Arkansas prison bed shortage is a threat to public safety. As sheriff, I see this threat each and every day: over-burdened county jails, inmates let out far too soon, and repeat, violent offenders who roam our communities just waiting to recommit. Enough is enough.  Arkansas has a chance to fix this problem by building a new 3,000-bed prison in Franklin County and ending our state's prison bed shortage.

But we need the legislature to act, to appropriate the funds that the state needs to build this facility, and let the Department of Correction move forward as quickly as possible. 

Governor Sanders has made public safety a top priority and in just two years, she has opened up 1,500 prison beds in existing facilities across the state. She partnered with the legislature to pass the Protect Act, which ensures that violent felons repay their debt to society and are rehabilitated before they are released. She is making the first major investment in prison infrastructure in 20 years. But now, the  same legislature that supported the Protect Act needs to support the new prison.

We cannot get violent offenders off our streets if we do not have anywhere to put them. The county jails the sheriffs oversee simply do not have the capacity, resources, nor expertise to shoulder the burden of long-term incarceration. 

Arkansas has kicked this can down the road for way too long.

It is time to fund the Franklin County Prison, invest in public safety, and finally deliver the safer, stronger Arkansas all our communities deserve.

Monroe County Sheriff

Michael K. Neal