Little Rock, Arkansas – Arkansas’s prison system faces a growing crisis, with a projected inmate population increase from 20,000 to 25,000 by 2035, necessitating 1,500 to 2,000 additional beds by 2040, according to a CGL Companies forecast presented to lawmakers on August 13, 2025, at the Rogers Convention Center. The report, delivered by Wendy Ware, senior vice president at the Miami-based firm, attributes the 2% annual growth to the Protect Arkansas Act of 2023, which eliminates parole for serious offenders, intensifying overcrowding in state and county jails, including in Independence County.
The forecast, presented during the Arkansas Association of Counties’ annual conference, highlights a backlog of approximately 1,900 state inmates held in county jails due to insufficient state prison capacity. Sebastian County Sheriff Hobe Runion warned that county jails, including Independence County’s, are “bursting at the seams,” having added over 3,000 beds since 2016 to manage overflow. “The wheels of our criminal justice system are wobbling hard,” Runion said, urging legislative action. In Batesville, the Independence County Jail faces similar strain, impacting local resources and public safety.
A proposed 3,000-bed prison in Franklin County, estimated at $825 million, has sparked intense debate. Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders supports the project to alleviate overcrowding, which costs the state $30 million annually to house 10% of its inmates in county jails. However, the Senate Bill 354 (SB 354), which would appropriate $750 million for the prison, failed five votes in the Arkansas Senate, lacking the 27 votes needed for a three-fourths majority, effectively stalling for the 2025 session. The Legislature previously set aside $405 million ($330 million plus $75 million) for the project, but concerns over transparency, costs, infrastructure, and staffing have fueled opposition.
Sen. Jonathan Dismang (R-Searcy), SB 354’s sponsor, acknowledged the bill’s likely failure, stating, “We’re getting toward the end of the session, and I don’t believe we’ll be passing that appropriation.” He noted that $75 million already appropriated in 2022 allows the Arkansas Department of Corrections to proceed with hiring a construction management firm, Vanir, and seeking architectural proposals, with a contract expected by May 2026. Dismang expects “quite a bit of movement” over the summer, as funding would be released in stages with Arkansas Legislative Council approval, requiring a three-fifths majority.
House Speaker Rep. Brian Evans (R-Cabot) expressed optimism that the Senate could secure 27 votes by August 18, citing resolved concerns, but Sen. Bryan King (R-Green Forest), a vocal critic, celebrated the bill’s stall, calling the project a “mega-prison scam” and advocating for hiring more public safety officers and building smaller, cost-effective facilities. Sen. John Payton (R-Wilburn) shifted support to SB 354 after staffing concerns were addressed, but others, like Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R-Branch), withheld votes due to unclear cost estimates.
The $825 million estimate, provided by Vanir’s project director Mike Beaber, remains preliminary, with water infrastructure issues and incomplete design work raising concerns. Corrections Secretary Lindsay Wallace reported 1,400 new beds added since 2023, with a 50-bed women’s health unit opening in September 2025 and a 100-bed expansion at the Mississippi County work release facility approved. Department of Finance and Administration Secretary Jim Hudson assured lawmakers that funding approvals will occur incrementally, requiring ongoing legislative oversight.
The controversy, sparked by the state’s purchase of an 815-acre site near Charleston for $3 million in 2023, has drawn criticism for lack of transparency, particularly from Franklin County residents. Attorney General Tim Griffin, addressing recent human trafficking arrests, underscored the need for prison capacity to detain serious offenders, aligning with the state’s push for expansion.
