Hutchinson lauds plan to convert labor center to detention center
Transforming a plan to convert the Migrant Farm Labor Center in Hope into a juvenile detention behavioral center shows government leadership at its best, said Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson.
“The transformation of this building is government leadership at its best. Local leaders saw an opportunity, made the case to state leaders, and together they gave new purpose to a resource that had been wasting away. The most important result is that troubled youth will have a new source of help and guidance. I commend the Department of Workforce Services, and the city of Hope and Hempstead County for putting this together,” said Hutchinson.
The governor attended the ceremony Friday where the deed for the Migrant Farm Labor Center was turned over to the Hope First Baptist Church who owns the building.
“We’re calling ourselves the ‘Banner Hope Center’ because the Lord Jesus is our banner of victory,” said Rev. Daniel Bramlett.
“We are excited about being a part of a change for the better in the cultural landscape of Hope and Hempstead County,” he said.
The idea of converting a juvenile detention center in Hope and the region started about six years ago, said Hempstead County Sheriff James Singleton.
Juveniles who have committed criminal actions are escorted to one of six juvenile detention centers in the state specifically in northern Arkansas and it can be a financial burden to the towns and counties, said Singleton.
Last year, the cost was $100,000 to house Hempstead County juveniles in criminal detention centers throughout the state.
If a local behavioral detention
center is created, Singleton wants to work with school districts to provide education for the juveniles instead of being influenced by experienced inmates to learn how to be better juvenile criminals, he said.
“I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired of sending these kids without treatment,” Singleton said.
“We want to partner with the school districts and provide teachers to help the juveniles continue their education,” Singleton said.
The Migrant Farm Labor Center has 11 acres and including 72 housing units. The houses have been closed for about four years.
Juvenile detention officials will review the facilities and make recommendations.
The upgrading and repairs will take about 24 months and provide a few jobs.
Hempstead County Judge Haskell Morse said the detention center has been Singleton’s dream.
“The transportation costs for the juveniles has been a financial burden and has eaten our budgets up,” said Morse.
“The juvenile sent to the detention center may stay 10 days or two days. Then we have to find a way to handle it and pay the costs,” he said.
“We’re going to have to be careful what you ask for because we might get it,” said Singleton.
Bramlett said center will work with the county.
“I can’t even begin to communicate how excited we are about this journey. We are absolutely committed to serving positive change in the most organic parts of our town: our families and our neighborhoods. Our goal is to be a positive source of trust, hope and change for the broken, hurting members of Hope and Hempstead County,” said Bramlett.