The Arkansas Board of Corrections approved a plan to build a prison in Charleston Friday. This came the morning after the town held a public meeting begging public officials not to approve the prison in the west Arkansas community.
Thursday's town hall involved loud booing and cheers from members of the public. Residents say they learned about the prison being built after the land was already purchased.
On Friday, all corrections board members voted in favor of the plan, with the exception of member Lee Watson who abstained. Charleston is one of two county seats of Franklin County.
The decision comes amid severe overcrowding in state prisons. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has been working to add more prison beds throughout her administration.
Residents and local officials say, by the time the community learned about the prison, it was already slated for construction. The Charleston prison is planned to sit on 815 acres of land, purchased by the state for $2.9 million.
On Thursday, community members voiced opposition to the plan.
Republican state Sens. Bryan King, Jon Eubanks and Gary Stubblefield were at the meeting, generally opposing the plan. They sat on a panel with representatives for the state who supported the prison, while Marc Dietz, a local radio host, moderated the event.
During the meeting, state officials attempted to assure the residents that they had heavily researched and scouted the land.
Resident Rosemary Underwood opened the meeting with a speech. Underwood said the prison will be within 10 to 30 miles of six school districts. She described the prison as “surrounded by family homes” and ranches. She worried the prison disrupted the "quiet existence” of their town.
Moreover, she was upset residents weren't included in the process.
“A public hearing should have been held before the state committed millions of dollars to a project in Franklin County,” she said to loud applause.
Board of Corrections advisor Joe Profiri, formerly the head of the state prison system, described the reason for keeping plans secret was to “ensure there wasn't an escalation of the price in the bidding war.”
The audience began to boo loudly at this comment. Then, Dietz threatened to use law enforcement against disruptive audience members.
“There is room in the Franklin County Jail,” he said.
Sen. Bryan King, R-Green Forest, talked about a prison in Alabama that cost more to build than the state initially expected.
“They need to provide the hard figures,” he said, referencing the State of Arkansas.
He also said the state should not have built the prison without consulting the local community.
“I ask the board to just delay their advancement in this until there is a series of meetings,” he said to loud applause.
Sen. Gary Stubblefield, R-Branch, agreed.
“They are taking away the voice of the people,” he said.
The next morning, the Board of Corrections gathered for a meeting to approve the plan. Though they seemed apprehensive at times, board members ultimately voted to approve the funding.
Board Member William "Dubs" Byers voted for the prison, but said he wished there had been more public input that went into the site selection.
“I didn't like the way this was done,” he said. “ I too found out, I think the day before it was announced. I think that was not well planned.”
Board member Lona McCastlain said the plan to build the prison was kept from the public for 90 days.
“It's really surprising that it was kept as quiet as it was,” she said.
McCastlain described Chalrelston as a “special community" and said she appreciated the input of the community.
“I listened to them,” she said. “But also for years we have heard repeatedly from county sheriffs and judges regarding the backup and the need for additional bed space.”
She then reminded the board “the land has been purchased.”
Gov. Sarah Sanders expressed excitement over the board's decision in a statement.
“We kicked this can down the road for far too long,” she said. “It’s time to make the first investment in our prison system in two decades and finally address our failed system of catch-and-early-release of violent offenders.”
