Bill > SB144

This bill addresses the backlog of inmates awaiting transfer to the Division of Correction by allowing two or more adjoining counties to enter into a "county jail state inmate close-to-home partnership" agreement. Specifically, the bill permits these counties to jointly construct, expand, or improve a shared county jail facility for housing inmates, but with some important restrictions. The partnership is primarily targeted at the eight counties that contribute the most inmates to the state's Division of Correction as of January 1, 2025. To establish such a partnership, the agreement must be approved by a vote of each county's quorum court and receive approval from the Board of Corrections. The bill provides potential state funding for facility construction or improvement and sets a deadline of June 30, 2027, for partnership agreements to be approved. The goal appears to be creating more localized and efficient jail facilities that can help manage the state's inmate population more effectively by keeping inmates closer to their home counties while they await transfer to the state correction system.

Justice

https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=sb144&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R