Prison reform closer to becoming law

Editor’s note: Roby Brock, with our content partner Talk Business, wrote this report. He can be reached at [email protected]

Gov. Mike Beebe’s effort to overhaul the state’s prison system is one vote away from his desk for signature.

Today (Mar. 15), the House Judiciary Committee passed SB 750, the Public Safety Improvement Act, on a voice vote that only included one mumbled objection.

The bill has 71 House sponsors, including Speaker Robert Moore, D-Arkansas City, and Judiciary Chairman Darrin Williams, D-Little Rock, so it’s imminent delivery to the Governor is all but expected later this week.

Both Moore and Williams spoke for the bill in the Judiciary Committee this morning in a half-hour presentation. Other supporters included chiefs of police, sheriffs, and the state’s prosecuting attorneys who at one time opposed the bill.

District 13 Prosecuting Attorney Robin Carroll (D-El Dorado) noted that the prosecutors’ organization had gone from unanimous condemnation of the bill 3 weeks ago to a unanimous endorsement in the committee hearing.

Arkansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Jim Hannah (D), who helped spark the undertaking that brought the Pew Center to Arkansas to analyze reforms to the criminal justice system, said that it’s the first time in his recollection that he can recall all 3 branches of government working in unison on a policy change of this magnitude.

"You have to be concerned with the increasing numbers that have been sentenced to our penitentiary and the cost of what it takes to house those inmates has just almost become prohibitive," Hannah said.

He stressed that public safety must remain at the forefront of the reforms and said the prosecutors input strengthened the bill. Hannah also wants to monitor the reforms going forward, but stresses that it will remain the principal obligation of the legislature to tweak reforms.

Link here to a video of Hannah discussing the issue.