Board of Corrections chair asks for National Guard help with prison staffing
by December 21, 2023 1:19 pm 2,385 views
Arkansas Board of Corrections (BOC) Chair Benny Magness has asked Gov. Sarah Sanders for 138 National Guard members to help with staff shortages in the state’s prison system that Magness says has prevented adding more prison beds requested by the governor.
A conflict between the BOC and Sanders and Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin went public on Nov. 17 when Sanders and Griffin held a press conference during which the governor blasted the BOC for rejecting most of a request to provide more than 600 additional beds in the prison system. The BOC is the governing body of the state’s prison system. BOC members at the time made it clear that the prison system lacked the staff to responsibly add more beds.
The BOC has also suspended Corrections Secretary Joe Profiri for acting against BOC decisions.
Sanders and Griffin say that Acts 185 and 659, passed in the 2023 Legislative Session, give the governor direct authority over leadership at the Department of Corrections. The BOC has filed lawsuits in Pulaski County Circuit Court challenging the constitutionality of sections of Acts 185 and 659. The lawsuits list Sanders, Griffin, Profiri and the Arkansas Department of Corrections as defendants.
Magness’ letter dated Dec. 20 to Gov. Sanders asks for 40 Guard members to relieve “Certified Correctional Staff who will then provide the manpower to open the 124-bed Tucker Re-Entry Center. The Guardsmen will fill positions which are staffed 24 hours per day, 7 days per week,” Magness wrote.
An additional 98 Guard members requested will be utilized in similar positions at various units “which have a Correctional Officer I vacancy rate that exceeds 40% as of November 30, 2023,” according to Magness’ letter.
“With your approval, I will recommend this matter for consideration at our next board meeting,” Magness wrote to close the letter.
Talk Business & Politics has requested comment from Gov. Sanders’ office and will update this story if a comment is received.