Charleston, Arkansas – As politicians get ready to forward with plans to construct a new jail in Charleston, the community is resisting.
At Friday’s hearing, members of Franklin County and the River Valley Coalition voiced their concerns against the construction of a new prison.
The reason for this is that on October 31, Governor Sarah Sanders announced that 815 acres of community land had been purchased from the state in order to construct a prison.
Budgeting, the area’s water sustainability problems, and the lack of openness were the main points of contention for those opposed to the new prison.
A resident named Jonathan Tedford discussed the issue.
He questioned, “How can something like this occur without any of us even having a say?”
Tedford’s home is situated where the prison is supposed to be constructed.
This prompts him to voice his worries about the safety of the community. For his wife and three small children, as well as the neighborhood.
According to Tedford, “for many of us, family-wise, that’s where our sense of security goes out of the window.”
Everyone seems to agree on one issue, according to Crossett Representative Sen. Ben Gilmore: Arkansas needs a prison.
“I believe it’s critical that we recognize that there is an issue. We recognize that we must keep criminals off our streets and out of our communities because of the state’s crime issue,” Gilmore stated.
To release the funds allocated for the prison, a number of additional votes are required.
