The Arkansas Department of Corrections has begun moving prisoners into a previously vacant work-release facility in its Tucker Unit in an effort to reduce the backup of state prisoners being held in county jails. The Tucker Work Release Center will primarily house prisoners assigned to work-release programs and other minimum security prisoners. The department has also added beds at other locations across the state to accommodate more inmates.
The move follows the hiring of additional staff for the facility, thanks to incentives offered by the department. The state is also nearing completion on adding beds at facilities in Batesville, Texarkana, and Newport. Furthermore, officials are in the early stages of planning a new 3,000-bed facility to address the overcrowding issue.
Currently, county jails are holding almost 2,000 male state prisoners, prompting the need for additional bed space. The plan to add beds was part of a controversial proposal put forward by former Corrections Secretary Joe Profiri, which ultimately led to his suspension and firing. However, the current administration is confident that they have or will have enough staff to manage the additional beds.
The department has focused on expanding recruiting efforts to increase staffing levels and ensure the successful opening of these new beds. The move to expand bed space comes as part of a larger effort to address overcrowding in state prisons and reduce the strain on county jails.
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