Judge will hear some cases at jail

Official: Escape risk reduced

BENTONVILLE — Benton County Circuit Judge Robin Green plans to go to the inmates rather than deputies bringing the inmates to her.

Green said she will soon hold court in the small courtroom at the Benton County jail. She expects to begin in the next 30 days.

“I realized that the number of inmates being transported to court had greatly increased and began discussing options with the sheriff,” she said.

The courtroom is mainly used by district court judges who do bond hearings at the jail.

Washington County has a courtroom at its detention center used for first appearance proceedings and arraignments. Some circuit judges in the 4th Judicial District also do arraignments in their courtrooms.

Green, her bailiff, trial court assistant and court reporter went in May to look at the jail’s courtroom to see if it was feasible to have court there.

She said they made some suggestions and Sheriff Shawn Holloway has made changes to accommodate her.

The judge is mindful that victims and the public have a right to attend court proceedings. She’s limiting the type of cases she’ll preside over at the jail.

“This is a courtroom, but it smells like a jail and feels like a jail,” she said.

She doesn’t plan to hold any hearings at the jail with cases that have victims. Those cases will be taken care of in her courtroom in the Benton County Courthouse instead.

The cases heard at the jail will involve inmates represented by public defenders, which are mainly the cases making up her afternoon inmate docket. For example, she will handle cases at the jail for inmates accused of drug crimes.

Green said one person taken into custody in her courtroom last month attempted to escape and ran from deputies. He was found under a house near the downtown square.

Stuart Cearley, Benton County’s chief deputy prosecutor, was at the jail with Green and her staff in May when they looked at the courtroom.

“We understand Judge Green’s desire to conduct the afternoon inmate docket at the jail,” Cearley said. “It effectively addresses several concerns of various parties and we appreciate Judge Green for giving us the opportunity to have input into the solution.”

Sgt. Shannon Jenkins, spokeswoman for the Benton County sheriff’s office, said 20 to 40 inmates are usually taken to Green’s court for the afternoon docket.

Jenkins said the office supports Green holding court at the jail.

“We would not have to transport inmates across town to the courthouse downtown,” Jenkins said. “It is more safe to keep them inside our facility, and it helps with manpower at the sheriff’s office and [takes less time].”

Jenkins said the office has made some cosmetic changes to the courtroom involving remodeling and flooring replacement.

Green said people have been curious about why she doesn’t hold video hearings from the jail. She said it’s her preference to have in-person hearings.

Green and Circuit Judge Brad Karren are each assigned 50% of the criminal cases. Karren holds video hearings from the jail’s courtroom for some of his criminal docket.

Jay Saxton, Benton County’s chief public defender, said he understands it will reduce the number of inmates being taken to court.

“It reduces the risk of any inmate acting out while they are being transported across town,” he said.

Saxton said it will also help in the winter when inmates are taken sometimes in frigid conditions to court, but wearing only jail clothing with no coats.

“They will not have to deal with the frigid conditions,” he said.