State Failing Communities Via Prisons

The most infamous reaction to Arkansas' penchant for burdening local jails with state inmates -- and paying far less than it costs to house them once the state eventually gets around to writing a check -- was by a sheriff in Pulaski County. Tommy Robinson, grew so weary of the state's inattention to his county's overcrowding that he loaded up 18 state inmates, drove them to the state prison in Pine Bluff and chained them to a fence outside the penitentiary. He also marshalled a group of about three dozen deputies to surround the Pulaski County jail to ensure the state didn't return those prisoners.

That Robinson's actions happened in 1981 demonstrates just how chronic this situation has been in recent decades. It ebbs and flows, but eventually the state prisons always overflow, forcing a reliance on county lock-ups as a de facto extension of the state's overwhelmed prison system.

What’s The Point?

The state of Arkansas is placing too much pressure on county jails burdened by the presence of state inmates the prison system has no capacity to handle. State policy-makers cannot responsibly allow the situation to continue.

In the spring of 2014, it's flowing.

Last week, Washington County Detention Center staff told the Quorum Court the jail continues to hold inmates who should have already been transferred to the state's care. For about six months, they said, the jail population has been around 600 -- an almost packed house that creates dangerous conditions. Of course, some folks won't care too much about criminals getting stressed out, but no one wants disorder and violence in a county jail, if for no other reason than the safety of the jailers working on behalf of county residents.

About a third of the Washington County jail's population of inmates were state inmates awaiting space in the prison system. Across the state, the number of state inmates in county facilities total almost 3,000. Any easing of the pressures arises from the efforts of local prosecutors, police departments and judges who find ways other than jailing to handle those accused, but not convicted, of crimes, or giving early release to those serving local sentences.

Local residents didn't pay for a county jails so they could be absorbed into the state prison system's inventory of beds. They are intended to give local jurisdictions the option of taking someone's liberty away if they are convicted of lesser, but still important, crimes or to hold potentially dangerous people accused of crimes but awaiting trial. When the state of Arkansas isn't taking care of its business, the impact is transferred to local communities.

Benton County's jail is going through the same kind of crowding.

"I'm just amazed the state continues to neglect their responsibility," said Harvey Bowman, a justice of the peace from Springdale.

Amazed, yes. But shocked, no.

The state's inaction is irresponsible. A proposal to design and begin building new prison space died in the last legislative session. The state pays an embarrassingly low $28 a day for counties to house state inmates, and lawmakers added more money to the fund that pays that paltry sum for the coming year, so expect the overcrowding to continue. While lawmakers study the issue, the strain on local facilities continues.

Perhaps more important than building new beds is working out creative but effective strategies for punishment and rehabilitation that doesn't require the state to provide 24/7 housing, food and medical care for inmates. It's unlikely Arkansas can build it's way out of the crisis, and many contributing factors to criminal behaviors can be addressed short of full-time incarceration.

But will Arkansas policy-makers lead? So far, the answer is no.

Perhaps the question is, who will be the next Tommy Robinson?

Commentary on 04/13/2014

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