Little Rock, Arkansas – The debate over the funding for a new 3,000-bed prison in Arkansas took another setback this week, as a prison funding bill failed for the second time in the state Senate. On Wednesday afternoon, the bill, which aimed to allocate $750 million for the prison, was resubmitted for a vote but faced opposition once again, with the final tally standing at 18-13. This came just a day after the identical bill was defeated in a 19-10 vote on Tuesday, marking a troubling decline in support as the weeks progress.
The proposed prison is part of a larger effort to address overcrowding in Arkansas’ county jails, which have been struggling to accommodate post-sentencing inmates. Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has been a vocal supporter of the new prison, emphasizing the need for additional space to prevent the “catch and release” system that has left many inmates awaiting transfer to state facilities. The Governor has argued that the new prison would help ease overcrowding and improve the overall criminal justice system in the state.
Supporters of the bill argue that the facility is essential to combat the ongoing issues within Arkansas’ justice system. With county jails increasingly filled to capacity, some post-sentencing inmates are being released before they serve their time, exacerbating public safety concerns. These supporters believe that the new facility is necessary to prevent further breakdowns in the criminal justice process, pointing to the failure of the misdemeanor justice system to handle the overflow.
However, the prison proposal has faced significant opposition from lawmakers who argue that the plan lacks sufficient planning and fails to address critical concerns. One of the key issues raised by opponents is the high cost of not only constructing the prison itself but also the infrastructure needed to support the facility, such as roads and water systems for its rural location. Additionally, rising construction costs due to tariff increases have raised doubts about the long-term financial feasibility of the project.
The bill, Senate Bill 354, requires a three-quarters majority in the Senate to pass because it is a funding bill. This means that 27 votes are necessary for approval, but the bill has failed to gather enough support in its first two votes. Despite the setbacks, the bill could still be resubmitted in the future, as allocation legislation can be resubmitted after initial failure. However, Senate leadership has confirmed that the bill is not on the agenda for Thursday, and with the Senate in recess on Friday, the issue will likely be delayed until next week.
As the debate over prison funding continues, the question of how to balance the state’s need for additional correctional facilities with the concerns about cost and planning remains unresolved. Both sides of the argument continue to push for their perspectives, but with the latest vote results showing diminishing support, it is unclear whether the bill will gain enough momentum to pass in the future.
