Judge will appoint committee to look at prisoner housing

Little River County Judge Mike Cranford will appoint a committee to determine options to house prisoners.

He will name the committee during the December session of the Quorum Court.

The county jail currently holds 52 prisoners and can only house about 24 prisoners.

Sterling Penix, a member of the Arkansas Criminal Detention Facilities Review Committee, suggested the county appoint a review committee to prepare options to improve housing Little River County prisoners.

“We're going to study the problem and we're looking for the best options to operate the jail for the next 30 years,” Cranford said.

The county has to “farm out” the prisoners to other counties, Cranford said.

The deadline to list options will be December, 2019, he said.

“We can't send prisoners home. We also have to have a staff to operate the jail,” Cranford said.

The committee will aim for long term solutions.

“In no way will we suggest tax increases. Twice the voters rejected using a sales tax to improve the jail. We heard what the voters said,” Cranford said.

The committee will include Cranford, Sheriff Bobby Walraven, jail administrators, circuit and district court judges and citizens.