Prison Reform Bill Nearing Public Release

An omnibus bill aimed at controlling Arkansas’ ever-growing prison population is nearing a first public viewing at the state legislature.

Last week, Talk Business provided a preview of the measure, which hopes to refine the state’s criminal justice system in an effort to save nearly $1 billion.

Lawmakers and administration officials have been steadfastly working on the comprehensive overhaul bill that was spawned by a Pew Center study and subsequent state task force on how to control costs in the state’s prison system while balancing public safety.

Rep. Darrin Williams (D-Little Rock), who heads the House Judiciary Committee, says the legislation may top 170 pages and should be filed any day now.

"It is a large bill," Williams tells Talk Business. "The recommendations from the working group build on one another. You can take one out of the mix and you don’t gain the overall savings or the benefit of the entire package."

Williams, whose committee will ultimately hear the bill (it will start in the Senate Judiciary Committee led by State Sen. Jim Luker, D-Wynne), said that while there have been rumors and suggestions that the overhaul bill may be highly controversial, he disagrees.

"I’m not sure what will be controversial. What we’re doing is making minor changes that have huge impacts," Williams said.

He rattles off a laundry list of myths that he says the bill does not contain, such as legalizing drugs, releasing current prisoners from jail, and reducing sentencing for serious drug traffickers.

"Hopefully, we’ll get this bill out so people can read it," he said.

You can watch a short interview with Williams on the subject below.

Also, State Rep. Linda Tyler filed HB 1353 on Tuesday. It allows the Arkansas Department of Corrections to negotiate with out-of-state political subdivisions for bed space for prisoners. If approved, it will allow Arkansas prison officials to contract with Louisiana prison officials to move offenders into cells in northern Louisiana, a prospect raised two weeks ago as relief for Arkansas’ prison overcrowding.