 times.
To break this cycle, Sanders stresses the need for a balanced approach—one that combines incarceration with rehabilitation. Programs like Pathway to Freedom, which provide inmates with job training, conflict resolution skills, and opportunities for personal growth, have been shown to significantly reduce recidivism. However, she insists that such programs can only be effective if the state has the physical space to house its prison population properly.
“Arkansas has a chance to turn the page on our decades-long cycle of ignoring violent crime, instead cleaning up our streets and ensuring violent felons aren’t released until they’ve served their time and hopefully been rehabilitated,” she wrote.
Governor Sanders closes her argument by calling on lawmakers to put public safety first and approve the necessary funds for the Franklin County prison. She urges them to reject political excuses and make the tough but necessary decision to invest in a safer future for Arkansas.
“Reject the tired excuses of politicians who don’t want criminals behind bars. Fund the prison, public safety, and a better future for all Arkansans.”
